Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
SOC Code: 31-9096 Job Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed
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.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Haven, CT | $36,234 | $47,715 | $59,218 | $70,699 |
| Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $41,288 | $46,446 | $51,626 | $56,784 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $42,120 | $46,883 | $51,667 | $56,430 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $40,186 | $45,032 | $49,858 | $54,704 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $43,763 | $47,237 | $50,731 | $54,205 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $38,230 | $43,514 | $48,776 | $54,059 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $34,382 | $40,747 | $47,091 | $53,456 |
| Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $34,674 | $40,227 | $45,802 | $51,355 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $38,501 | $42,578 | $46,634 | $50,710 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $38,085 | $42,141 | $46,176 | $50,232 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.5 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.2 | |
| Monitoring | 3.1 | |
| Service Orientation | 3.1 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 | |
| Writing | 3.1 | |
| Speaking | 3.0 | |
| Time Management | 3.0 | |
| Coordination | 3.0 | |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Customer and Personal Service | 4.3 |
| English Language | 3.8 |
| Biology | 3.6 |
| Administrative | 3.5 |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 3.5 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.2 |
| Mathematics | 2.9 |
| Communications and Media | 2.6 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma | 78.2% |
| Some college | 10.9% |
| Less than high school | 6.4% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 3.7% |
Typical Tasks
- Monitor animals recovering from surgery and notify veterinarians of any unusual changes or symptoms.
- Clean, maintain, and sterilize instruments or equipment.
- Administer medication, immunizations, or blood plasma to animals as prescribed by veterinarians.
- Provide emergency first aid to sick or injured animals.
- Clean and maintain kennels, animal holding areas, examination or operating rooms, or animal loading or unloading facilities to control the spread of disease.
- Hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures.
- Perform routine laboratory tests or diagnostic tests, such as taking or developing x-rays.
- Fill medication prescriptions.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
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