State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers earn a median of $38,150 per year ($18.34/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 8.7% through 2034, with about 22,200 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
SOC 31-9096Healthcare SupportLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $38,150
- Projected growth
- +8.7%
- Openings a year
- 22,200
- Typical education
- High school
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Animal Care Provider, Animal Caregiver, Avian Keeper, Certified Veterinary Assistant, Emergency Veterinary Assistant, Inpatient Technician Assistant.
How much do Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers make?
10th percentile$30,120
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$35,660
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$38,150
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$45,710
Upper quartile
90th percentile$49,150
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $38,150 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $18.34/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $40,340 |
| People employed | 126,580 |
Versus all US occupations
At $38,150, Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers earn 25% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $12,830 a year.
Versus healthcare support occupations
Inside the Healthcare Support group, where the middle occupation pays $44,910, this is 15% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $49,150 or more while the bottom 10% earn $30,120, a gap of 1.6×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 8% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Rhode Island pays the most at $49,770, and still leads at $48,661 once local prices are taken into account.
Which states pay Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $49,770 | $48,661 | 380 |
| District of Columbia | $49,080 | $44,658 | 240 |
| Massachusetts | $46,670 | $44,129 | 2,130 |
| California | $46,260 | $41,781 | 16,080 |
| New Jersey | $46,160 | $42,425 | 3,270 |
| Maine | $45,510 | $46,893 | 690 |
| Minnesota | $45,280 | $45,913 | 1,450 |
| Maryland | $44,770 | $42,655 | 2,220 |
| New York | $44,750 | $41,466 | 5,790 |
| Oregon | $44,370 | $42,927 | 3,170 |
Is Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker a growing career?
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers8.7%
All US occupations3.1%
+8.7% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers to change 8.7% over 2024–2034, roughly 2.8× the 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 10,300 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 22,200 openings are projected each year, 18.8% of the 117,800 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Increases in consumers’ pet-related spending are expected to drive employment in the veterinary services industry, which employs most veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers. In clinics and other veterinary service establishments, assistants help veterinarians and veterinary technicians and technologists with various procedures. Demand for veterinary assistants is projected to be strong as the demand for these procedures increases.
Also, laboratory animals will continue to be needed as part of the scientific research process to help ensure the safety and efficacy of new medical, surgical, and pharmacological techniques. This is expected to create demand for laboratory animal caretakers.
How to become a Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker
No state licenses a veterinary assistant, which is the single most common point of confusion: veterinary technicians are a different occupation and are credentialed in 42 states, usually as an LVT, RVT or CVT, after passing the Veterinary Technician National Examination. For assistants and laboratory animal caretakers the credentials are voluntary: NAVTA's Approved Veterinary Assistant designation, and the AALAS ladder of ALAT, LAT and LATG for laboratory animal work. In research settings the legal duty to train sits on the facility, not the worker.
The credential path, step by step
- Start with a high school diploma and on-the-job training
BLS records that most veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers have a high school diploma or equivalent and learn the occupation on the job. There is no licence to apply for and no examination you must pass to work.
- Know the difference between assistant and technician before you enrol anywhere
The AAVSB lists 51 regulated jurisdictions for veterinary technicians, covering 42 states, 6 provinces, 1 district and 2 territories, plus 8 further states with a voluntary credential (Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wyoming). Technicians typically hold an associate degree and pass the VTNE. Assistants do neither. BLS puts 2024 median pay at $37,320 for assistants and caretakers against $45,980 for technicians.
- Consider the NAVTA Approved Veterinary Assistant designation
Graduating from a NAVTA-approved veterinary assistant program makes you eligible to sit the AVA examination, delivered through VetMedTeam on NAVTA's behalf and proctored by an exam mentor, who may be a veterinarian, a credentialed technician, a program instructor or a licensed testing centre. The fee is $100 per student. NAVTA reports over 65 approved programs across the United States and Canada.
- For laboratory animal work, climb the AALAS ladder
ALAT, LAT and LATG are certifications from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, sat in any order you are eligible for rather than in sequence. ALAT has no education requirement at all: two years of laboratory animal work experience qualifies on its own, one year with a high school diploma, or six months with an associate or bachelor's degree. LAT needs three years with a high school diploma, two with an associate degree, one with a bachelor's, or six months if you already hold ALAT. LATG needs five, four or three years respectively, or six months if you already hold LAT.
