{
  "@context": "https://schema.org/",
  "@type": "Dataset",
  "dataset_id": "oews-occupation-v1",
  "version": "v1",
  "occupation": {
    "soc_code": "31-9096",
    "soc_title": "Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers",
    "slug": "veterinary-assistants-and-laboratory-animal-caretakers-31-9096",
    "major_group": "31-0000 Healthcare Support Occupations"
  },
  "headline": {
    "annual_median_wage_usd": 38150,
    "annual_mean_wage_usd": 40340,
    "employment_total": 126580,
    "as_of": "2025-05-31"
  },
  "wages": {
    "annual": {
      "p10": 30120,
      "p25": 35660,
      "median": 38150,
      "p75": 45710,
      "p90": 49150,
      "mean": 40340,
      "ratio_90_to_10": 1.63
    },
    "hourly": {
      "p10": 14.48,
      "p25": 17.15,
      "median": 18.34,
      "p75": 21.98,
      "p90": 23.63,
      "mean": 19.39
    }
  },
  "employment": {
    "total": 126580,
    "share_of_us_employment_pct": 0.08,
    "source": {
      "name": "BLS OEWS — National employment estimate",
      "url": "https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/OEUN000000000000031909601",
      "series_id": "OEUN000000000000031909601",
      "as_of": "2025-05-31"
    }
  },
  "wages_source": {
    "name": "BLS OEWS — National wage estimates",
    "url": "https://www.bls.gov/oes/",
    "methodology_url": "https://officeblues.net/methodology#oews-salaries",
    "series_ids": {
      "annual_median": "OEUN000000000000031909613",
      "annual_mean": "OEUN000000000000031909604",
      "annual_p10": "OEUN000000000000031909611",
      "annual_p25": "OEUN000000000000031909612",
      "annual_p75": "OEUN000000000000031909614",
      "annual_p90": "OEUN000000000000031909615"
    },
    "as_of": "2025-05-31"
  },
  "top_paying_msas": [],
  "top_employing_msas": [],
  "verdict": "The 90/10 ratio for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers is 1.63× — this is a compressed-comp occupation where the wage band is narrow. Top decile earns $49,150, bottom decile $30,120. In flat-comp professions, title and tenure define the ceiling more than negotiation does. Push title, not pay.",
  "submitted_components": null,
  "methodology_url": "https://officeblues.net/methodology#oews-salaries",
  "fetched_at": "2026-05-25T02:53:52.141Z"
}