SOC 31-9096 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers — Mississippi
Mississippi · 3 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Mississippi is $30,360 a year, trailing the national median of $38,150 by 20.4%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Mississippi is $30,360 a year, trailing the national median of $38,150 by 20.4%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $27,880 and $36,840. The lowest tenth earn under $26,060, while the highest tenth earn more than $45,440.
The area has 560 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.59 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Mississippi ranks number 51st out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Hattiesburg records the highest median at $28,850. Of the 673 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 611th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26,060 | −31.7% |
| 25th | $27,880 | −26.9% |
| Median (50th) | $30,360 | −20.4% |
| 75th | $36,840 | −3.4% |
| 90th | $45,440 | +19.1% |
| Mean | $32,570 | −14.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Mississippi
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hattiesburg | $28,850 | 50 | |
| 2 | Gulfport | $28,650 | 60 | |
| 3 | Jackson | $28,570 | 100 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Mississippi run 13.0% below the national average, so the median of $30,360 goes as far as $34,897 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 8.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$30,360as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$34,897US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $30,360 a year, 20.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $26,060 to $45,440 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 560 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 51st of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Hattiesburg, at $28,850.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Mississippi?
The median annual wage is $30,360, or $14.60 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 Mississippi is 20.4% 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 Mississippi earns more than $45,440 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $26,060 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 Hattiesburg, at $28,850 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 560 jobs in this occupation in Mississippi. 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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