What They Do: Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers handle routine animal care and help scientists, veterinarians, and others with their daily tasks.
Work Environment: Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers work mainly in clinics, animal hospitals, and research laboratories. Their work may be physically and emotionally demanding.
How to Become One: Most veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers have a high school diploma or equivalent and learn the occupation on the job.
Salary: The median annual wage for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is $29,780.
Job Outlook: Employment of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is projected to grow 19 percent over the next ten years, faster than the average for all occupations.
Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers with similar occupations.
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers care for animals by performing routine tasks under the supervision of scientists, veterinarians, and veterinary technologists and technicians.
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers typically do the following:
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers also provide nursing care before and after surgery and other medical procedures.
They may prepare equipment and pass surgical instruments and materials to veterinarians during surgery. They also move animals and restrain them during testing and other procedures.
Veterinary assistants typically work in clinics and animal hospitals, helping veterinarians and veterinary technologists and technicians treat injuries and illnesses of animals.
Laboratory animal caretakers work in laboratories under the supervision of a veterinarian, scientist, veterinary technician, or veterinary technologist. Their daily tasks include feeding animals, cleaning kennels, and monitoring the animals.
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers hold about 103,500 jobs. The largest employers of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers are as follows:
| Veterinary services | 89% |
| Junior colleges, colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | 4% |
| Scientific research and development services | 2% |
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers work primarily in clinics and animal hospitals, colleges and universities, and research laboratories.
The work of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers may be physically and emotionally demanding. Workers may handle sick or abused animals and may assist in euthanizing animals.
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers have a higher rate of injuries and illnesses than the national average. When working with scared and aggressive animals, workers may be bitten, scratched, or kicked. Workers may also be injured while holding, bathing, or restraining an animal.
Some veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers work part time. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers may work nights, weekends, or holidays.
Get the education you need: Find schools for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers near you!
Most veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers have a high school diploma and learn the occupation on the job. Experience working with or being around animals can be helpful for jobseekers.
Most workers entering the occupation have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
Although most veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers are trained on the job, some employers may prefer candidates who already have experience working with animals.
Although certification is not mandatory, it allows workers to demonstrate competency in animal husbandry, health and welfare, and facility administration.
The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) offers the Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA) designation for veterinary assistants. To qualify for the designation, candidates must graduate from a NAVTA-approved program and pass an exam.
Laboratory animal caretakers can become certified through the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS). AALAS offers three levels of certification: Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT), Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT), and Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG). For AALAS certification, candidates must have experience working in a laboratory animal facility and pass an exam.
Communication skills. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers often communicate with pet owners, veterinarians, veterinary technologists and technicians, and other assistants. They need to be able to communicate clearly and effectively when dealing with an emergency, such as an ill or injured animal needing immediate attention.
Detail oriented. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers must follow strict instructions. For example, workers must be precise when sterilizing surgical equipment, monitoring animals, and giving medication.
Dexterity. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers must handle animals and use medical instruments and laboratory equipment with care.
Empathy. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers must treat animals with kindness and be empathetic to both the animals and their owners.
Physical strength. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers must be able to handle, move, and restrain animals.
The median annual wage for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is $29,780. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $22,920, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $38,860.
The median annual wages for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in the top industries in which they work are as follows:
| Scientific research and development services | $37,750 |
| Junior colleges, colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | $37,730 |
| Veterinary services | $29,710 |
Some veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers work part time. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers may work nights, weekends, or holidays.
Employment of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is projected to grow 19 percent over the next ten years, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 23,900 openings for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Increases in consumers' pet-related spending are expected to drive employment in the veterinary services industry, which employs most veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers. In clinics and other veterinary service establishments, assistants help veterinarians and veterinary technicians and technologists with various procedures. Demand for veterinary assistants will continue as the demand for these procedures increases.
| Occupational Title | Employment, 2021 | Projected Employment, 2031 | Change, 2021-31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | |||
| Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers | 103,500 | 123,500 | 19 | 20,000 |
For more information about certification as a laboratory animal caretaker, visit
American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
For more information about certification as a veterinary assistant, visit
National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America
For more information about becoming a veterinary assistant, including career opportunities, visit
A portion of the information on this page is used by permission of the U.S. Department of Labor.