# 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. 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.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 31-9096.00
- **Summary:** 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.

## Aliases

- Animal Care Provider
- Animal Caregiver
- Certified Veterinary Assistant
- Veterinarian Assistant (Vet Assistant)
- Avian Keeper
- Emergency Veterinary Assistant
- Inpatient Technician Assistant
- Kennel Vet Assistant (Kennel Veterinary Assistant)
- Research Animal Attendant
- Small Animal Caretaker
- Animal Care Service Worker
- Animal Care Specialist

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures. | Core | 4.A.4.a.5.k |
| Monitor animals recovering from surgery and notify veterinarians of any unusual changes or symptoms. | Core | 4.A.1.a.2.e |
| Administer anesthetics during surgery and monitor the effects on animals. | Supplemental | 4.A.1.a.2.e |
| Fill medication prescriptions. | Core | 4.A.4.c.3.f |
| Clean and maintain kennels, animal holding areas, examination or operating rooms, or animal loading or unloading facilities to control the spread of disease. | Core | 4.A.3.a.1.c |
| Examine animals to detect behavioral changes or clinical symptoms that could indicate illness or injury. | Core | 4.A.2.a.1.f |
| Perform routine laboratory tests or diagnostic tests, such as taking or developing x-rays. | Core | 4.A.1.b.2.a |
| Assist veterinarians in examining animals to determine the nature of illnesses or injuries. | Core | 4.A.4.a.5.k |
| Administer medication, immunizations, or blood plasma to animals as prescribed by veterinarians. | Core | 4.A.4.a.5.c |
| Collect laboratory specimens, such as blood, urine, or feces, for testing. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.al |
| Clean, maintain, and sterilize instruments or equipment. | Core | 4.A.3.a.1.i |
| Perform office reception duties, such as scheduling appointments or helping customers. | Core | 4.A.2.b.5.c |

