The median annual wage of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers was $22,040 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $16,490, and the top 10 percent earned more than $33,780.
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers working in research positions often earn more than those in clinics and animal hospitals. Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in May 2010 were as follows:
| Scientific research and development services | $31,810 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools | 30,660 |
| Veterinary services | 21,380 |
Many clinics and laboratories must be staffed 24 hours a day, so veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers may be required to work nights, weekends, or holidays.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition