Veterinary Surgical Assistant Salary in the United States

How much does a Veterinary Surgical Assistant make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Veterinary Surgical Assistant in the United States is $48,005 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $23.

However, a Veterinary Surgical Assistant's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $58,471
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $44,240 to $53,484
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $40,813
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View as table View as graph 25% $44,240 10% $40,813 90% $58,471 75% $53,484 $48,005 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Veterinary Surgical Assistant Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $53,484 $4,457 $1,029 $26
Average $48,005 $4,000 $923 $23
25th Percentile $44,240 $3,687 $851 $21
Check out Veterinary Surgical Assistant Job Openings in the United States
Surgical Assistant

Merion Village Dental - Columbus, OH

Medical Assistant Surgical Oncology

OhioHealth - Columbus, OH

Veterinary Assistant

Ohio State University - Columbus, OH

Veterinary Assistant

Banfield Pet Hospital - Columbus, OH

Search More Veterinary Surgical Assistant Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Veterinary Surgical Assistant Salaries

A Veterinary Surgical Assistant's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Veterinary Surgical Assistant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Veterinary Surgical Assistant's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $46,855
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $47,116
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $47,901
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $50,245
  • Expert (over 8 years): $51,415
Levels Salary
Entry Level Veterinary Surgical Assistant$46,855
Intermediate Level Veterinary Surgical Assistant$47,116
Senior Level Veterinary Surgical Assistant$47,901
Specialist Level Veterinary Surgical Assistant$50,245
Expert Level Veterinary Surgical Assistant$51,415
$46,855 0 yr
$47,116 < 2 yrs
$47,901 2-4 yrs
$50,245 5-8 yrs
$51,415 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Veterinary Surgical Assistant Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Veterinary Surgical Assistants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $53,151.
  • California: $52,950.
  • Massachusetts: $52,244.

Top Paying Cities for Veterinary Surgical Assistants

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $60,549
  • San Francisco: $59,886
  • Oakland: $58,624

What Skills Can Increase a Veterinary Surgical Assistant's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 7.46% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Animal Care (Mentioned in 3.48% Job Postings): Providing animals' physical and mental needs to protect their welfare by treating them all with care.
  • Nursing Care (Mentioned in 2.39% Job Postings): Nursing Care means assistance provided for the health care needs of sick or disabled individuals, by or under the direction of licensed nursing personnel.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 7.46%
Animal Care 3.48%
Nursing Care 2.39%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Veterinary Surgical Assistant's salary.
  • Internal Medicine: Can increase your salary by up to 47%.
  • Critical Care: Can increase your salary by up to 44%.
  • Patient Care: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Internal Medicine
$70,568
47%
Critical Care
$69,127
44%
Patient Care
$59,526
24%
Anesthesia
$57,126
19%
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Veterinary Surgical Assistant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Veterinary Surgical Assistant roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Hospitality & Leisure sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Veterinary Surgical Assistant positions in Retail & Wholesale or Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Veterinary Surgical Assistant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Veterinary Surgical Assistant

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$62,407$30.030%
Hospitality & Leisure$57,606$28.020%
Healthcare$52,806$25.010%

Veterinary Surgical Assistant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Veterinary Surgical Assistant's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Veterinary Surgical Assistant

Salaries for a Veterinary Surgical Assistant can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $51,049 in 2023 to around $50,567 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Veterinary Surgical Assistant salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Veterinary Surgical Assistant Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$51,049
2024
$50,992
2025
$50,567
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $51,049
2024 $50,992
2025 $50,567
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Veterinary Surgical Assistant

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Veterinary Surgical Assistant

Here are companies hiring for Veterinary Surgical Assistant and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Veterinary Surgical Assistant Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Veterinary Surgical Assistant job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Carevet

    Columbus, OH

    Carevet | Columbus, OH

    Veterinary Assistant CareVet of Columbus. Join a team committed to the highest standards of veterinary medicine. CareVet of Columbus is growing, and we're ... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Banfield Pet Hospital

    Columbus, OH

    Banfield Pet Hospital | Columbus, OH

    Veterinary Assistant Careers at Banfield Pet Hospital. For those who want to put their love of pets into action, there are few jobs more rewarding than tha... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Mission Pet Health

    Columbus, OH

    Mission Pet Health | Columbus, OH

    Veterinary Assistant Position. Welcome to German Village Veterinary Hospital, where we are committed to providing the highest standard of small animal care... more

    8 Days Ago

  • US Equestrian Fed

    Columbus, OH

    US Equestrian Fed | Columbus, OH

    JOB Summary:This position provides direct assistance to the Chief Veterinary Officer and the Equine Drugs and Medications Program in general.Duties and Res... more

    7 Days Ago

  • MedVet

    Columbus, OH

    MedVet | Columbus, OH

    Surgery Veterinary Assistant. MedVet is a fast-growing Emergency and Specialty provider with practices nationwide. We help our patients receive advanced me... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Ohio State University

    Columbus, OH

    Ohio State University | Columbus, OH

    Veterinary Care Assistant - Orthopedic Surgery - Dublin. The Veterinary Assistant provides operational and patient care support for the surgery and Urgent ... more

    7 Days Ago

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FAQ about Veterinary Surgical Assistant

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Veterinary Surgical Assistant?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Veterinary Surgical Assistant roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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