Hold an animal for the vet
Keep the animal from moving while the veterinarian examines it.
Career profile
Veterinary Assistant
Veterinary assistants help animals through exams and recovery and keep the clinic ready for them.
Hold a dog steady during its exam, then clean that room for whichever animal is next. You handle both patient care and cleanup.
A day in the life
Watch animals wake after an operation
Stay close as the animal wakes up and report anything unusual to the vet.
Clean kennels and sterilize instruments
Wipe down kennels and exam surfaces, then wash and sterilize the instruments so the room is ready again.
Feed animals staying in the hospital
In hospital settings, you feed the animals staying in and help with their daily care between treatments.
Quick facts
High school + workplace training
United States · 2025–2035 classification
$38,150/year
United States · May 2025
9.1% projected growth
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
High school + workplace trainingTypical preparation for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is a high school diploma or equivalent plus short-term on-the-job training.
Pay
$38,150/yearMedian for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers combined; $18.34 per hour.
Outlook
9.1% projected growthFor veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers combined, with 23,200 openings per year on average.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You notice small changes in an animal’s behavior.
- You can stay patient when an animal resists handling.
- You are willing to repeat careful cleaning throughout a shift.
Things to weigh
- Lifting and holding animals takes effort; bites and scratches are real risks.
- You may care for abused animals or help with euthanasia.
- Some jobs include nights, weekends, or holidays.
Where AI may help
Some clinic software sends appointment reminders and saves client messages automatically, reducing repeated clerical steps.
What people still lead
Holding an animal and noticing a change during recovery still require direct attention.
What we can’t predict yet
How much automation changes your day depends partly on whether your job includes front-desk work or mostly animal care.
Pay in context
Earnings
These U.S. figures combine veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers.
The pay spread
In the combined group, the lowest-paid 10% earned below $30,120 annually; the highest-paid 10% earned above $49,150. These are not starting and experienced pay rates.
Workplace makes a difference
Combined-group annual medians were $37,930 in veterinary services, $47,860 in educational services, and $49,230 in scientific research and development.
Openings include replacement hiring
The combined group is projected to have 23,200 openings annually, on average, during 2025–2035. That includes replacing people who leave, not just newly created jobs.
Getting started
Learn in an assistant job
- What the route involves
- Look for an assistant position with training in animal handling, cleaning, and basic care.
- What it can lead to
- You build the practical skills needed to support the clinic’s daily work while employed.
- What to check
- Clinical care is supervised by veterinarians or veterinary technicians; training does not make you an independent clinician.
Complete an approved assistant program
- What the route involves
- Complete a veterinary assistant program approved by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America.
- What it can lead to
- Graduation makes you eligible for the Approved Veterinary Assistant examination. Passing earns the Approved Veterinary Assistant designation.
- What to check
- Certification is optional for the combined veterinary-assistant and laboratory-caretaker occupation.
The usual route for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is to learn at work. Assistant training programs offer another preparation option.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Get reliable at the basics
Build consistent habits in cleaning and animal handling.
Build inpatient-care skills
With further workplace training, develop skills in caring for admitted animals and checking vital signs. Emergency hospitals are one setting for this work.
Consider veterinary technician training
For broader clinical responsibilities, explore veterinary technology. Technicians usually complete a two-year associate degree and meet state requirements for an exam and registration, licensing, or certification.
Where you can work
Veterinary clinics
You work beside veterinarians and technicians through examinations and treatments, preparing rooms and equipment between animals.
- Indoors
- Physical demands
- Safety-sensitive
Emergency and specialty hospitals
Some assistant roles focus on animals admitted for continuing care. Feeding patients and checking vital signs bring repeated contact with the same animals during their stay.
- Indoors
- Physical demands
- Safety-sensitive
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Watch a familiar pet resting or moving normally for five minutes. Write a short handoff describing only what you saw, without guessing a diagnosis. Would you enjoy paying this much attention repeatedly during a shift?
Stay safe: Observe without restraining the animal or changing its care.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- O*NET OnLine. Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers — 31-9096.00. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Table 1.2: Occupational projections and worker characteristics, 2025–2035. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America. Veterinary Assistants Program. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- BluePearl Pet Hospital. Emergency Veterinary Job Opportunities — Grand Rapids, Michigan. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- IDEXX. Vello Client Engagement Platform. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Veterinary Technologists and Technicians. Accessed 2026-10-03.