# Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/veterinary-assistants-and-laboratory-animal-caretakers
- SOC code: 31-9096.00
- Career family: Healthcare support
- Median annual pay: $38,150 (10th percentile $30,120, 90th percentile $49,150)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +9.1%
- Openings a year: 23,200
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RIC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 89 |
| Investigative (I) | 54 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 42 |
| Enterprising (E) | 0 |
| Conventional (C) | 49 |

## What you'd do

- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 90/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 87/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 85/100)
- Assisting and Caring for Others (importance 81/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 80/100)
- Getting Information (importance 79/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 78/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 75/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 74/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 74/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Service Orientation, Writing, Coordination, Social Perceptiveness, Speaking, Time Management

## Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Biology, Administrative, Medicine and Dentistry, Computers and Electronics, Mathematics, Communications and Media, Sales and Marketing, Telecommunications

## Also called

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

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0183) (CIP 0183, 235 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [St Petersburg College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/st-petersburg-college-2570) | Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | not reported | $61,428 | not reported |
| [University of Massachusetts-Amherst UMASS Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-massachusetts-amherst-umass-main-campus-2950) | Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | $45,633 | $59,298 | $22,300 |
| [Michigan State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/michigan-state-university-1677) | Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | $42,510 | $46,669 | $26,500 |
| [Purdue University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/purdue-university-main-campus-2163) | Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | $42,584 | $45,935 | $17,495 |
| [North Dakota State University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/north-dakota-state-university-main-campus-1896) | Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | $44,485 | $44,457 | $22,250 |
| [Wilson College-Pennsylvania](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wilson-college-pennsylvania-3288) | Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | $38,955 | $41,954 | $25,000 |
| [SUNY College of Technology at Canton](https://www.collegesref.com/college/suny-college-of-technology-at-canton-2650) | Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | $42,004 | $41,426 | $22,022 |
| [Texas A & M University-Kingsville](https://www.collegesref.com/college/texas-a-m-university-kingsville-2697) | Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | $36,997 | $40,816 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Veterinary Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/veterinary-technologists-and-technicians): $47,380 median pay
- [Animal Caretakers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/animal-caretakers): $35,360 median pay
- [Medical Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/medical-assistants): $45,690 median pay
- [Paramedics](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/paramedics): $60,600 median pay
- [Surgical Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/surgical-assistants): $66,800 median pay
- [Emergency Medical Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/emergency-medical-technicians): $44,470 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.