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Job outlook for laboratory animal care veterinarians in the United States
Are laboratory animal care veterinarian jobs in demand?
Laboratory animal care veterinarian job and salary trends over time
Laboratory animal care veterinarian jobs over time
Laboratory animal care veterinarian job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 197 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 187 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 190 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 181 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 176 | 0.00% |
Average laboratory animal care veterinarian salary over time
Laboratory animal care veterinarian salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $58,252 | $28.01 | +4.0% |
| 2024 | $56,028 | $26.94 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $55,071 | $26.48 | +3.8% |
| 2022 | $53,070 | $25.51 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $52,101 | $25.05 | +0.3% |
Laboratory animal care veterinarian jobs by state
Most common states for laboratory animal care veterinarians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 249 | 29% |
| 2 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 805 | 26% |
| 3 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 178 | 26% |
| 4 | Vermont | 623,657 | 160 | 26% |
| 5 | Alaska | 739,795 | 183 | 25% |
| 6 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,366 | 24% |
| 7 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 328 | 24% |
| 8 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 180 | 24% |
| 9 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 242 | 23% |
| 10 | Delaware | 961,939 | 217 | 23% |
| 11 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 287 | 21% |
| 12 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,420 | 20% |
| 13 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 113 | 20% |
| 14 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 1,894 | 19% |
| 15 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 2,362 | 18% |
| 16 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,345 | 18% |
| 17 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,113 | 18% |
| 18 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,069 | 18% |
| 19 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 535 | 18% |
| 20 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 692 | 17% |
Most common cities for laboratory animal care veterinarians
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Winona | 1 | 4% | $55,309 |
| 2 | DeLand | 1 | 3% | $55,577 |
| 3 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $71,074 |
Laboratory Animal Care Veterinarian job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of laboratory animal care veterinarian experts
Stanford University
Andrews University
Washington State University
University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine
Oklahoma State University
Donna Bouley DVM, PhD
PROFESSOR OF COMPARATIVE MEDICINEStanford University
Veterinary Biomedical And Clinical Sciences
What general advice would you give to a Laboratory Animal Care Veterinarian?
Donna Bouley DVM, PhD: In addition to everything scientific and technical that they learn in vet school, they will need to have good people skills, patience and understanding (pet owners may not be able to afford to treat their animals and this can be stressful for vets), therefore a creative mind - especially if there are alternative ways to treat an animal if the proposed treatment is beyond the owner's reach. A vet must have a strong work ethic, be willing to work in a team, should be willing to give back (ie - volunteer to work with the homeless community's pets), be a lifelong learner (vets must attend continuing education to maintain their licenses). And the passion to still want to work as a veterinarian, despite the fact that they most likely have tremendous debt due to the outrageous tuition costs of veterinary school, and this debt will impact their lives for decades after graduation. Since veterinarians in general will never make the salary that MDs do, this potential financial burden can lead many young people to decide against going to vet school in the 1st place.
Jay Brand Ph.D.
Professor of Leadership, Higher Education & Organizational StudiesAndrews University
Department of Leadership
What skills will help Laboratory Animal Care Veterinarians earn the most?
Jay Brand Ph.D.: Earnings potential probably relates more to practice location (e.g., upscale retirement and/or urban locales) and practice specialties (e.g., thorough bred horse racing) than to entries on one's resume; however, again, a broad knowledge across many domesticated species and a knowledge of healthy thriving in addition to treatment for illness would open more doors than a narrow specialty.
What skills stand out on Laboratory Animal Care Veterinarian resumes?
Dr. Rick DeBowes: Things that pop on a resume would start with the candidate sharing their core value statement (who they are and what they stand for), providing evidence that they made a significant difference in previous positions (helped to develop and lead a change in protocol, solved problems, developed innovations or new approaches to the work), and listing documented evidence of education in clinical communication (primarily hands-on with simulated clients), business/practice management education and working fluency in a second language (Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese depending on area demographic needs). Having a letter of support from a colleague, teacher, or former employer that speaks directly to a candidate's character and work ethic is always a great addition to one's application!
What skills stand out on Laboratory Animal Care Veterinarian resumes?
Peggy Root Kustritz DVM, PhD, MMedEd: Communications! This is always the skill set that alumni report was of greatest value to them as a new veterinarian, and the need for clear communication is heightened by the provision of service through indirect forms of communication, such as talking to clients on the phone or via text or email, instead of face-to-face and providing telemedicine. Other skills that everyone badly needs right now are teamwork (especially the ability to communicate clearly within teams) and adaptability. I know that veterinary graduates like to stress the coursework they've done, but every graduate of an AVMA-COE accredited school is a great student and has to have demonstrated knowledge and specific clinical competencies to finish their training. It is the 'softer' skills that set candidates apart.
What type of skills will young Laboratory Animal Care Veterinarians need?
Clint Rusk: About 80% of our students are studying to become Veterinarians. I believe our graduates will need good STEM skills in Science, Technology, and Math in the coming years. To set themselves apart from their competitors, our graduates will also need soft skills such as effective oral communication, clear written communication, critical thinking, decision making, creativity, and the ability to work with people on teams. Many of the companies we visit with at Career Fairs are looking to hire individuals with good critical thinking skills, those who can make the right decisions, and those individuals who can convince other people they have made the right decision. Our graduates will also have to be good business people with an understanding of accounting and record-keeping.