Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
Agriculture, Food and Natural ResourcesO*NET 31-9096.00United States
Feed, water, and examine pets and other nonfarm animals for signs of illness, disease, or injury in laboratories and animal hospitals and clinics. Clean and disinfect cages and work areas, and sterilize laboratory and surgical equipment.
- Median annual earnings
- $38,040
- Projected change
- +12.8%
- Typical education
- High school diploma or less
- Employment
- 132.38K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
84.7% of the workforce
Growing to 149.31K by 2035
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These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.
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The work
What veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures.
- Monitor animals recovering from surgery and notify veterinarians of any unusual changes or symptoms.
- Fill medication prescriptions.
- Clean and maintain kennels, animal holding areas, examination or operating rooms, or animal loading or unloading facilities to control the spread of disease.
- Examine animals to detect behavioral changes or clinical symptoms that could indicate illness or injury.
- Perform routine laboratory tests or diagnostic tests, such as taking or developing x-rays.
- Assist veterinarians in examining animals to determine the nature of illnesses or injuries.
- Administer medication, immunizations, or blood plasma to animals as prescribed by veterinarians.
- Collect laboratory specimens, such as blood, urine, or feces, for testing.
- Clean, maintain, and sterilize instruments or equipment.
- Perform office reception duties, such as scheduling appointments or helping customers.
- Record information relating to animal genealogy, feeding schedules, appearance, behavior, or breeding.
- Provide emergency first aid to sick or injured animals.
- Prepare surgical equipment and pass instruments or materials to veterinarians during surgical procedures.
- Prepare feed for animals according to specific instructions, such as diet lists or schedules.
- Educate or advise clients on animal health care, nutrition, or behavior problems.
- Prepare examination or treatment rooms by stocking them with appropriate supplies.
- Provide assistance with euthanasia of animals or disposal of corpses.
- Write reports, maintain research information, or perform clerical duties.
- Perform enemas, catheterizations, ear flushes, intravenous feedings, or gavages.
- Perform hygiene-related duties, such as clipping animals' claws or cleaning and polishing teeth.
- Perform accounting duties, such as bookkeeping, billing customers for services, or maintaining inventories.
- Exercise animals or provide them with companionship.
- Place orders to restock inventory of hospital or laboratory supplies.
- Sell pet food or supplies to customers.
- Dust, spray, or bathe animals to control insect pests.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $29,788
- 25th percentile
- $35,408
- 50th percentile
- $38,040
- 75th percentile
- $46,129
- 90th percentile
- $51,122
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $38,040 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+12.8%faster than average
2025132,375 jobs
2035 projected149,314 jobs
16,939 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- High school diploma or less
- 84.7%
- Certificate
- 10.9%
- Some college
- 3.7%
- Bachelor's degree
- 0.5%
- Associate degree
- 0.3%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Service Orientation
- Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Instructing
- Teaching others how to do something.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Mathematics
- Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Science
- Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Management of Material Resources
- Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.
- Persuasion
- Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
- Negotiation
- Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Veterinary Assistants14,921 postings
- 02Veterinary Technician Assistants2,985 postings
- 03Kennel Assistants1,442 postings
- 04Emergency Veterinary Technicians1,034 postings
- 05Veterinary Hospital Managers711 postings
- 06Veterinary Assistants/Receptionists388 postings
- 07Veterinary Kennel Assistants328 postings
- 08Kennel Technicians229 postings
- 09Veterinary Receptionists225 postings
- 10Veterinary Nurses222 postings
- 11Veterinary Technicians218 postings
- 12Kennel Attendants191 postings
- 13Registered Veterinary Technicians186 postings
- 14Lead Veterinary Technicians152 postings
- 15Small Animal Veterinarians141 postings
- 16Veterinary Assistants/Kennel Technicians138 postings
- 17Licensed Veterinary Technicians99 postings
- 18Office Managers/Veterinary Assistants96 postings
- 19Veterinary Oncologists85 postings
- 20Certified Veterinary Technicians80 postings
Top employers
- 01VCA Animal Hospitals1,293 postings
- 02Banfield Pet Hospital1,181 postings
- 03PetCo816 postings
- 04PetVet Care Centers694 postings
- 05Medical Management International669 postings
- 06Veterinary Emergency Group585 postings
- 07Ethos Veterinary Health467 postings
- 08A Caring Doctor Pc306 postings
- 09A Caring Doctor (minnesota) Pa292 postings
- 10Veterinary Practice Partners291 postings
- 11BluePearl284 postings
- 12Thrive Pet Healthcare282 postings
- 13Alliance Animal Health221 postings
- 14MedVet204 postings
- 15Metropolitan Veterinary Associates201 postings
- 16Community Veterinary Partners136 postings
- 17VetCor129 postings
- 18Petfolk117 postings
- 19Innovetive Petcare98 postings
- 20Suveto98 postings
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