All About Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
Example of Veterinary Assistant Job 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 post-operative 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.
Daily Life Of a Veterinary Assistant
- Provide assistance with euthanasia of animals or disposal of corpses.
- Examine animals to detect behavioral changes or clinical symptoms that could indicate illness or injury.
- Administer anesthetics during surgery and monitor the effects on animals.
- Hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures.
- Exercise animals or provide them with companionship.
- Prepare surgical equipment and pass instruments or materials to veterinarians during surgical procedures.
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Veterinary Assistant Required Skills
When polled, Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Types of Veterinary Assistant Jobs
- Research Animal Attendant
- Laboratory Animal Caretaker
- Animal Care Taker
- Animal Health Technician
- Small Animal Caretaker
Veterinary Assistant Employment Estimates
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 83,800 jobs in the United States for Veterinary Assistant or Laboratory Animal Caretaker. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 19.3% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 16,200 new jobs for Veterinary Assistant or Laboratory Animal Caretaker by 2026. There will be an estimated 15,500 positions for Veterinary Assistant per year.
The states with the most job growth for Veterinary Assistant are Utah, Nevada, and North Dakota. Watch out if you plan on working in Ohio, Maine, or Maryland. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Veterinary Assistant Make?
The average yearly salary of a Veterinary Assistant ranges between $19,950 and $38,890.
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers who work in Massachusetts, Maine, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
How much do Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $23,950 |
| Alaska | $32,170 |
| Arizona | $29,300 |
| Arkansas | $25,640 |
| California | $32,480 |
| Colorado | $30,510 |
| Connecticut | $34,850 |
| Delaware | $27,750 |
| Florida | $27,450 |
| Georgia | $25,980 |
| Hawaii | $30,050 |
| Idaho | $27,420 |
| Illinois | $28,060 |
| Indiana | $28,750 |
| Iowa | $28,410 |
| Kansas | $28,680 |
| Kentucky | $25,380 |
| Louisiana | $24,310 |
| Maine | $34,680 |
| Maryland | $29,280 |
| Massachusetts | $36,720 |
| Michigan | $26,800 |
| Minnesota | $29,830 |
| Mississippi | $23,350 |
| Missouri | $28,110 |
| Montana | $27,000 |
| Nebraska | $27,640 |
| Nevada | $28,010 |
| New Hampshire | $27,730 |
| New Jersey | $29,960 |
| New Mexico | $25,030 |
| New York | $32,320 |
| North Carolina | $28,830 |
| North Dakota | $25,120 |
| Ohio | $26,380 |
| Oklahoma | $25,080 |
| Oregon | $30,850 |
| Pennsylvania | $28,840 |
| Rhode Island | $24,850 |
| South Carolina | $25,450 |
| South Dakota | $24,610 |
| Tennessee | $24,960 |
| Texas | $26,410 |
| Utah | $24,750 |
| Vermont | $30,400 |
| Virginia | $26,750 |
| Washington | $31,180 |
| West Virginia | $24,050 |
| Wisconsin | $26,870 |
| Wyoming | $29,190 |
What Tools & Technology do Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Access
- Word processing software
- Scheduling software
- Practice management software PMS
- Labeling software
- IDEXX Laboratories IDEXX Cornerstone
- McAllister Software Systems AVImark
Becoming a Veterinary Assistant
What education is needed to be a Veterinary Assistant or Laboratory Animal Caretaker?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Veterinary Assistant?
Where Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Work
The table below shows the approximate number of Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers employed by various industries.
Similar Careers
Those interested in being a Veterinary Assistant or Laboratory Animal Caretaker may also be interested in:
Those who work as a Veterinary Assistant or Laboratory Animal Caretaker sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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