Occupation · SOC 31-9096
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.
Median wage
$37,320
$29,160–$48,150
Projected growth
+8.7%
Faster than average
Annual openings
1,030
per year
Employed (US)
114,190
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
72 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionWritingMonitoringService OrientationTime ManagementCoordination
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageBiologyAdministrativeMedicine and Dentistry
Technology & tools
Medical softwareLabel making softwareData base user interface and query softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite software
Representative tasks
Hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures.Monitor animals recovering from surgery and notify veterinarians of any unusual changes or symptoms.Fill medication prescriptions.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Animal restraint techniques — apply basic holds under direct veterinary supervision during routine examinations in a clinical setting.Kennel and holding area sanitation — follow established cleaning protocols under direction to reduce disease transmission in an animal care facility.Post-surgical animal monitoring — observe recovering patients and report visible changes in condition to a supervising veterinarian.Medication prescription labels — read and interpret written instructions under supervision before preparing routine fills in a veterinary pharmacy area.Behavioral observation — recognize common signs of distress or discomfort in animals while conducting assigned rounds in a kennel environment.Diagnostic sample handling — collect and label specimens under direct guidance in preparation for routine laboratory tests.Veterinary examination assistance — position and steady animals as directed while a veterinarian conducts initial assessments in an exam room.Facility equipment use — identify and operate basic cleaning tools and cage hardware following orientation training in a veterinary clinic.Client communication basics — listen attentively to pet-owner concerns and relay information accurately to supervising clinical staff.Electronic records entry — input animal intake data into veterinary medical software under close supervision at a front-desk or treatment station.
developing
Animal restraint and handling — perform appropriate physical and chemical restraint techniques with reduced oversight across a range of species in a busy veterinary clinic.Post-operative monitoring — track recovery vital signs and document observations in medical software, escalating abnormal findings to veterinary staff in a timely manner.Prescription fulfillment — fill and dispense medication orders accurately according to veterinarian instructions, applying label-making software in a licensed dispensary area.Sanitation scheduling — manage daily and weekly cleaning rotations for kennels, exam rooms, and surgical suites to meet infection-control standards in a multi-room facility.Clinical symptom assessment — examine animals during routine intake checks and note behavioral or physical changes using established assessment criteria.Routine diagnostic procedures — perform standard laboratory tasks such as fecal floats, urinalyses, and digital X-ray processing with moderate independence in a clinical lab.Medication administration — administer oral, topical, and injectable treatments as prescribed, following safe-handling procedures in an outpatient care environment.Immunization delivery — prepare and give scheduled vaccinations to patients per veterinary orders, documenting doses accurately in the practice management database.Time and caseload management — coordinate daily task priorities across multiple patients using calendar and scheduling software in a moderate-volume veterinary practice.Team coordination — communicate patient status updates clearly to veterinarians and co-workers, supporting smooth workflow across shifts in a clinical support role.
proficient
Complex animal restraint — execute advanced restraint strategies for aggressive or compromised animals autonomously, adapting technique to minimize patient and staff risk in high-stress clinical situations.Post-surgical complication recognition — monitor critical recovery patients continuously, independently identifying early warning signs and initiating appropriate escalation protocols in a surgical suite environment.Prescription accuracy oversight — verify and fill complex multi-drug prescriptions, cross-checking dosage calculations against patient records to prevent dispensing errors in a full-service veterinary pharmacy.Infection-control program management — evaluate sanitation effectiveness across all facility zones, adjusting chemical concentrations and schedules to maintain biosecurity standards in a multi-species practice.Comprehensive clinical observation — conduct thorough examinations across a full patient caseload, documenting nuanced behavioral and physiological findings to support veterinary diagnosis.Advanced diagnostic testing — independently perform and interpret routine in-house laboratory tests and develop radiographic images, ensuring quality control in a diagnostic support role.Specialized medication administration — manage IV fluid lines, subcutaneous fluids, and immunotherapy protocols autonomously for hospitalized patients in a veterinary inpatient unit.Client education delivery — explain post-treatment care instructions and medication regimens clearly to pet owners, using appropriate terminology during discharge consultations.Electronic health record integrity — audit patient records in veterinary medical software for completeness and accuracy, correcting discrepancies to support continuity of care.Mentoring junior staff — demonstrate proper handling, sanitation, and clinical procedures to new veterinary assistants, providing constructive feedback during supervised training shifts.
advanced
Clinical operations leadership — direct the daily workflow of veterinary assistant and caretaker teams, setting task priorities to ensure efficient, high-quality patient care across a full-service animal hospital.Training program development — design and deliver structured onboarding curricula covering restraint, sanitation, and diagnostic support procedures for all incoming clinical support staff.Infection-control policy authorship — draft facility-wide biosecurity protocols and update them in response to emerging disease events, communicating changes to all care staff through formal documentation.Quality assurance oversight — establish monitoring benchmarks and audit clinical records, medication logs, and sanitation checklists to maintain regulatory and accreditation compliance.Technology and software integration — evaluate and implement veterinary medical software, scheduling platforms, and laboratory information systems to improve data accuracy and operational efficiency practice-wide.Interdepartmental coordination — liaise between veterinarians, front-office staff, and external laboratory services to streamline diagnostic turnaround and optimize resource allocation across departments.Performance management — conduct regular evaluations of support staff competencies, identifying skill gaps and directing targeted professional development activities to elevate team standards.Inventory and supply strategy — oversee ordering, storage, and controlled-substance compliance for medications, vaccines, and laboratory consumables, ensuring uninterrupted availability in a high-volume practice.Client service standard-setting — establish and model service-orientation benchmarks for the support team, resolving escalated client concerns to protect patient welfare and practice reputation.Regulatory and safety compliance leadership — ensure all animal care and laboratory activities conform to OSHA, state veterinary board, and USDA standards, preparing documentation and leading facility inspections.
Also known as
21 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Veterinary TechnicianVeterinary Kennel Assistant (Vet Kennel Assistant)Small Animal CaretakerVeterinary AttendantVeterinarian Assistant (Vet Assistant)Emergency Veterinary AssistantAvian KeeperAnimal Health TechnicianVeterinary Receptionist (Vet Receptionist)Animal CaretakerAnimal Care ProviderKennel Vet Assistant (Kennel Veterinary Assistant)Research Animal AttendantAnimal Care Service WorkerLaboratory Animal CaretakerAnimal CaregiverVeterinarian Helper (Vet Helper)Certified Veterinary AssistantInpatient Technician AssistantLaboratory Animal TechnicianAnimal Care Specialist