SOC 31-9096 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers — Spokane
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA · 7 metro areas compared
At $39,240, median pay for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Spokane, WA tracks the national median of $38,150 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
How pay has moved
The next ten years
Projected to grow faster than average
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- +8.7%
- Openings per year
- 22,200
- Typical entry-level education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
Projections are published nationally only. This is the outlook for the occupation across the United States, not a measurement for Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Salary overview
At $39,240, median pay for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Spokane, WA tracks the national median of $38,150 closely. Pay ranges from under $37,570 at the tenth percentile to more than $47,020 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $38,140 to $43,780.
Employment stands at 340, or 1.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Seattle records the highest median at $45,640. Of the 468 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 438th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,570 | −1.5% |
| 25th | $38,140 | −0.0% |
| Median (50th) | $39,240 | +2.9% |
| 75th | $43,780 | +14.8% |
| 90th | $47,020 | +23.3% |
| Mean | $41,850 | +9.7% |
Other metro areas in Washington
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle | $45,640 | 2,400 | |
| 2 | Mount Vernon | $45,260 | 80 | |
| 3 | Wenatchee | $44,530 | 50 | |
| 4 | Bellingham | $44,160 | 120 | |
| 5 | Bremerton | $44,020 | 160 | |
| 6 | Kennewick | $40,100 | 130 | |
| 7 | Olympia | $39,760 | 190 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Spokane sit close to the national average, so $39,240 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$39,240as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$39,123US average = 100 · BEA 2024Why the state that pays most is usually not where pay goes furthest
Key takeaways
- Median pay is $39,240 a year, 2.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,570 to $47,020 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 340 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Seattle, at $45,640.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Spokane, WA?
The median annual wage is $39,240, or $18.86 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 Spokane, WA is 2.9% higher. 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 Spokane, WA earns more than $47,020 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,570 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 Seattle, at $45,640 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 340 jobs in this occupation in Spokane, WA. 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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