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.
About the profession
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.
How to Get Started
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Career Match Test →Explore the Career Path section to see progression from junior to senior
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Jump to Learning Path →Personality Fit
Based on the Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers role, here are the RIASEC personality types that tend to thrive in this career. While these alignments are common, individual success depends on motivation, skill development, and finding the right work environment.
Social
Helping, teaching, working with people
Investigative
Research, analysis, problem-solving
Conventional
Organizing, detail-oriented, structured
Not sure if these types match you? Take the full RIASEC assessment (12-15 min) to discover your personality profile and see how it aligns with hundreds of careers.
Career Path
Your career progression roadmap with salary growth at each level
Career Ladder
Trainee Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretaker → Technician Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretaker → Senior Technician Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretaker → Lead Technician Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretaker
Where are you on this career path?
Click a level below to set your current position
Salary Growth
4
Levels
47K
Top Salary
8+
Years
Learning Path
Skills you need to develop and courses to get there
🚀
Set your current level first
Go to the Career Path tab and select your current level to see your personalized learning plan.
Go to Career PathCareer levels
Timeline: 0-2 | Entry Level Base: $28,550 - $33,070/year With equity/bonuses: $31,405 - $39,684 Top markets (SF/NYC): $32,833 - $39,684 Execute core tasks using Active Listening…
Day in Life
Junior vs Senior, daily schedule breakdown
9am, Hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures. 10am, Monitor animals recovering from surgery and notify veterinarians of any unusual changes or symptoms.
Income Dynamics
Conservative and aggressive scenarios for 10–15 years
Year 1: Entry level $19,985 - $29,763 Year 2-3: Junior level $33,070 - $35,711 Year 4-6: Mid level $35,711 - $38,718 Year 7-10: Senior level $38,718 - $44,216 Year 10+:…
Is this for me?
15 questions, answer honestly
You find the craft of a Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretaker genuinely interesting, not just a paycheck You enjoy working with Active Listening and Critical…
💰 Salary Range
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Related Reading
Related Holland / RIASEC Types