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Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Employment & Job Outlook in California (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

California employs 16,080 Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-05-19

Total Employed
16,080
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
16.08
workers
Location Quotient
6.37
vs national avg
Average Salary
$47K
annual

High Demand in California

The location quotient (LQ) of 6.37 indicates that California has a higher-than-average concentration of Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

California vs National Average

Total Employed
16,080
National: 126,190
12.7% of national
Jobs per 1,000
16.08
National: 2.52
+538.1%
Average Salary
$47K
National: $39K
+19.9%

Top States by Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Employment

#1
16,080
16,080
employed
#2
8,440
8,440
employed
#3
6,910
6,910
employed
#4
6,790
6,790
employed
#5
5,790
5,790
employed
#6
4,810
4,810
employed
#7
4,640
4,640
employed
#8
4,570
4,570
employed
#9
4,420
4,420
employed
#10
4,380
4,380
employed

What Does a Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Earn in California?

The average annual salary for a Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in California is $47,250. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers jobs are there in California?

California employs approximately 16,080 Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers professionals (2025 BLS data). This ranks California among the top states nationwide.

Is Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in demand in California?

Yes — California has above-average concentration of Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers jobs (LQ: 6.37). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in California?

The average (mean) salary for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in California is $47250/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers professionals?

The top state for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers employment is California with 16,080 jobs.

Find Your Next Opportunity

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Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Employment in Other States

Compare Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers labor-market data (jobs, location quotient, salary) across the top-employing states.

All Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers & California Resources

Drill deeper into Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers pay, hiring, and education data for California.

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers (SOC 319096) in California.

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