Life As a Veterinary Assistant or Laboratory Animal Caretaker
Job Description: 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?
- Administer medication, immunizations, or blood plasma to animals as prescribed by veterinarians.
- Clean and maintain kennels, animal holding areas, examination or operating rooms, or animal loading or unloading facilities to control the spread of disease.
- Monitor animals recovering from surgery and notify veterinarians of any unusual changes or symptoms.
- Provide assistance with euthanasia of animals or disposal of corpses.
- Perform office reception duties, such as scheduling appointments or helping customers.
- Educate or advise clients on animal health care, nutrition, or behavior problems.
Skills Needed to be a Veterinary Assistant
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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.
Types of Veterinary Assistant Jobs
- Veterinarian Helper
- Animal Care Service Worker
- Research Animal Attendant
- Technician Assistant
- Emergency Veterinary Assistant
Job Demand for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
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.
What is the Average Salary of a Veterinary Assistant
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 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
How to Become a Veterinary Assistant
Individuals working as a Veterinary Assistant or Laboratory Animal Caretaker have obtained the following education levels:
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Work
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers work in the following industries:
Similar Careers
Those interested in being a Veterinary Assistant or Laboratory Animal Caretaker may also be interested in:
Career changers with experience as a Veterinary Assistant or Laboratory Animal Caretaker sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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