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Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in South Dakota

Thinking about a career as a Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in South Dakota? Here’s what the data says. 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. Excludes “Animal Caretakers” (39-2021).

$32,810 Median Annual Wage (South Dakota)

$48,340 National Median Annual Wage

270 South Dakota Employment

Some Preparation Needed Typical Preparation

What do Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Make in South Dakota?

For a veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers working in South Dakota, the typical annual salary is $32,810 per year (or about $15.78/hour).Earnings range from $26,950 at the 10th percentile to $36,670 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$26,950	$12.96
25th percentile	$27,970	$13.45
Median (50th)	$32,810	$15.78
75th percentile	$35,570	$17.10
90th percentile	$36,670	$17.63

Salary ranges for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in South Dakota

The job concentration index in South Dakota compared to the national average — is 0.80, suggesting fewer veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers earn a median of $48,340 per year ($23.24/hour), lower than the South Dakota median.

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 1,005,706 veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers nationwide. In South Dakota alone, around 270 people work in this role. That’s fewer than the typical state, which employs around 1,400 veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers.

Forecasted number of jobs for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

Top South Dakota Metros for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

The largest metro-area employers of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers in South Dakota.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Sioux Falls, SD-MN	70	$35,520
Rapid City, SD	50	$31,750

Top States for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Employment

These states have the highest employment of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers work.

State	Number Employed
California	14,960
Texas	8,040
Florida	7,060
New York	5,680
North Carolina	5,190
Virginia	4,880
Washington	4,720
Pennsylvania	4,390
Ohio	4,190
Michigan	4,040
Illinois	3,790
Georgia	3,280
Colorado	2,950
Oregon	2,670
Indiana	2,670
Arizona	2,210
Tennessee	2,180
Missouri	2,040
Wisconsin	1,940
New Jersey	1,910

Highest-Paying States for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

These states pay the most for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers.

State	Annual Median Salary
Rhode Island	$48,050
Massachusetts	$45,480
California	$45,470
Maine	$44,080
Minnesota	$43,670
Washington	$43,590
District of Columbia	$43,580
Maryland	$43,520
New York	$43,150
New Jersey	$42,910

Skills

Key veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Active Listening 3.5 / 5

Critical Thinking 3.2 / 5

Monitoring 3.1 / 5

Writing 3.1 / 5

Service Orientation 3.1 / 5

Reading Comprehension 3.1 / 5

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Customer and Personal Service 4.3 / 5

English Language 3.8 / 5

Biology 3.6 / 5

Administrative 3.5 / 5

Medicine and Dentistry 3.5 / 5

Computers and Electronics 3.2 / 5

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Oral Comprehension 3.4 / 5

Oral Expression 3.4 / 5

Written Expression 3.2 / 5

Problem Sensitivity 3.2 / 5

Information Ordering 3.2 / 5

Deductive Reasoning 3.1 / 5

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers typically:

Hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures.
Monitor animals recovering from surgery and notify veterinarians of any unusual changes or symptoms.
Fill medication prescriptions.
Clean and maintain kennels, animal holding areas, examination or operating rooms, or animal loading or unloading facilities to control the spread of disease.
Examine animals to detect behavioral changes or clinical symptoms that could indicate illness or injury.
Perform routine laboratory tests or diagnostic tests, such as taking or developing x-rays.
Assist veterinarians in examining animals to determine the nature of illnesses or injuries.
Administer medication, immunizations, or blood plasma to animals as prescribed by veterinarians.
Collect laboratory specimens, such as blood, urine, or feces, for testing.
Perform office reception duties, such as scheduling appointments or helping customers.
Clean, maintain, and sterilize instruments or equipment.
Record information relating to animal genealogy, feeding schedules, appearance, behavior, or breeding.

Work Activities

Documenting/Recording Information
Performing General Physical Activities
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Assisting and Caring for Others
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
Getting Information
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Handling and Moving Objects
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
Working with Computers
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Tools & Technology

Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Microsoft Access

Related occupations to veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers include:

Also Known As

Animal Care Provider, Animal Care Service Worker, Animal Care Specialist, Animal Caregiver, Animal Caretaker, Animal Health Technician, Avian Keeper, Certified Veterinary Assistant, Emergency Veterinary Assistant, Inpatient Technician Assistant, Kennel Vet Assistant (Kennel Veterinary Assistant), Laboratory Animal Caretaker, Laboratory Animal Technician, Research Animal Attendant, Small Animal Caretaker.

References

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
O*NET-SOC code: 31-9096.00

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