The median annual wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $33,280 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $34,880.
Pay spans roughly $30,010 at the 10th percentile to $45,130 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $16.00 per hour. An estimated 250 people work as veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA.
| Median (annual) | $33,280 |
| Mean (annual) | $34,880 |
| Median (hourly) | $16.00 |
| 10th percentile | $30,010 |
| 90th percentile | $45,130 |
| Employment | 250 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.