Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers handle routine animal care and help scientists, veterinarians, and others with their daily tasks.
Is veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers a good career?
It scores 21/100 and ranks #280 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- Faster-than-average projected growth (+8.7% through 2034)
- High volume of openings — about 22,200 a year
- No college degree typically required to enter
Possible tradeoffs
- Pays below the U.S. median wage ($38,150 vs $61,390)
What veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers earn between $35,660 and $45,710 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Strongest employment concentration
Live veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers jobs
No live veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers openings yet
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- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow much faster than average through 2034.
Education
Most workers entering the occupation have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Training
Most veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers receive short-term on-the-job training.
Licenses, certifications & registrations
Although certification is not mandatory, it allows workers to demonstrate competency in animal husbandry, health and welfare, and facility administration.
Important qualities
Communication skills. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers communicate with pet owners, veterinarians, veterinary technologists and technicians, and other assistants. They need to be able to explain instructions, procedures, and other information clearly and effectively.
Compassion. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers must treat animals with kindness and show compassion to both the animals and their owners.
Detail oriented. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers must follow instructions exactly as directed. For example, they must be precise when sterilizing surgical equipment, monitoring animals, and giving medication.
Manual dexterity. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers must be adept in both handling animals and using medical instruments and laboratory equipment.
Physical strength. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers must be strong enough to handle, move, and restrain animals.
Related occupations
How much do veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers make?
The national median wage is $38,150 a year, with the middle half earning between $35,660 and $45,710 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 21 of 100 and ranks #280 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +8.7% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretaker?
The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent.
Where do veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers earn the most?
Among states, Rhode Island pays the highest median ($49,770). Local pay for every state and metro is below.