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Veterinary Hospitals and Clinics
Banfield Pet Hospital, VCA Animal Hospitals, BluePearl Pet Hospital
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
These workers help veterinarians treat sick or injured animals and keep research or clinic spaces clean, organized, and safe. The job is distinct because it mixes hands-on animal care with careful recording, sample handling, and infection control. The tradeoff is that the work is meaningful and entry requirements are fairly low, but the pay is modest and the day-to-day work is physical, messy, and sometimes stressful.
Also known as Veterinary AssistantVet AssistantAnimal Care AssistantLaboratory Animal CaretakerAnimal Care Technician
Median Salary
$37,320
Mean $38,990
U.S. Workforce
~114K
22.2K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+8.7%
117.8K to 128.1K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers sits in the Healthcare category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~114K workers, with a median annual pay of $37,320 and roughly 22.2K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 117.8 K in 2024 to 128.1K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or GED, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Animal Care Assistant and can progress toward Veterinary Technician Support Lead. High-value skills usually include Client Communication, Active Listening & Care Instructions, Animal Assessment, Critical Thinking & Problem Solving, and Animal Observation, Monitoring & Symptom Checks, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Critical Thinking, and Monitoring.
Core Responsibilities
- Give animals the medications, vaccines, or other treatments a veterinarian orders.
- Help the veterinarian examine animals and watch for signs of pain, injury, or changes in behavior.
- Clean and disinfect kennels, cages, exam rooms, and treatment areas to help stop disease from spreading.
- Wash, sterilize, and put away tools and equipment after exams or procedures.
Keep exploring: more Healthcare careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Give animals the medications, vaccines, or other treatments a veterinarian orders.
02 Help the veterinarian examine animals and watch for signs of pain, injury, or changes in behavior.
03 Clean and disinfect kennels, cages, exam rooms, and treatment areas to help stop disease from spreading.
04 Wash, sterilize, and put away tools and equipment after exams or procedures.
05 Collect samples such as blood, urine, or stool and prepare them for lab testing.
06 Talk with pet owners or facility staff about care instructions, feeding, behavior, and what was done during the visit, then record the details.
Industries That Hire
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Animal Research and Testing
Charles River Laboratories, Inotiv, Labcorp Drug Development
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Colleges and Veterinary Schools
UC Davis, Cornell University, Colorado State University
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Animal Shelters and Rescue Organizations
ASPCA, Best Friends Animal Society, Humane Society of the United States
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Zoos and Aquariums
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Bronx Zoo, Georgia Aquarium
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can enter the field with a high school diploma, and 78.23% of workers do not need a degree to start.
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Training is relatively quick because the typical on-the-job training is short-term, so you can get started without a long school commitment.
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Demand is steady, with about 22.2K annual openings projected each year.
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The work is very hands-on, so you spend your day helping animals directly instead of sitting at a desk.
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The job can be a good stepping-stone into veterinary technology or animal care management if you decide to train further.
Challenges
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The pay is modest for the amount of physical work involved, with a mean annual wage of $38,990 and a median of $37,320.
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The job is physically demanding because it includes standing, lifting, restraining animals, and cleaning large amounts of equipment and space.
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You are regularly exposed to odors, waste, scratches, bites, and infectious material, so the work can be unpleasant and sometimes unsafe.
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Career growth can hit a ceiling unless you add more education or certification, since many higher-paying animal health jobs require becoming a veterinary technician or moving into supervision.
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Some of the 22.2K annual openings come from turnover and replacement needs, which means openings do not always signal strong long-term wage growth or a big upward path.
Career Progression
Animal Care Assistant
0-1 years
$28K-$33K
New workers focus on feeding, cleaning, basic restraint, and learning how clinics or labs run.
Veterinary Assistant / Laboratory Animal Caretaker
1-4 years
$34K-$42K
Workers in this tier handle routine care, assist with exams, collect samples, and keep detailed records; the median pay of $37,320 fits here.
Senior Veterinary Assistant THIS ROLE
4-7 years
$42K-$49K
At this stage, workers take on more complex handling, help train new staff, and are trusted with more independent daily care tasks.
Lead Animal Care Technician
7-10 years
$49K-$58K
Lead workers coordinate routines, check that sanitation and documentation are done correctly, and serve as the main support for veterinarians or researchers.
Veterinary Technician Support Lead
10+ years
$58K-$72K
This level usually requires added training or certification and shifts toward supervision, more advanced medical support, or a move into a technician track.
Education Paths
High school diploma or GED
This is the standard entry point for the role, and 78.23% of workers in the occupation report this level of education.
Post-secondary veterinary assistant certificate
A certificate can help candidates stand out, and 10.89% of workers in the occupation have a post-secondary certificate.
Some college or associate degree
This is a less common route, with 3.67% of workers reporting some college courses and 0.31% holding an associate's degree.
Key Skills
Technical
Client Communication, Active Listening & Care Instructions 70%
Animal Assessment, Critical Thinking & Problem Solving 65%
Animal Observation, Monitoring & Symptom Checks 62%
Veterinary Recordkeeping & Written Documentation 62%
Animal Handling, Restraint & Safe Lifting 60%
Sample Collection, Labeling & Basic Lab Handling 60%
Instrument Sterilization & Biosecurity Procedures 60%
ezyVet, AVImark & LIMS Software 58%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningCritical ThinkingMonitoringReading ComprehensionService OrientationWriting Job Outlook and Trends
+8.7%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
22.2K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 117.8K to 128.1 K over the next decade, representing 8.7% growth. Around 22.2 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.