## Emerging Tasks


## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Order medical supplies or equipment. | 4.A.4.c.3.e |
| Monitor patients to detect health problems. | 4.A.1.a.2.e |
| Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments. | 4.A.1.a.2.e |
| Give medications or immunizations. | 4.A.4.a.5.c |
| Clean medical equipment. | 4.A.3.a.1.i |
| Maintain medical equipment or instruments. | 4.A.3.b.4.f |
| Administer basic health care or medical treatments. | 4.A.4.a.5.c |
| Clean patient rooms or patient treatment rooms. | 4.A.3.a.1.c |
| Hold patients to ensure proper positioning or safety. | 4.A.4.a.5.k |
| Conduct diagnostic tests to determine patient health. | 4.A.1.b.2.a |
| Control prescription refills or authorizations. | 4.A.4.c.3.f |
| Collect biological specimens from patients. | 4.A.3.a.2.al |
| Assess physical conditions of patients to aid in diagnosis or treatment. | 4.A.2.a.1.f |
| Assist practitioners to perform medical procedures. | 4.A.4.a.5.k |
| Prepare medical instruments or equipment for use. | 4.A.3.a.2.k |
| Feed patients. | 4.A.4.a.5.i |
| Assist patients with daily activities. | 4.A.4.a.5.i |
| Record vital statistics or other health information. | 4.A.3.b.6.k |
| Teach medical procedures or medical equipment use to patients. | 4.A.4.b.3.f |
| Prepare patient treatment areas for use. | 4.A.3.a.2.k |
| Stock medical or patient care supplies. | 4.A.3.a.2.ak |
| Dispose of biomedical waste in accordance with standards. | 4.A.3.a.1.e |
| Schedule patient procedures or appointments. | 4.A.2.b.5.c |
| Perform clerical work in medical settings. | 4.A.4.c.1.a |
| Prepare medical reports or documents. | 4.A.3.b.6.f |
| Process medical billing information. | 4.A.4.c.1.c |
| Inventory medical supplies or equipment. | 4.A.4.c.3.g |
| Sell products or services. | 4.A.4.a.6.b |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Customer and Personal Service | knowledge | 4.33 |
| English Language | knowledge | 3.83 |
| Biology | knowledge | 3.56 |
| Administrative | knowledge | 3.51 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 3.5 |
| Medicine and Dentistry | knowledge | 3.5 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 3.38 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 3.38 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 3.25 |
| Written Expression | ability | 3.25 |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 3.25 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 3.25 |
| Computers and Electronics | knowledge | 3.18 |
| Reading Comprehension | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Writing | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Service Orientation | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 3.12 |
| Manual Dexterity | ability | 3.12 |
| Near Vision | ability | 3.12 |
| Speaking | essential_skill | 3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Coordination | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Time Management | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Written Comprehension | ability | 3 |
| Inductive Reasoning | ability | 3 |
| Flexibility of Closure | ability | 3 |
| Selective Attention | ability | 3 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | ability | 3 |
| Finger Dexterity | ability | 3 |
| Multilimb Coordination | ability | 3 |
| Trunk Strength | ability | 3 |
| Extent Flexibility | ability | 3 |
| Speech Recognition | ability | 3 |
| Speech Clarity | ability | 3 |
| Active Learning | essential_skill | 2.88 |
| Instructing | transferable_skill | 2.88 |
| Complex Problem Solving | transferable_skill | 2.88 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | transferable_skill | 2.88 |
| Category Flexibility | ability | 2.88 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| Biology | Specialized Skill |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Word | Common Skill |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Outlook | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Excel | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Access | Specialized Skill |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Finger Dexterity | Common Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Chemistry | Specialized Skill |
| Psychology | Specialized Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Depth Perception | Common Skill |
| Geography | Specialized Skill |
| Foreign Language | Common Skill |
| Equipment Selection | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Maintenance | Specialized Skill |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| Presentation Software | Specialized Skill |
| Medical Software | Specialized Skill |
| Installation | Specialized Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Microsoft Access | Data base user interface and query software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software | yes | no |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | yes | no |
| IDEXX Laboratories IDEXX Cornerstone | Medical software | no | no |
| Labeling software | Label making software | no | no |
| McAllister Software Systems AVImark | Medical software | no | no |
| Practice management software PMS | Medical software | no | no |
| Scheduling software | Calendar and scheduling software | no | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 4.93 |
| Spend Time Standing | 4.78 |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 4.7 |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.52 |
| Contact With Others | 4.48 |
| Exposed to Disease or Infections | 4.41 |
| Telephone Conversations | 4.4 |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | 4.38 |
| Physical Proximity | 4.35 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 4.3 |
| Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings | 4.26 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 4.18 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | 4.17 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 4.15 |
| Spend Time Walking or Running | 4.09 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 4 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 3.97 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 3.92 |
| Time Pressure | 3.78 |
| Exposed to Radiation | 3.77 |
| Consequence of Error | 3.75 |
| Deal With External Customers or the Public in General | 3.73 |
| Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection | 3.71 |
| E-Mail | 3.64 |
| Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions | 3.58 |
| Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling | 3.56 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 3.51 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 3.46 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 3.46 |
| Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body | 3.32 |
| Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers | 3.31 |
| Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | 3.26 |
| Conflict Situations | 3.24 |
| Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People | 3.17 |
| Written Letters and Memos | 3.03 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 3.03 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | 2.99 |
| Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions | 2.66 |
| Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance | 2.61 |
| Level of Competition | 2.54 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 2
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- **Experience:** Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- **Svp Range:** (Below 6.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| High School Diploma | 78.23 |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 10.89 |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 6.44 |
| Some College Courses | 3.67 |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 0.45 |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 0.31 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 6.33 |
| Animal Service | specific_interest_area | 6.31 |
| Health Care Service | specific_interest_area | 5.02 |
| Dependability | work_style | 5 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 4.25 |
| Attention to Detail | work_style | 4 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 3.96 |
| Life Science | specific_interest_area | 3.95 |
| Physical/Manual Labor | specific_interest_area | 3.88 |
| Medical Science | specific_interest_area | 3.53 |
| Social | career_interest_type | 3.51 |
| Integrity | work_style | 3 |
| Personal Service | specific_interest_area | 2.41 |
| Cooperation | work_style | 2.3 |
| Self-Control | work_style | 2.02 |
| Office Work | specific_interest_area | 1.98 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 29-2056.00 | role-29-2056-00 | Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | Primary-Short |
| 39-2021.00 | role-39-2021-00 | Animal Caretakers | Primary-Short |
| 31-9092.00 | role-31-9092-00 | Medical Assistants | Primary-Short |
| 29-2043.00 | role-29-2043-00 | Paramedics | Primary-Short |
| 29-9093.00 | role-29-9093-00 | Surgical Assistants | Primary-Short |
| 29-2042.00 | role-29-2042-00 | Emergency Medical Technicians | Primary-Long |
| 31-1131.00 | role-31-1131-00 | Nursing Assistants | Primary-Long |
| 31-9097.00 | role-31-9097-00 | Phlebotomists | Primary-Long |
| 29-2061.00 | role-29-2061-00 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | Primary-Long |
| 31-1121.00 | role-31-1121-00 | Home Health Aides | Primary-Long |
| 29-1131.00 | role-29-1131-00 | Veterinarians | Supplemental |
| 29-1214.00 | role-29-1214-00 | Emergency Medicine Physicians | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Agriculture | agriculture |
| Healthcare & Human Services | healthcare-human-services |

