Outpaid

Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers salary
in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA

Median base pay · Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
$45,690
≈ $21.97/hr · BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1,890 jobs
Middle 50%
$39,510–$47,490
vs U.S. median
+20%
Metro rank
#11 of 119

Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro earn a median of $45,690 a year, based on BLS estimates for 1,890 jobs (May 2025). That is 20% above the U.S. median of $38,150 and 3% above the OR statewide median of $44,370. It ranks #11 of 119 metros with published figures for this job.

VETERINARY ASSISTANTS AND LABORATORY ANIMAL CARETAKERS · PORTLAND-VANCOUVER-HILLSBORO, OR-WA · BLS

Full percentile breakdown

BLS OEWS MAY 2025 · PORTLAND-VANCOUVER-HILLSBORO, OR-WA · ALL EMPLOYERS, ALL EXPERIENCE LEVELS
P10$38,920P25$39,510MEDIAN$45,690P75$47,490P90$55,140
BLS · UNITED STATES
P10$30,120P25$35,660MEDIAN$38,150P75$45,710P90$49,150
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Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers pay in other OR metros

MetroMedian
Salem, OR$44,460
Bend, OR$44,190
Eugene-Springfield, OR$39,670
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Questions

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

The BLS median is $45,690 a year (May 2025). Half of the 1,890 jobs pay between $39,510 and $47,490. The 10th percentile is $38,920 and the 90th is $55,140.

Is Portland a high-paying metro for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers?

That is 20% above the U.S. median of $38,150 and 3% above the OR statewide median of $44,370. It ranks #11 of 119 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.

How much do Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers make an hour in Portland?

About $21.97 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $45,690 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $19.00–$22.83 an hour. Straight-time pay, before overtime and shift differentials.

Does this include experience levels?

BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).

Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.