Skip to content
Boston Career Explorer

Healthcare Support

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.

Also called: Animal Care Provider, Animal Caregiver, Avian Keeper, Certified Veterinary Assistant, Emergency Veterinary Assistant, Inpatient Technician Assistant

Median pay in Greater Boston
$45,790
$22.01/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
1,800
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+2.9%
260 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
High school diploma or equivalent
plus Short-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$36,160$37,590$45,790$59,360$63,420

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures.
  • Monitor animals recovering from surgery and notify veterinarians of any unusual changes or symptoms.
  • Fill medication prescriptions.
  • Clean and maintain kennels, animal holding areas, examination or operating rooms, or animal loading or unloading facilities to control the spread of disease.
  • Examine animals to detect behavioral changes or clinical symptoms that could indicate illness or injury.
  • Perform routine laboratory tests or diagnostic tests, such as taking or developing x-rays.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Lower exposure29 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 24
  • Language-model AIOE 30
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 32

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

This job has lower AI exposure, and little or no AI use has been observed so far. Most of the work is hands-on: holding animals, cleaning, and watching for signs of illness. AI tools may help a little with tasks like filling prescriptions or tracking symptoms. Massachusetts is projected to add about 2.9% more jobs from 2024 to 2034.

Likely to change

  • Filling medication prescriptions
  • Tracking recovery and symptom notes

Still relies on people

  • Holding and calming animals during procedures
  • Cleaning kennels and exam rooms

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Surgical Technologists

    Watching patients closely and keeping equipment clean and sterile carries over. This job pays $81,500 and needs a postsecondary certificate.

    Pay difference
    +$35,710 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +1.9%
    To get started
    Postsecondary nondegree award

  • Medical Equipment Preparers

    Cleaning and sterilizing equipment carries over directly. A high school diploma works for entry, and the median pay is $60,840 with 8.8% projected growth.

    Pay difference
    +$15,050 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +8.8%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Nursing Assistants

    Monitoring recovering patients and reporting changes carries over from animals to people. It needs a postsecondary certificate and pays $47,590.

    Pay difference
    +$1,800 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +3.7%
    To get started
    Postsecondary nondegree award

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

4 programs near Boston

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

Talk to a career coach