Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers (31-9096)
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 post-operative 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. Excludes Nonfarm Animal Caretakers (39-2021).
Employment and Job Openings
| Employment | Average Annual Openings | |||||
| 2018 Estimate | 2028 Projection | Percent Change | Labor Force Exits | Occupation Transfers | Total | |
| Alaska | 265 | 333 | 25.66 | 16 | 32 | 55 | United States | 92200 | 109800 | 0.0 | 5500 | 10800 | 18100 |
Job Outlook for Alaska: Alaska’s employment growth is robust with moderate employment opportunities.
2021 Wages
| Mean Wage | Wage by Percentile | |||||
| Mean | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | |
| United States | 15.28 | 11.02 | 13.56 | 14.32 | 17.56 | 18.68 |
| Alaska | 17.53 | 14.19 | 17.34 | 17.53 | 17.94 | 21.76 |
| Anchorage/Mat-Su Area | 16.99 | 14.01 | 17.34 | 17.52 | 17.53 | 17.56 |
| Balance of State | 18.97 | 14.62 | 17.88 | 17.98 | 18.23 | 22.43 |
* indicates the estimate is not available, or the hourly wage is greater than $100, or the annual wage is greater than $208,000.