Vet assistant demographics and statistics in the US
Vet assistant demographics research summary. Zippia estimates vet assistant demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our vet assistant estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about vet assistants after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 73,201 vet assistants currently employed in the United States.
- 83.9% of all vet assistants are women, while 16.1% are men.
- The average vet assistant age is 28 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of vet assistants is White (69.7%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (17.5%), Unknown (6.8%) and Asian (3.2%).
- Vet assistants are most in-demand in Los Angeles, CA.
- Santa Rosa, CA pays an annual average wage of $36,373, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women vet assistants earned 98% of what men earned.
- Oregon is the best state for vet assistants to live.
- Vet assistants are 80% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to education companies.
On this page
Vet assistant demographics by:
Vet assistant gender statistics
83.9% of vet assistants are women and 16.1% of vet assistants are men.
- Female, 83.9%
- Male, 16.1%
Vet assistant gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 83.9% |
| Male | 16.1% |
Vet assistant gender pay gap
Women earn 98¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$31,630
Female income
$30,981
Vet assistant gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in vet assistant positions over time. Currently, 83.9% of vet assistants are female.
Vet assistant gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 16.80% | 83.20% |
| 2011 | 22.18% | 77.82% |
| 2012 | 22.26% | 77.74% |
| 2013 | 19.73% | 80.27% |
| 2014 | 18.39% | 81.61% |
| 2015 | 15.98% | 84.02% |
| 2016 | 23.10% | 76.90% |
| 2017 | 19.35% | 80.65% |
| 2018 | 15.06% | 84.94% |
| 2019 | 17.12% | 82.88% |
| 2020 | 17.75% | 82.25% |
| 2021 | 16.10% | 83.90% |
Vet assistant related jobs gender ratio
We compared vet assistants with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, delivery technician and donations attendant have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Pathology Transcriptionist | 3% | 97% |
| Radiology Transcriptionist | 5% | 95% |
| Certified Registered Dental Assistant | 5% | 95% |
| VET Assistant | 16% | 84% |
| Dental Officer | 79% | 21% |
| Donations Attendant | 81% | 19% |
| Delivery Technician | 88% | 12% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Vet assistant demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among vet assistants is White, which makes up 69.7% of all vet assistants. Comparatively, 17.5% of vet assistants are Hispanic or Latino and 6.8% of vet assistants are Unknown.
- White, 69.7%
- Hispanic or Latino, 17.5%
- Unknown, 6.8%
- Asian, 3.2%
- Black or African American, 2.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
Vet assistant race
| Vet assistant race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 69.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 17.5% |
| Unknown | 6.8% |
| Asian | 3.2% |
| Black or African American | 2.7% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.1% |
Vet assistant race and ethnicity over time
See how vet assistant racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Vet assistant race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 80.54% | 1.87% | 1.16% | 13.69% |
| 2011 | 78.62% | 3.53% | 2.08% | 12.80% |
| 2012 | 78.90% | 3.28% | 1.60% | 13.34% |
| 2013 | 80.20% | 3.89% | 1.05% | 12.13% |
| 2014 | 81.91% | 2.36% | 1.31% | 11.74% |
| 2015 | 76.01% | 3.93% | 3.91% | 13.74% |
| 2016 | 77.14% | 3.54% | 2.05% | 14.73% |
| 2017 | 75.88% | 3.35% | 2.19% | 15.12% |
| 2018 | 75.03% | 2.64% | 2.46% | 16.07% |
| 2019 | 73.67% | 3.00% | 3.90% | 15.64% |
| 2020 | 72.20% | 2.66% | 3.37% | 15.86% |
| 2021 | 69.66% | 2.68% | 3.21% | 17.49% |
Vet assistant wage gap by race
According to our data, black or african american vet assistants have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Unknown vet assistants have the lowest average salary at $31,214.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $31,214 |
| White | $31,379 |
| Black or African American | $32,021 |
| Asian | $31,850 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $31,694 |
Average vet assistant age
See how the average age of vet assistants varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Vet assistant age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 26 | |
| White | 29 | 27 |
| Asian | 24 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 30.5 | 25 |
Vet assistant age breakdown
The average age of vet assistants is 20-30 years years old, representing 61% of the vet assistant population.
