The median annual wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA is $45,560 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $45,420.
Pay spans roughly $37,810 at the 10th percentile to $55,240 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $21.90 per hour. An estimated 170 people work as veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA.
| Median (annual) | $45,560 |
| Mean (annual) | $45,420 |
| Median (hourly) | $21.90 |
| 10th percentile | $37,810 |
| 90th percentile | $55,240 |
| Employment | 170 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.