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Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

Typical education: High school diplomaModerate pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

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. May provide routine postoperative care, administer medication orally or topically, or prepare samples for laboratory examination under the supervision of veterinary or laboratory animal technologists or technicians, veterinarians, or scientists.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $38,150 Median per year · $18.34/hr Most earn $30,120–$49,150

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Prepare examination or treatment rooms by stocking them with appropriate supplies.
  • Perform enemas, catheterizations, ear flushes, intravenous feedings, or gavages.
  • Provide emergency first aid to sick or injured animals.
  • Groom, trim, or clip animals' coats.
  • Administer anesthetics during surgery and monitor the effects on animals.
  • Clean, maintain, and sterilize instruments or equipment.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
9% more jobs by 2035, much faster than average · about 23,200 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Veterinary services86.0%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools4.8%
  • Animal production and aquaculture2.8%
  • Other miscellaneous retailers2.0%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 3 to 6 months

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 3 to 6 monthsEntry-level

This is an entry-level job. Most people start with a high school diploma and some hands-on animal experience, usually around 3 to 6 months, before working as a Veterinary Assistant.

  1. High school diploma

    About 4 years

    Finish high school, taking biology and any animal or health classes you can, since this is the only formal schooling the job usually asks for.

  2. Animal Caretaker

    About 3 to 6 months

    Work with animals in a kennel, shelter, or clinic front desk or kennel area to learn basic handling, feeding, cleaning, and animal behavior, which builds the experience clinics look for.

  3. Veterinary Assistant

    Entry-level job; most of your learning happens on the job

    Feed and examine animals, clean cages and equipment, and help vets and technicians with routine care, with training done on the job under supervision.

Where it can lead

  1. Veterinary Technologist

    6 months to 1 year of experience first

    Move into more medical work, such as running lab tests, taking X-rays, and giving anesthesia support, usually after completing a certificate or associate degree program in veterinary technology.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology and health or science classesBiology gives you the basics of how animal bodies work, which helps you understand illness and care.
  • Volunteer at an animal shelter or humane societyShelters let you practice feeding, cleaning, and handling animals, which is the core of this job.
  • Look for a part-time job at a pet store or kennelWorking with animals on a regular schedule builds the 3 to 6 months of experience employers often expect.
  • Join a 4-H, FFA, or animal clubThese groups teach animal care skills and responsibility, and they look good on applications.
  • Ask a local vet clinic about shadowingSeeing a clinic day up close helps you decide if this career fits you and gives you a contact for references.

In college

  • Take courses in biology, chemistry, or animal scienceThese classes prepare you for the medical and lab work in veterinary settings and for any later step into technician training.
  • Get a part-time job at a vet clinic or animal hospitalPaid clinic work gives you the experience employers want and a chance to learn from licensed staff.
  • Volunteer at a lab animal facility or research clinicThis shows you can handle animals safely and follow lab rules, which are key skills for this job.
  • Learn animal first aid or handling certificationsMany schools and local groups offer short courses that show employers you know basic animal safety.
  • Join a pre-vet or animal science clubClubs connect you with people in the field and often share job and internship leads.

Tips for getting started

  • Get hands-on animal experience early, such as volunteering at a shelter or humane society, since clinics value real time with animals more than grades alone.
  • Ask a local vet clinic if you can shadow staff or volunteer, and pay close attention to how the team handles animals and records.
  • Keep a simple log of the tasks you have done with animals; this helps when you apply for jobs.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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