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The differences between vet assistants and laboratory animal caretakers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a vet assistant has an average salary of $30,687, which is higher than the $26,564 average annual salary of a laboratory animal caretaker.
The top three skills for a vet assistant include PET, patients and exam rooms. The most important skills for a laboratory animal caretaker are ventilation, safety procedures, and pigs.
| VET Assistant | Laboratory Animal Caretaker | |
| Yearly salary | $30,687 | $26,564 |
| Hourly rate | $14.75 | $12.77 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 6,591 | 45,979 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 42% |
| Average age | 29 | 29 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
VET Assistants are in-charge of taking care of the well-being of animals in Veterinary clinics and hospitals. Most of the tasks involved are feeding, bathing, weighing, and providing overall nursing care of animals on a routine and sometimes daily basis. VET is short for Veterinary, and as the job title implies, one must also provide assistance to Veterinarians, Veterinary Technologists, or Animal Scientists during Procedures and even Surgeries. A VET Assistant is expected to be equipped with good communication skills and compassion towards animals, but above all, one must also have emotional strength as there are cases which might involve abuse and even euthanasia.
A laboratory animal caretaker is in charge of monitoring and taking care of animals in a research facility or similar setting, ensuring to handle them properly and humanely. Their responsibilities include feeding the animals, examining them for any diseases or injuries, gathering and preparing samples, and maintaining the cleanliness of work areas. Furthermore, as a laboratory animal caretaker, it is essential to provide research and clerical assistance to staff, all while upholding the laboratory's safety policies and regulations.
Vet assistants and laboratory animal caretakers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| VET Assistant | Laboratory Animal Caretaker | |
| Average salary | $30,687 | $26,564 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $38,000 | Between $19,000 And $36,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | Baltimore, MD |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Michigan State University | Charles River Center |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Government |
There are a few differences between a vet assistant and a laboratory animal caretaker in terms of educational background:
| VET Assistant | Laboratory Animal Caretaker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 42% |
| Most common major | Medical Assisting Services | Biology |
| Most common college | Ohio State University | Cornell University |
Here are the differences between vet assistants' and laboratory animal caretakers' demographics:
| VET Assistant | Laboratory Animal Caretaker | |
| Average age | 29 | 29 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 16.1% Female, 83.9% | Male, 28.3% Female, 71.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 6.8% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 3.2% White, 69.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 6.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 3.2% White, 68.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |