Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Salary
The median pay for a veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in Grand Junction, CO is $35,810/year ($17.21/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $46K for experienced workers.
So what does $36K get you in Grand Junction?
About veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
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Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in metros near Grand Junction, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $44K | , |
| Colorado Springs | $36K | , |
| Boulder | $40K | , |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $37K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Grand Junction, CO
Entry-level veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $46K or more, a $12K spread from bottom to top.
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $50K | +30% | 380 |
| District of Columbia | $49K | +29% | 240 |
| Massachusetts | $47K | +22% | 2,130 |
| California | $46K | +21% | 16,080 |
| New Jersey | $46K | +21% | 3,270 |
| Maine | $46K | +19% | 690 |
| Minnesota | $45K | +19% | 1,450 |
| Maryland | $45K | +17% | 2,220 |
| New York | $45K | +17% | 5,790 |
| Oregon | $44K | +16% | 3,170 |
| Connecticut | $44K | +16% | 1,390 |
| Washington | $44K | +16% | 4,380 |
| Hawaii | $44K | +16% | 570 |
| Colorado | $39K | +2% | 2,910 |
| Delaware | $39K | +1% | N/A |
| Montana | $38K | +0% | 550 |
| Arizona | $38K | +0% | 3,340 |
| Michigan | $38K | -0% | 4,420 |
| Wyoming | $38K | -1% | 150 |
| Florida | $38K | -1% | 6,790 |
| Utah | $38K | -2% | 580 |
| Idaho | $38K | -2% | 680 |
| New Mexico | $38K | -2% | 520 |
| Illinois | $37K | -2% | 3,270 |
| Virginia | $37K | -2% | 4,810 |
| Vermont | $37K | -2% | 370 |
| North Dakota | $37K | -3% | 270 |
| Pennsylvania | $37K | -3% | 3,760 |
| North Carolina | $37K | -3% | 6,910 |
| South Carolina | $37K | -3% | 1,720 |
| Nevada | $37K | -3% | 1,380 |
| New Hampshire | $37K | -3% | 770 |
| Wisconsin | $37K | -3% | 2,200 |
| Missouri | $37K | -4% | 2,010 |
| Alaska | $36K | -4% | 130 |
| Indiana | $36K | -5% | 2,810 |
| Ohio | $36K | -5% | 4,640 |
| Tennessee | $36K | -5% | 3,530 |
| Nebraska | $36K | -5% | 900 |
| Georgia | $36K | -6% | 4,570 |
| Alabama | $36K | -6% | 1,240 |
| Iowa | $36K | -6% | 1,380 |
| Kansas | $36K | -6% | 1,570 |
| Oklahoma | $35K | -9% | 1,740 |
| Texas | $35K | -9% | 8,440 |
| South Dakota | $35K | -9% | 250 |
| Arkansas | $35K | -9% | 1,460 |
| Kentucky | $34K | -11% | 1,840 |
| West Virginia | $32K | -15% | 730 |
| Louisiana | $30K | -20% | 1,230 |
| Mississippi | $30K | -20% | 560 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 states
Track veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Grand Junction numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
What’s the entry-level salary for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in Grand Junction?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,048/month.
Is veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretaker a high-paying job in Grand Junction?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $36K locally vs. $38K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Grand Junction compare to the national average for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers?
Grand Junction pays $36K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s -6%.
How much do veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers make in Grand Junction, CO?
The median is $35,810 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,140, and experienced veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers can clear $45,770. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Grand Junction?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,436/month after taxes. Rent data is not available for this area.
How far does a veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers salary go in Grand Junction?
Grand Junction has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers salary is worth about $35,810 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.