## Education Level

- **Category:** High school diploma or equivalent

## Study Programs

| Title | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences | agriculture-agriculture-operations-and-related-sciences |

## Market

- **Median Wage:** 37320
- **Mean Wage:** 38990
- **Pct10Wage:** 29160
- **Pct25Wage:** 34320
- **Pct75Wage:** 44550
- **Pct90Wage:** 48150
- **Employment:** 114190
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 103290 | 37110 | 12.95 |
| 541940 | 541940 | Veterinary Services | National industry | 101800 | 37070 | 296.38 |
| 61 | 61 | Educational Services | Sector | 5090 | 47670 | 0.5 |
| 81 | 81 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | Sector | 2820 | 36760 | 0.86 |
| 44-45 | 44-45 | Retail Trade | Sector | 1740 | 41490 | 0.15 |
| 62 | 62 | Health Care and Social Assistance | Sector | 330 | 48350 | 0.02 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 320 | 47810 | 0.05 |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 70 | 47420 |  |
| 71 | 71 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | Sector | 70 | 42960 |  |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry |  | 47810 |  |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 541940 | 541940 | Veterinary Services | National industry | 101800 | 296.38 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 103290 | 12.95 |
| 81 | 81 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | Sector | 2820 | 0.86 |
| 61 | 61 | Educational Services | Sector | 5090 | 0.5 |
| 44-45 | 44-45 | Retail Trade | Sector | 1740 | 0.15 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 320 | 0.05 |
| 62 | 62 | Health Care and Social Assistance | Sector | 330 | 0.02 |
- **Count:** 10

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.86 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | -0.7735824 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | -1.29916 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | -0.5899488 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 22
- **Percentile:** 20
- **Band:** Low
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 26 | felten_aioe |
| 34 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 6 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | -0.7735824 | 26 | Low | How much this job's abilities overlap with what AI systems can do, across many AI capabilities. A relative research score, not a forecast of job loss. |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 0.3333333333333333 | 34 | Moderate | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.03449743653568194 | 6 | Low | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Frey Historical

- **Source:** frey
- **Label:** Computerization probability (Frey & Osborne, 2013)
- **Value:** 0.86
- **Percentile:** 72
- **Band:** High
- **Note:** A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
- **Teleworkable:** no

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0.1111111111111111
- **Beta:** 0.2222222222222222
- **Gamma:** 0.3333333333333333

### Usage Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Importance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Educate or advise clients on animal health care, nutrition, or behavior problems. | 0.020028018684600815 | 4.19 |
| Write reports, maintain research information, or perform clerical duties. | 0.008730161990723432 | 4.12 |
| Perform accounting duties, such as bookkeeping, billing customers for services, or maintaining inventories. | 0.007805791897588011 | 3.93 |
- **Usage Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** 8.7
- **Growth Percentile:** 90
- **Direction:** Growing fast
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 22.2
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 79
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 117.8
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 128.1

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| dingel_neiman | dingel-neiman-workathome |
| felten_aioe | felten-raj-seamans-aioe |
| frey_osborne | frey-osborne-automation |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Ai Playbook

- **Trusted Task Count:** 2
- **Task Count:** 4
- **Total Sample:** 360
- **Autonomy Median:** 3.5
- **Dominant Collaboration:** learning
- **Automation Share:** 29.81
- **Augmentation Share:** 54.17
- **Work Use Percent:** 5.77

### Collaboration

| Label | Percent |
| --- | --- |
| learning | 54.17 |
| directive | 16.99 |
| feedback loop | 12.82 |

### Use Case

| Label | Percent |
| --- | --- |
| personal | 78.85 |
| work | 5.77 |

### Delegated Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Collaboration | Autonomy Median | Sample Count |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Educate or advise clients on animal health care, nutrition, or behavior problems. | 0.02700337542192774 | learning | 4 | 270 |
| Write reports, maintain research information, or perform clerical duties. | 0.004200525065633205 | directive | 3 | 42 |

### Boundary Tasks

| Task | Human Needed Percent | Sample Count |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Educate or advise clients on animal health care, nutrition, or behavior problems. | 96.66666666666667 | 270 |
| Write reports, maintain research information, or perform clerical duties. | 90.47619047619048 | 42 |

### Seed Prompts

| Prompt | Collaboration |
| --- | --- |
| Teach me how to educate or advise clients on animal health care, nutrition, or behavior problems, then check my work as I try it myself. | learning |
| Do this for me: write reports, maintain research information, or perform clerical duties. Give me a finished draft I can review and adjust. | directive |
- **Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 28
- **Skills:** 38
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 11
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** 3a88e674c05f0091