Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

What Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Do

Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers handle routine animal care and help scientists, veterinarians, and others with their daily tasks.

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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 a Veterinary Assistant or Laboratory Animal Caretaker

Most veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers have a high school diploma or equivalent and learn the occupation on the job.

Pay

The median annual wage for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers was $28,590 in May 2019.

Job Outlook

Employment of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is projected to grow 16 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. High turnover should result in good job opportunities.

Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers handle routine animal care and help scientists, veterinarians, and veterinary technologists and technicians with their daily tasks.

Duties

Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers typically do the following:

• Feed, bathe, and exercise animals
• Clean and disinfect cages, kennels, and examination and operating rooms
• Restrain animals during examination and laboratory procedures
• Maintain and sterilize surgical instruments and equipment
• Monitor and care for animals after surgery
• Help provide emergency first aid to sick and injured animals
• Give medication or immunizations that veterinarians prescribe
• Assist in collecting blood, urine, and tissue samples

Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers also provide nursing care before surgery and other medical procedures.

They may prepare equipment and pass surgical instruments and materials to veterinarians during surgery. They also move animals during testing and other procedures.

Veterinary assistants typically help veterinarians and veterinary technologists and technicians treat injuries and illnesses of animals.

Laboratory animal caretakers’ daily tasks include feeding animals, cleaning kennels, and monitoring animals.

Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers held about 99,500 jobs in 2019. The largest employers of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers were as follows:

Veterinary services	87%
Junior colleges, colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private	5
Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences	3

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.

Injuries and Illnesses

Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. 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.

Work Schedules

Some veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers work part time. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers may work nights, weekends, or holidays.

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers.

	Occupation	Job Duties	Entry-Level Education	Median Annual Pay, May 2019
	Animal Care and Service Workers	Animal care and service workers attend to animals.	High school diploma or equivalent	$24,990
	Dental Assistants	Dental assistants provide patient care, take x rays, keep records, and schedule appointments.	Postsecondary nondegree award	$40,080
	Nursing Assistants and Orderlies	Nursing assistants provide basic care and help patients with activities of daily living. Orderlies transport patients and clean treatment areas.	See How to Become One	$29,640
	Phlebotomists	Phlebotomists draw blood for tests, transfusions, research, or blood donations.	Postsecondary nondegree award	$35,510
	Surgical Technologists	Surgical technologists assist in surgical operations.	Postsecondary nondegree award	$48,300
	Veterinarians	Veterinarians care for the health of animals and work to protect public health.	Doctoral or professional degree	$95,460
	Veterinary Technologists and Technicians	Veterinary technologists and technicians do medical tests that help diagnose animals’ injuries and illnesses.	Associate’s degree	$35,320

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

American Animal Hospital Association

O*NET

Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers