SOC 31-9096 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers — Amarillo
Amarillo, TX · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Amarillo, TX is $30,210 a year, trailing the national median of $38,150 by 20.8%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Amarillo, TX is $30,210 a year, trailing the national median of $38,150 by 20.8%. Half of workers earn between $29,490 and $37,480. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $28,590 and the ninetieth at $43,740.
The area has 100 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.95 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Dallas leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $36,040. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 305th of 337 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,590 | −25.1% |
| 25th | $29,490 | −22.7% |
| Median (50th) | $30,210 | −20.8% |
| 75th | $37,480 | −1.8% |
| 90th | $43,740 | +14.7% |
| Mean | $33,020 | −13.4% |
Other metro areas in Texas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas | $36,040 | 2,350 | |
| 2 | San Antonio | $36,010 | 950 | |
| 3 | Austin | $35,530 | 780 | |
| 4 | Houston | $35,370 | 2,140 | |
| 5 | Corpus Christi | $33,650 | 100 | |
| 6 | Beaumont | $33,000 | 80 | |
| 7 | Killeen | $30,490 | 90 | |
| 8 | Longview | $30,320 | 60 | |
| 9 | College Station | $29,960 | 410 | |
| 10 | Abilene | $29,710 | 60 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Amarillo run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $30,210 goes as far as $31,112 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 18.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$30,210as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$31,112US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $30,210 a year, 20.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $28,590 to $43,740 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 100 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Dallas, at $36,040.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Amarillo, TX?
The median annual wage is $30,210, or $14.53 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $38,150, so pay in Amarillo, TX is 20.8% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Amarillo, TX earns more than $43,740 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $28,590 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Dallas, at $36,040 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 100 jobs in this occupation in Amarillo, TX. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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