Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Salary in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA
According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the median annual wage for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA is $36,230. BLS estimates approximately 150 people work in this occupation in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA. Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA is 5.0% below the national median ($38,150).
Salary Distribution
Not everyone earns the median. Percentile wages show the range of pay within this occupation.
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30,020 | $14.44 |
| 25th percentile | $34,110 | $16.40 |
| Median (50th) | $36,230 | $17.42 |
| 75th percentile | $43,250 | $20.79 |
| 90th percentile | $49,100 | $23.61 |
Data Reliability
BLS OEWS is a survey, not a full census — every estimate carries a margin of error. The relative standard error (RSE) below is BLS’s own measure of how much an estimate could vary; lower is more precise.
- Wage estimate
- RSE 0.9% — Very reliable
- Employment estimate
- RSE 4.4% — Very reliable
Where Does Your Salary Fall?
Enter an annual salary to see roughly where it falls among reported wages for this occupation, based on the percentile points above.
Concentration
- Jobs per 1,000
- 1.994
- Location quotient
- 2.45
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA’s regional price level is below the national average (index 92.71, where 100 = U.S. average). Adjusted for that, the median salary has the purchasing power of $39,079 at the national price level.
This is a Career Atlas USA calculation based on BLS wage data and BEA Regional Price Parities. It is not a separate BLS wage estimate. Wage data: May 2025. Cost-of-living data: 2024.
Sources
Wage data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — May 2025 (release 25).
Figures shown as “Not available” reflect wages the source does not publish (e.g. suppressed for reliability), not zero.