What Does it Take to Be a Veterinary Assistant or Laboratory Animal Caretaker?
Job Description & Duties 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.
What Do Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Do On a Daily Basis?
- Perform hygiene-related duties, such as clipping animals’ claws or cleaning and polishing teeth.
- Provide emergency first aid to sick or injured animals.
- Record information relating to animal genealogy, feeding schedules, appearance, behavior, or breeding.
- Prepare feed for animals according to specific instructions, such as diet lists or schedules.
- Administer anesthetics during surgery and monitor the effects on animals.
- Examine animals to detect behavioral changes or clinical symptoms that could indicate illness or injury.
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Qualities of a Veterinary Assistant
These are the skills Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers say are the most useful in their careers:
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.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Animal Care Service Worker
- Veterinary Assistant (Vet Assistant)
- Veterinary Attendant
- Emergency Veterinary Assistant
- Technician Assistant
Veterinary Assistant Employment Estimates
There were about 83,800 jobs for Veterinary Assistant or Laboratory Animal Caretaker in 2016 (in the United States). 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. The BLS estimates 15,500 yearly job openings in this field.
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.
Veterinary Assistant Average Salary
The salary for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers ranges between about $19,950 and $38,890 a year.
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 each U.S. state?
| 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 many years of work experience do I need?
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Sector
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming a Veterinary Assistant or Laboratory Animal Caretaker might also be interested in the following careers:
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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