National Salary Info » Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

Highest Paying Industries for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

The top 41 highest paying industries for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment in those industries are also shown. As shown in the table, with an average annual salary of $37,850, local government, excluding schools and hospitals (oes designation) is the highest paying industry for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers. It is followed by local government, including schools and hospitals industry (average annual salary $37,420). The salary and employment information is computed from data published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2015 [1]. For more information about salaries of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in a specific industry, use the links in the table.

Table 1. 41 Highest Paying Industries for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

Rank	Industry	Average Salary i	Entry Level Salary i	# of Empl. i
1	Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)	$37,850	$27,970	500
2	Local government, including schools and hospitals	$37,420	$27,510	560
3	Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation)	$35,990	$20,860	610
4	Federal, State, and Local Government	$35,990	$20,860	610
5	General Medical and Surgical Hospitals - Privately owned	$35,360	$26,020	330
6	General Medical and Surgical Hospitals	$35,360	$26,030	330
7	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - Privately owned	$34,420	$22,110	1,930
8	Educational Services - Privately owned	$34,230	$21,780	1,960
9	Hospitals - Privately owned	$33,170	$20,640	460
10	Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools	$32,400	$22,130	3,940
11	Hospitals (including private, state, and local government hospitals)	$32,390	$20,090	620
12	Ambulatory Health Care Services	$32,300	$21,240	100
13	Educational Services	$32,300	$21,950	3,980
14	Health Care and Social Assistance	$32,290	$20,290	720
15	Public sector -- Federal, state, and local government, including government owned schools and hospit	$31,930	$21,780	2,800
16	Scientific Research and Development Services	$31,220	$19,750	1,850
17	Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences	$31,190	$19,740	1,840
18	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - State government owned	$30,580	$22,050	1,960
19	Educational Services - State government owned	$30,580	$22,040	1,970
20	State government, including schools and hospitals	$30,340	$20,990	2,230
21	Manufacturing	$30,340	$19,320	170
22	Hospitals - State government owned	$29,940	$19,250	160
23	Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing	$29,740	$19,090	160
24	Chemical Manufacturing	$29,740	$19,090	160
25	Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions	$29,670	$20,720	90
26	Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation	$29,500	$21,110	100
27	Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals	$27,640	$17,760	280
28	Specialty hospitals - Privately owned	$25,660	$17,060	130
29	Employment Services	$25,190	$18,380	n/a
30	Administrative and Support Services	$25,190	$18,380	n/a
31	Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services	$25,190	$18,380	n/a
32	Temporary Help Services	$24,510	$18,420	n/a
33	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$23,330	$17,380	63,650
34	Social Advocacy Organizations	$23,230	$17,500	1,040
35	Veterinary Services	$23,210	$17,360	61,800
36	Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$23,210	$17,360	61,800
37	Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations	$23,150	$17,440	1,050
38	Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government)	$23,020	$17,520	1,390
39	Other Personal Services	$22,680	$17,750	340
40	Personal and Laundry Services	$22,680	$17,750	340
41	State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)	$19,900	$17,280	110