### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakersVeterinary assistants care for animals under the supervision of veterinarians and veterinary technicians.							
						Quick Facts:     Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers2023     Median Pay
            						$36,440     per year
										$17.52     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    High school diploma or equivalentWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    Short-term on-the-job trainingNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    114,800Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    20% (Much faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    23,500What 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.
            
                        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 $36,440 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is projected to grow							 20 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 26,800 openings for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Do 
            

			Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakersVeterinary assistants may maintain and sterilize surgical instruments and equipment.			
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 samplesVeterinary 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.
 Work Environment
			Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakersVeterinary assistants move animals and prepare equipment before procedures.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers held about 114,800 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers were as follows:
        Veterinary services
                91%Junior colleges, colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private
                3Scientific research and development services
                2Veterinary 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.
 How to Become a Veterinary Assistant or Laboratory Animal Caretaker

			veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers imageVeterinary assistants learn through on-the-job training.			
Most veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers have a high school diploma or equivalent and learn the occupation on the job. Experience working with or being around animals may be helpful for jobseekers.
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, and Registrations
Although certification is not mandatory, it allows workers to demonstrate competency in animal husbandry, health and welfare, and facility administration.
The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) offers the Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA) designation for veterinary assistants. To qualify for the designation, candidates must graduate from a NAVTA-approved program and pass an exam.
Laboratory animal caretakers become certified through the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS). AALAS offers three levels of certification: Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT), Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT), and Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG). For AALAS certification, candidates must have experience working in a laboratory animal facility and pass an exam.
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.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersMedian annual wages, May 2023Total, all occupations$48,060  Other healthcare support occupations$43,330  Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers$36,440Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers was $36,440 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $28,550, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $46,630.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Scientific research and development services
                $47,320Junior colleges, colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private
                45,720Veterinary services
                36,250Some veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers work part time. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers may work nights, weekends, or holidays.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers20%  Other healthcare support occupations11%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is projected to grow				 20 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 26,800 openings for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Increases in consumers’ pet-related spending are expected to drive employment in the veterinary services industry, which employs most veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers. In clinics and other veterinary service establishments, assistants help veterinarians and veterinary technicians and technologists with various procedures. Demand for veterinary assistants will continue as the demand for these procedures increases.
			

                        Employment projections data for     veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers**
			31-9096
			114,800
			138,300
			20
			23,500
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations 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
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Animal Care and Service Workers**
            Animal care and service workers attend to or train animals.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $31,830**Dental Assistants**
            Dental assistants provide patient care, take x rays, keep records, and schedule appointments.
            Postsecondary nondegree award
            $46,540**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
            $38,130**Phlebotomists**
            Phlebotomists draw blood for tests, transfusions, research, or blood donations.
            Postsecondary nondegree award
            $41,810**Surgical Assistants and Technologists**
            Surgical assistants and technologists help with surgical operations.
            Postsecondary nondegree award
            $60,370**Veterinarians**
            Veterinarians care for the health of animals and work to protect public health.
            Doctoral or professional degree
            $119,100**Veterinary Technologists and Technicians**
            Veterinary technologists and technicians do medical tests that help diagnose animals’ injuries and illnesses.
            Associate's degree
            $43,740
 Contacts for More Information
								
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
**Related BLS articles**
*Beyond the Numbers*: "Ahead of the pack: why are veterinary occupations growing much faster than average?"

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/veterinary-assistants-and-laboratory-animal-caretakers.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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