SOC 31-9096 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers — Missouri
Missouri · 6 metro areas compared
The median wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Missouri is $36,660 per year, close to the national median of $38,150 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Missouri is $36,660 per year, close to the national median of $38,150 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $30,280 at the tenth percentile to more than $45,940 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $34,150 to $41,650.
The area has 2,010 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.7 of every thousand jobs. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Missouri ranks 34th by median wage. St. Louis leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $37,790. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 659th of 733 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,280 | −20.6% |
| 25th | $34,150 | −10.5% |
| Median (50th) | $36,660 | −3.9% |
| 75th | $41,650 | +9.2% |
| 90th | $45,940 | +20.4% |
| Mean | $37,810 | −0.9% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Missouri
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Louis | $37,790 | 970 | |
| 2 | Kansas City | $37,600 | 960 | |
| 3 | Jefferson City | $35,920 | 50 | |
| 4 | Columbia | $34,900 | 130 | |
| 5 | Springfield | $34,230 | 150 | |
| 6 | Joplin | $33,800 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Missouri run 9.2% below the national average, so the median of $36,660 goes as far as $40,374 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 5.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$36,660as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$40,374US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $36,660 a year, 3.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $30,280 to $45,940 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,010 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 34th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is St. Louis, at $37,790.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Missouri?
The median annual wage is $36,660, or $17.62 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 Missouri is 3.9% 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 Missouri earns more than $45,940 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $30,280 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 St. Louis, at $37,790 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,010 jobs in this occupation in Missouri. 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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