- Count the experience the way AALAS counts it
A work year is 1,950 hours and may be combined across facilities. Work must be directly related to the health and well-being of laboratory animals; purely administrative work does not qualify, and neither does volunteer work or classroom laboratory coursework. Externship, internship, preceptorship and fellowship hours in a laboratory animal facility count hour for hour. Veterinary clinics, zoos and pet stores are not laboratory animal facilities, but up to three years of that experience converts at six months of non-laboratory work per one month of laboratory work.
Exams you have to pass
Approved Veterinary Assistant examination (AVA)
Open to graduates of a NAVTA-approved veterinary assistant program. Passing entitles the holder to use the AVA designation. The programme began in 2010 and NAVTA reports over 65 approved programs. The designation must be renewed every two years with at least 10 hours of veterinary continuing education; letting it lapse can mean retaking the exam.
Administered by NAVTA, delivered through VetMedTeam.
Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT)
120 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours, weighted 66 to 92 percent toward animal husbandry, health and welfare and 8 to 34 percent toward facility administration and management. AALAS does not publish passing scores because they vary by exam version; the 2023 first-attempt pass rate was 77 percent.
Administered by AALAS, delivered at Prometric test centres and by remote proctoring.
Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT)
155 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours 30 minutes. 2023 first-attempt pass rate 65 percent.
Administered by AALAS.
Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG)
180 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours, split evenly between animal husbandry, health and welfare and facility administration and management. 2023 first-attempt pass rate 59 percent.
Administered by AALAS.
- Program accreditation
9 CFR 2.32 · Animal Welfare Act regulations, personnel qualifications
This is the closest thing to a legal training standard in laboratory animal work, and it is aimed at the employer: the research facility is responsible for ensuring that all scientists, research technicians, animal technicians and other personnel involved in animal care are qualified, and must fulfil that in part by making training and instruction available. The required content includes humane methods of animal maintenance and experimentation, methods that limit animal use or minimize distress, proper use of anesthetics, analgesics and tranquilizers, how to report deficiencies in animal care (with an explicit protection against reprisal for reporting violations), and use of information services for finding alternatives. Because no individual credential is required, the voluntary AALAS ladder is what carries the signal.
- Program accreditation
PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
Applies to institutions holding an NIH assurance. It requires that personnel conducting procedures on the species being maintained or studied be appropriately qualified and trained in those procedures, and that the institution's assurance describe the training offered to scientists, animal technicians and other personnel involved in animal care, treatment or use. Compliance with the USDA regulations is an absolute requirement of the policy.
- How long the training takes
There is no required programme. NAVTA-approved veterinary assistant programs vary by provider. The AALAS credentials are gated on documented work experience rather than on schooling, and AALAS counts a work year as 1,950 hours.
- Continuing education
Not required
AALAS certification itself is for life: once you pass, the credential is yours and there is no recertification requirement. Continuing education attaches instead to the voluntary Technician Certification Registry, which lets you prefix an R to the credential and is renewed every two years with 10 CEUs for ALAT, 14 for LAT and 24 for LATG. NAVTA's AVA designation does have to be renewed, every two years with at least 10 hours of veterinary continuing education.
Licensing and state variation
Not a state license
No state licenses veterinary assistants or laboratory animal caretakers. The state-by-state variation that matters here is one occupation over: veterinary technicians are regulated in 42 states under titles that differ by state, such as RVT in California, LVT in New York and CVT in Wisconsin, and most regulated jurisdictions require a passing VTNE score. The AAVSB, which owns the VTNE, does not itself license, certify or register anyone; the jurisdiction does.
Who governs the credential
- National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) — Approves veterinary assistant programs and awards the Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA) designation to graduates who pass its examination.
- American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) — Awards the ALAT, LAT and LATG technician certifications and the separate Certified Manager of Animal Resources credential, and runs the voluntary Technician Certification Registry.
- American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) — Owns and administers the Veterinary Technician National Examination and publishes the list of jurisdictions that regulate veterinary technicians. It does not license, certify or register anyone itself.
- USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) — Enforces the Animal Welfare Act regulations, which place the duty to train animal technicians and other animal care personnel on the research facility rather than requiring any individual credential.
