The median annual wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA is $41,860 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $43,100.
Pay spans roughly $36,730 at the 10th percentile to $49,150 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $20.13 per hour. An estimated 190 people work as veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA.
| Median (annual) | $41,860 |
| Mean (annual) | $43,100 |
| Median (hourly) | $20.13 |
| 10th percentile | $36,730 |
| 90th percentile | $49,150 |
| Employment | 190 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.