Headline risk
3%
Very Low RiskVeterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
United States AI Work Index tracks this occupation on the shared structural baseline and then layers on local demand resilience, wages, and confidence.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
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.
Task evidence
100% weighted task match · 2% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 37,320
Employment 2024
117.8K
Projected Change (2024–34)
8.7%
Openings (2024–34)
22.2K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Employment of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is projected to grow 9 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures. AI use: 0%
- 2. Clean and maintain kennels, animal holding areas, examination or operating rooms, or animal loading or unloading facilities to control the spread of disease. AI use: 0%
- 3. Assist veterinarians in examining animals to determine the nature of illnesses or injuries. AI use: 0%
- 4. Perform routine laboratory tests or diagnostic tests, such as taking or developing x-rays. AI use: 0%
- 5. Monitor animals recovering from surgery and notify veterinarians of any unusual changes or symptoms. AI use: 0%
- 6. Provide emergency first aid to sick or injured animals. AI use: 0%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Worker profile
Median age 27.4 · 63K employed
Under 25: 43% · 25–54: 54% · 55+: 3%
Related
No direct US role match is available yet for this occupation.
Source coverage
11/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Mapping quality
major_group_fallback · employment series present
Narrative & sources
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers handle routine animal care and help scientists, veterinarians , and others with their daily tasks.
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers work mainly in clinics, animal hospitals, and research laboratories. Their work may be physically and emotionally demanding.
Most veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers have a high school diploma or equivalent and learn the occupation on the job.
The median annual wage for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers was $37,320 in May 2024.
Employment of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is projected to grow 9 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Published limitations
This page shows the local country layer, not realised individual job outcomes. The global structural baseline is shared across countries; only the local demand and wage layer changes here.
Built from O*NET occupation descriptions, task statements, technology skills, work context, Job Zones, Anthropic task penetration, BLS OEWS wages, BLS projection tables, BLS ORS requirements, BLS OOH narrative content, BLS skills data, and BLS CPS occupation age tables.