Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Salary
The median pay for a veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in Puerto Rico is $23,310/year ($11.21/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $22K at the entry level to $38K for experienced workers.
So what does $23K get you in Puerto Rico?
About veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Puerto Rico
Entry-level veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers (10th percentile) start around $22K. Mid-career wages sit at $23K. Top earners bring in $38K or more, a $16K 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 |
| Texas | $35K | -9% | 8,440 |
| Oklahoma | $35K | -9% | 1,740 |
| 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 (all 50 states + DC)
Track veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Puerto Rico numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Puerto Rico?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $23K, rent takes 197.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $3,405/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $500/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 Puerto Rico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers typically earn — is $22K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,310/month.
Is veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretaker a high-paying job in Puerto Rico?
Local pay runs 39% below the national median — $23K here vs. $38K nationally.
How does Puerto Rico compare to the national average for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers?
Puerto Rico pays $23K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s -39%.
How much do veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers make in Puerto Rico?
The median is $23,310 a year, that works out to about $11 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $21,840, and experienced veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers can clear $38,310. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $23K enough to live in Puerto Rico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,725/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,405/month, which eats 197.4% 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 Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico 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 $23,310 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.