Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Salary
The median pay for a veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in Pennsylvania is $37,140/year ($17.86/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $47K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $39,107 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,351/month, about 52.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $37K get you in Pennsylvania?
About veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $37K locally vs. $38K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,351/month, which is 52.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $47K or more, a $17K spread from bottom to top.
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers salary by metro in Pennsylvania
11 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $40K | +7% | 2,150 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $38K | +2% | 250 |
| State College | $38K | +1% | 80 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $37K | +0% | 150 |
| Lebanon | $37K | -0% | 30 |
| Pittsburgh | $37K | -1% | 660 |
| Reading | $37K | -1% | 120 |
| York-Hanover | $37K | -1% | 110 |
| Gettysburg | $36K | -4% | 40 |
| Chambersburg | $36K | -4% | 60 |
| Erie | $35K | -6% | 80 |
Showing 1–10 of 11 metros
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 52.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,801/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 75% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretaker a high-paying job in Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $37K locally vs. $38K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers?
Pennsylvania pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $39K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $37,140 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,010, and experienced veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers can clear $47,200. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,562/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 52.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers salary go in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers salary is worth about $39,107 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.