Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
SOC Code: 31-9096
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers carries a 50% AI exposure score (High automation risk), with a median annual wage of $37,320 and +8.7% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 117,800 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers (SOC 31-9096) carries an AI exposure score of 50%, placing it in the High automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score in the 40–70% range indicates meaningful automation pressure on specific task categories, but the role as a whole still requires human judgment for coordination, exception handling, or client interaction.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 117,800 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +8.7% change through 2034 — modest growth that keeps the occupation viable even as tasks evolve. Median annual compensation stands at $37,320, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires High school diploma or equivalent, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures.
- 2. Monitor animals recovering from surgery and notify veterinarians of any unusual changes or symptoms.
- 3. Administer anesthetics during surgery and monitor the effects on animals.
- 4. Fill medication prescriptions.
- 5. Clean and maintain kennels, animal holding areas, examination or operating rooms, or animal loading or unloading facilities to control the spread of disease.
- 6. Examine animals to detect behavioral changes or clinical symptoms that could indicate illness or injury.
- 7. Perform routine laboratory tests or diagnostic tests, such as taking or developing x-rays.
- 8. Assist veterinarians in examining animals to determine the nature of illnesses or injuries.
- 9. Administer medication, immunizations, or blood plasma to animals as prescribed by veterinarians.
- 10. Collect laboratory specimens, such as blood, urine, or feces, for testing.
Key Skills Required
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Monitoring
- Service Orientation
- Speaking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Coordination
- Time Management
Knowledge Areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Biology
- Administrative
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- Communications and Media
- Sales and Marketing
- Telecommunications
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers?
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers has an AI exposure score of 50%, indicating a high level of automation risk. Some tasks in this role can be augmented or partially automated by AI, but core responsibilities require human judgment.
What is the job outlook for Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is projected to grow by 8.7% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 117,800 workers.
What skills are needed for Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers?
Key skills for Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers include Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, and others. Typical entry-level education is High school diploma or equivalent.
How much do Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers earn?
The median annual wage for Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is $37,320, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers?
The typical entry-level education for Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is High school diploma or equivalent. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Short-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers?
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
High automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. A moderate share of tasks may be augmented by AI tools.
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).