Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

Median salary, education path, job outlook, and related careers — based on U.S. labor data.

What a Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers does

Veterinary assistants help veterinarians care for animals by assisting with exams, restraining animals, and maintaining clinic cleanliness, while laboratory animal caretakers provide housing and care for research animals. Both roles support veterinary and medical research operations.

Education & path

The typical entry point is a high school diploma. No degree required — short-term training or on-the-job learning.

Estimated cost of that path: No degree cost. Estimates only — actual cost varies widely by school and financial aid; payback assumes ~20% of income applied.

Related careers

• Nursing Assistants — $42,260/yr
• Medical Assistants — $45,690/yr
• Dental Assistants — $48,070/yr
• Phlebotomists — $45,230/yr
• Physical Therapist Assistants — $68,380/yr