Career Explorer Healthcare support
Human edge, growing
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.
Among the most resilient careers: more resilient than 95% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is low (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it moderate), and US jobs are projected to change by +9.1% by 2035, faster than average. The work leans on emotional intelligence and physical dexterity.
AI struggles with much of this work, and US employers are expected to hire more people into it than average.
- Median pay (2025)
- $38,150
- Job growth to 2035
- +9.1%
- Openings a year
- 23,200
- People doing it (2025)
- 132,000
- Usual route in
- High school diploma, then short on-the-job training
Where people already use AI for this work
- Perform administrative or clerical activities
- Execute financial transactions
- Purchase goods or services
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Assist healthcare practitioners during medical procedures
- Administer basic health care or medical treatments
- Assist individuals with special needs
What the work looks like
- Hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures.
- Monitor animals recovering from surgery and notify veterinarians of any unusual changes or symptoms.
- Administer anesthetics during surgery and monitor the effects on animals.
- 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.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Medical equipment preparersHuman edge, growing, Index 99, +10.8%
- Dental assistantsHuman edge, growing, Index 97, +7.4%
- OrderliesHuman edge, growing, Index 98, +4.0%
- PhlebotomistsHuman edge, growing, Index 99, +6.8%
Also known as: 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).
Is this career on your child's list?
Build a free Career Playbook matched to your child, or get a 90-day Action Plan with dated next steps, written for your child by name.
Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.