"How long does veterinary assistant in Washington training take?"

"Most paths into the veterinary assistant field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"What apprenticeships are available for veterinary assistants in Washington?"

"In Washington, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Washington State of Labor and Industry - Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Veterinary Assistant in Washington

Q: "How much do veterinary assistants earn in Washington?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), veterinary assistants in Washington earned a median annual wage of approximately $44,150. Employment concentration in Washington is about 1.51 times the national average for this occupation."

Q: "What is the job outlook for veterinary assistants in Washington?"

"Washington currently employs approximately 4,380 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 8.7% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Washington veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers earn a median annual wage of $44,150 ($21.23/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 4,380 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 15.7% above the national median of $38,150 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $44,150 ($21.23/hr)
25th percentile: $39,930 per year
75th percentile: $47,220 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $55,050 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $38,470 per year
Workers employed in Washington: 4,380
Versus national median: 15.7% above the U.S. median of $38,150
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.51 - this occupation is more concentrated in Washington than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Washington employs approximately 4,380 veterinary assistants according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $44,150 ¹. The state’s concentration of veterinary assistant jobs is 1.51x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, veterinary assistant employment is projected to grow 8.7% from 2024 to 2034, with about 22,200 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a veterinary assistant in Washington, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About How to Become a Veterinary Assistant in Washington

How to become a veterinary assistant in Washington? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for veterinary assistants in Washington.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do veterinary assistants earn in Washington? The median annual wage for veterinary assistants in Washington is $44,150 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $38,470 and experienced professionals can earn $55,050 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Washington): $44,150 per year ¹

Veterinary Assistant Wages by Metro Area in Washington

Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Wages by Metro Area in Washington

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers wages in Washington vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	2,740	$45,320	$46,060	$36,740	$60,170
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	2,400	$45,640	$47,090	$42,600	$58,060
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro	1,890	$45,690	$45,490	$38,920	$55,140
Spokane-Spokane Valley	340	$39,240	$41,850	$37,570	$47,020
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater	190	$39,760	$42,050	$38,070	$46,830
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard	160	$44,020	$44,540	$38,290	$58,090
Kennewick-Richland	130	$40,100	$42,850	$38,380	$46,350
Bellingham	120	$44,160	$43,490	$38,730	$48,650
Mount Vernon-Anacortes	80	$45,260	$47,830	$39,790	$61,860
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee	50	$44,530	$42,720	$38,020	$44,530
Lewiston	30	$39,160	$38,800	$34,650	$42,890

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Top Metros for Veterinary assistants in Washington

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest veterinary assistant employment within Washington according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	2,400	$45,640
Spokane-Spokane Valley	340	$39,240
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater	190	$39,760
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard	160	$44,020
Kennewick-Richland	130	$40,100

Explore More Trades in Washington

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for veterinary assistants in Washington? Washington currently employs approximately 4,380 veterinary assistants ¹. Nationally, veterinary assistant employment is projected to grow 8.7% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Washington? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Washington.

How much do veterinary assistants earn in Washington compared to the national average? The median annual wage for veterinary assistants in Washington is $44,150, which is $6,830 above the national median of $37,320 according to BLS data ¹.

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)