Veterinary Assistant Job Description:
Veterinary assistants care for animals in laboratories, animal hospitals and clinics.
Employment Facts for Veterinary Assistants:
Veterinary assistants held about 75,000 jobs in 2006.
Educational Requirements for Veterinary Assistants:
There are no formal educational requirements for veterinary assistants. They receive on-the-job training only.
Job Outlook for Veterinary Assistants:
Veterinary assistants should see faster than average job growth through 2016.
How Much Do Veterinary Assistants Earn?:
Veterinary assistants earned median hourly wages of $9.98 and median annual wages of $20,770 in 2007.
Use the Salary Wizard at Salary.com to find out how much veterinary assistants currently earn in your city.
A Day in a Veterinary Assistant's Life:
On a typical day a Veterinary Assistant may:
- feed, water and examine animals;
- clean and disinfect cages and work areas;
- sterilize laboratory and surgical equipment;
- provide post-operative care;
- administer medication orally or topically;
- prepare samples for laboratory examination under a veterinarian's or veterinarian technician's supervision;
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Service Occupations, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/oco20055.htm and Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2007, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes319096.htm (visited on July 8, 2008).
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