Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Washington
Get the information you need to know about working as a Veterinary Assistant or Laboratory Animal Caretaker.
You’re in luck! Jobs for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Washington are projected to grow and these jobs tend to pay higher than average.
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Projected employment for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Washington is growing faster than average.
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Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Washington earn lower salaries than the typical U.S. wage earner.
How Many Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Work in Washington?
In 2018, there were 3,650 Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers working in the state.
There were 3,200 Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers employed in this state in 2017.
That’s growth of 450 jobs between 2017 and 2018.
The typical state has 1,395 Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers working in it, which means Washington has more Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers than average.
Job Projections for Washington
Jobs for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in this state are growing at a rate of 19.2% which is slower than the nationwide estimated projection of 19.3%.
Washington Annual Job Openings
The BLS estimates there will be 610 annual job openings, and 3,970 total jobs in 2026 for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in this state.
Nationwide, the prediction is 15,500 annual jobs and 100,000 total jobs in 2026.
What do Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Make in Washington?
In 2018 wages for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers ranged from $25,430 to $38,960 with $30,260 being the median annual salary.
Broken down to an hourly rate, workers in this field made anywhere from $12.23 to $18.73. The median hourly rate was $14.55.
Workers in this field were paid a median of $14.05 an hour in 2017.
The hourly rate grew by $0.50.
The median salary in Washington is higher than the nationwide median salary.
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Top Washington Metros for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
The table below shows some of the metros in this state with the most Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers.
Metro | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
---|---|---|
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 2,320 | $30,430 |
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 1,130 | $32,440 |
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 260 | $28,380 |
Bellingham, WA | 150 | $36,810 |
Olympia-Tumwater, WA | 140 | $28,250 |
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA | 110 | $33,180 |
Kennewick-Richland, WA | 80 | $26,210 |
Yakima, WA | 40 | $28,100 |
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 30 | $34,300 |
Top States for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Employment
The table below shows the states where most Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers work.
State | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
---|---|---|
California | 12,410 | $30,740 |
Texas | 5,440 | $25,020 |
Florida | 4,970 | $25,650 |
New York | 4,030 | $30,140 |
Virginia | 3,850 | $26,350 |
Washington | 3,650 | $30,260 |
Michigan | 3,510 | $26,010 |
North Carolina | 3,500 | $28,200 |
Ohio | 2,900 | $25,120 |
Arizona | 2,780 | $28,760 |
Pennsylvania | 2,600 | $27,440 |
Tennessee | 2,480 | $23,800 |
Illinois | 2,470 | $26,180 |
Missouri | 2,300 | $26,950 |
Indiana | 2,110 | $28,270 |
Kentucky | 1,960 | $24,810 |
New Jersey | 1,820 | $25,570 |
Oregon | 1,710 | $30,700 |
Louisiana | 1,650 | $23,070 |
Georgia | 1,560 | $24,540 |
Below are the states where Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers get paid the most:
State | Annual Median Salary |
---|---|
Massachusetts | $34,860 |
Maine | $32,690 |
Alaska | $32,020 |
California | $30,740 |
Oregon | $30,700 |
Washington | $30,260 |
New York | $30,140 |
Connecticut | $29,790 |
Colorado | $29,720 |
Vermont | $29,600 |
Related Careers in Washington
You may also be interested in the following careers:
Occupation | Washington Employment Total |
---|---|
Medical Assistants | 14,450 |
Dental Assistants | 10,510 |
Phlebotomists | 2,470 |
Healthcare Support Workers | 2,360 |
Medical Equipment Preparers | 1,460 |
Medical Transcriptionists | 1,190 |
Pharmacy Aides | 1,100 |
References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
- College Factual
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
More about our data sources and methodologies.