Vet assistant age breakdown
| VET Assistant Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 10% |
| 30-40 years | 26% |
| 20-30 years | 61% |
Vet assistant educational attainment
The most common degree for vet assistants is bachelor's degree, with 43% of vet assistants earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 24% and associate degree degree at 21%.
- Bachelor's, 43%
- Associate, 24%
- High School Diploma, 21%
- Diploma, 5%
- Other Degrees, 7%
Vet assistants by degree level
| Vet assistant degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 43% |
| Associate | 24% |
| High School Diploma | 21% |
| Diploma | 5% |
| Other Degrees | 7% |
Vet assistant jobs you might like
Vet assistant wage gap by degree level
According to the data, vet assistants with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $31,946 annually. With a Associate degree, vet assistants earn a median annual income of $31,687 compared to $31,123 for vet assistants with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $31,123 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $31,946 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $31,687 |
Vet assistant employment statistics
Most vet assistants work for a private in the health care industry.
Company size where vet assistants work
Below, you can see the size of companies where vet assistants work.
Vet assistant jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 11% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 21% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 32% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 8% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 20% |
| > 10,000 employees | 9% |
Vet assistant jobs by company type
Employees with the vet assistant job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most vet assistants prefer to work at private companies over education companies.
Vet assistant jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 8% |
| Public | 7% |
| Private | 80% |
| Government | 5% |
Vet assistant jobs by industry
The most common industries for vet assistants are health care, non profits and professional.
Vet assistant industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Health Care | 55% |
| Non Profits | 11% |
| Professional | 7% |
| Education | 5% |
| Government | 3% |
| Retail | 3% |
| Pharmaceutical | 2% |
| Manufacturing | 2% |
| Fortune 500 | 2% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Insurance | 2% |
| Media | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Agriculture | 1% |
| Technology | 1% |
Vet assistant turnover and employment statistics
Vet assistant unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for vet assistants between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Vet assistant unemployment rate by year
| Year | Vet assistant unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 5.86% |
| 2011 | 8.33% |
| 2012 | 8.11% |
| 2013 | 7.13% |
| 2014 | 4.87% |
| 2015 | 6.22% |
| 2016 | 3.35% |
| 2017 | 4.27% |
| 2018 | 2.82% |
| 2019 | 4.00% |
| 2020 | 2.95% |
| 2021 | 3.67% |
Average vet assistant tenure
The average vet assistant stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 31,641 vet assistants resumes in Zippia's database.
Vet assistant tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 30% |
| 1-2 years | 33% |
| 3-4 years | 14% |
| 5-7 years | 15% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 5% |
Vet assistant LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of vet assistants that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Orthodontic Assistant | 4.40% | 55,933 |
| Registered Medical Assistant | 5.81% | 183,988 |
| Clinical Phlebotomist | 7.76% | 63,582 |
| Medical Transcription | 8.65% | 72,428 |
| Pharmacist Clerk | 9.41% | 112,499 |
| VET Assistant | 9.55% | - |
| Licensed Massage Practitioner | 13.02% | 42,672 |
Similar vet assistant jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Orthodontic Assistant | 4.40% | 55,933 |
| Registered Medical Assistant | 5.81% | 183,988 |
| Clinical Phlebotomist | 7.76% | 63,582 |
| Medical Transcription | 8.65% | 72,428 |
| Pharmacist Clerk | 9.41% | 112,499 |
| Licensed Massage Practitioner | 13.02% | 42,672 |
Foreign languages spoken by vet assistants
The most common foreign language among vet assistants is Spanish at 70.5%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 8.6% and German is the third-most popular at 5.1%.
- Spanish, 70.5%
- French, 8.6%
- German, 5.1%
- Russian, 2.5%
- Portuguese, 2.1%
- Other, 11.2%
Vet assistant languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 70.5% |
| French | 8.6% |
| German | 5.1% |
| Russian | 2.5% |
| Portuguese | 2.1% |
| Other | 11.2% |