Credential detail for veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretakers is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers · checked August 23, 2026
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Veterinary Technologists and Technicians · checked August 23, 2026
- NAVTA: Veterinary Assistants Program (AVA designation and examination) · checked August 23, 2026
- NAVTA: Approved Veterinary Assistant program guidelines · checked August 23, 2026
- AALAS: Technician Certification (ALAT, LAT, LATG) · checked August 23, 2026
- AALAS Technician Certification Handbook, revised February 2026 · checked August 23, 2026
- AAVSB: Veterinary Technician Regulated and Non-regulated Jurisdictions, August 2026 · checked August 23, 2026
- AAVSB: Veterinary Technician National Exam · checked August 23, 2026
- eCFR: 9 CFR 2.32, Personnel qualifications (Animal Welfare Act regulations) · checked August 23, 2026
- NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare: PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
Most veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers have a high school diploma or equivalent and learn the occupation on the job. Experience working with or being around animals may be helpful for jobseekers.
| Typical entry-level education | High school diploma or equivalent |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Little or no preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Short-term on-the-job training |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers.
- High School Diploma78.2%
- Post-Secondary Certificate10.9%
- Less than a High School Diploma6.4%
- Some College Courses3.7%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate0.5%
What does a Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker do?
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.
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers handle routine animal care and help scientists, veterinarians, and veterinary technologists and technicians with their daily tasks.
Day-to-day tasks
- Hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures.
- Clean and maintain kennels, animal holding areas, examination or operating rooms, or animal loading or unloading facilities to control the spread of disease.
- Assist veterinarians in examining animals to determine the nature of illnesses or injuries.
- Provide assistance with euthanasia of animals or disposal of corpses.
- Provide emergency first aid to sick or injured animals.
- Perform routine laboratory tests or diagnostic tests, such as taking or developing x-rays.
- Prepare examination or treatment rooms by stocking them with appropriate supplies.
- Collect laboratory specimens, such as blood, urine, or feces, for testing.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Some veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers work part time. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers may work nights, weekends, or holidays.
Where the work happens
- Indoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day
Physical demands
- On their feet more than half the working day
Working with people
- Face-to-face discussions every day
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Where veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers work
| Veterinary services | 87% |
|---|---|
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 6% |
| Scientific research and development services | 1% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Active Listening3.5/5
- Critical Thinking3.3/5
- Reading Comprehension3.1/5
- Writing3.1/5
- Monitoring3.1/5
- Speaking3.0/5
- Active Learning2.9/5
- Mathematics2.8/5
Transferable skills
- Service Orientation3.1/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.0/5
- Coordination3.0/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Instructing2.9/5
- Complex Problem Solving2.9/5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9/5
- Management of Material Resources2.3/5
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Label making software
- Medical software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary6.3
Investigativeprimary4.3
Artistic1.0
Social3.5
Enterprising1.0
Conventionalprimary4.0
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker: frequently asked questions
How much do Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers make?
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers earn a median of $38,150 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 25% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $18.34/hr. The middle half earn between $35,660 and $45,710. The top 10% earn $49,150 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 78.2% hold high school diploma.
Is Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 8.7% over 2024–2034, more than double the 3.1% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 22,200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker do?
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers handle routine animal care and help scientists, veterinarians, and veterinary technologists and technicians with their daily tasks. A core O*NET task: hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers the most?
The highest state medians for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers are Rhode Island ($49,770), District of Columbia ($49,080), Massachusetts ($46,670) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker?
O*NET scores Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers highest on the Realistic, Investigative and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.
How long does it take to become a Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker?
There is no required programme. NAVTA-approved veterinary assistant programs vary by provider. The AALAS credentials are gated on documented work experience rather than on schooling, and AALAS counts a work year as 1,950 hours.
Do you need a license to work as a Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker?
Not a state license. No state licenses veterinary assistants or laboratory animal caretakers. The state-by-state variation that matters here is one occupation over: veterinary technicians are regulated in 42 states under titles that differ by state, such as RVT in California, LVT in New York and CVT in Wisconsin, and most regulated jurisdictions require a passing VTNE score. The AAVSB, which owns the VTNE, does not itself license, certify or register anyone; the jurisdiction does.
What exams and certifications apply to a Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker?
The AVA (Approved Veterinary Assistant examination), the ALAT (Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician), the LAT (Laboratory Animal Technician), the LATG (Laboratory Animal Technologist). Open to graduates of a NAVTA-approved veterinary assistant program. Passing entitles the holder to use the AVA designation. The programme began in 2010 and NAVTA reports over 65 approved programs. The designation must be renewed every two years with at least 10 hours of veterinary continuing education; letting it lapse can mean retaking the exam.