Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Salary
The median pay for a veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in West Virginia is $32,350/year ($15.55/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $26K at the entry level to $38K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $36,336 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,008/month, about 45.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across West Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $32K get you in West Virginia?
About veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Pay for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in West Virginia runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $38K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,008/month, which is 44.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, West Virginia
Entry-level veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers (10th percentile) start around $26K. Mid-career wages sit at $32K. Top earners bring in $38K or more, a $12K spread from bottom to top.
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers salary by metro in West Virginia
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgantown | $35K | +9% | 100 |
| Beckley | $34K | +6% | 40 |
| Wheeling | $34K | +4% | 50 |
| Huntington-Ashland | $33K | +1% | 150 |
| Charleston | $32K | -1% | 90 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when West Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $32K, rent takes 44.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/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 West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers typically earn — is $26K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,550/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 65% 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 West Virginia?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $32K here vs. $38K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers?
West Virginia pays $32K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $36K — below the national median.
How much do veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers make in West Virginia?
The median is $32,350 a year, that works out to about $16 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $25,830, and experienced veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers can clear $38,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $32K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,255/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 44.7% 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 West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (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 $36,336 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.