Also called: Vet Assistant, Animal Care Assistant
Helps vets and vet techs by restraining animals, cleaning, and caring for hospitalized pets.
Holds a dog steady for vaccines, cleans cages and surgical instruments, feeds and walks hospitalized animals, and sets up exam rooms. A common first step for future vets.
BLS May 2024.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. High school diploma; trained on the job; certification optional.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Certification. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Growing much faster than average (about 10% over 10 years). Much faster than average.
Low risk for 10 years. Robots won't hold a wiggly cat or walk a post-surgery dog soon; cleaning, feeding and restraint stay hands-on.
Age 16+. One way to start: Ask local vet clinics about kennel or vet assistant openings; many start teens at 16 cleaning kennels
Classes: Biology, Vet-science CTE, Health, Spanish.
Official data: O*NET occupation 31-9096.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.