🐾 Animal Care
↑ 18% growth · Much faster than average
Veterinary Assistant
Vet assistants support veterinary technicians and doctors with restraint, cleaning, feeding, and basic patient prep — making them the entry point for any animal care career.
$31,430
Median Salary
115K
US Jobs
3–9 months
Training
$1,500–$6,000
Typical Cost
💰 Salary & Earning Potential
Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Figures represent national averages — local wages vary by state, city, and employer.
Want your state's salary? Select a state below to see local wage data, demand, and training programs.
📈 Job Outlook
18%
Projected Growth (10yr)
Much faster than average
115K
Total US Jobs
Active positions nationwide
AVMA-CVPM Approved Veterinary Assistant Certificate
Required Credential
AVMA-CVPM Approved Veterinary Assistant Certificate
🎓 Training & Education
Typical Program
Veterinary Assistant Certificate
Program Length
3–9 months
Typical Tuition
$1,500–$6,000
Work Setting
Veterinary clinics, kennels, animal shelters, zoos
🏆 Credential Required: AVMA-CVPM Approved Veterinary Assistant Certificate
☀️ Day in the Life
A typical day as a Veterinary Assistant involves working closely with clients and colleagues in a Veterinary clinics environment. You'll apply your training daily while building expertise and advancing your career.
⚖️ Pros & Cons
Advantages
- ✅ Strong job security
- ✅ Rewarding work
- ✅ Clear career progression
- ✅ Growing demand
Challenges
- ⚠️ Can be physically demanding
- ⚠️ May require ongoing certification
- ⚠️ Entry-level wages vary by region
🗺️ Veterinary Assistant by State
See local salary data, licensing requirements, and schools in your state:
FL FloridaGA GeorgiaTX TexasCA CaliforniaNY New YorkNC North CarolinaIL IllinoisOH OhioPA PennsylvaniaAZ ArizonaAL AlabamaAR ArkansasLA LouisianaMS MississippiSC South CarolinaTN TennesseeVA VirginiaWV West VirginiaKY KentuckyMD MarylandDE DelawareNJ New JerseyCT ConnecticutMA MassachusettsRI Rhode IslandNH New HampshireVT VermontME MaineMI MichiganIN IndianaWI WisconsinMN MinnesotaIA IowaMO MissouriND North DakotaSD South DakotaNE NebraskaKS KansasOK OklahomaCO ColoradoMT MontanaWY WyomingID IdahoUT UtahNV NevadaNM New MexicoWA WashingtonOR OregonAK AlaskaHI HawaiiDC Washington DC
🏫 Schools and programs related to Veterinary Assistant
USA Career Finder combines federal education datasets, state-approved training lists, workforce training provider lists, and licensing-board sources where available. Always confirm program availability, cost, admissions requirements, and licensing eligibility directly with the school.
Federal dataset match
Community College
Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute
📍 Wooster, OH
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Community College of Baltimore County
📍 Baltimore, MD
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Spartanburg Community College
📍 Spartanburg, SC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Southeast Technical College
📍 Sioux Falls, SD
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Kirkwood Community College
📍 Cedar Rapids, IA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Hennepin Technical College
📍 Brooklyn Park, MN
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Finger Lakes Community College
📍 Canandaigua, NY
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Northern Virginia Community College
📍 Annandale, VA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Niagara County Community College
📍 Sanborn, NY
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Horry-Georgetown Technical College
📍 Conway, SC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Fox Valley Technical College
📍 Appleton, WI
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College
📍 Chicago, IL
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Des Moines Area Community College
📍 Ankeny, IA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Tarrant County College District
📍 Fort Worth, TX
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Gwinnett Technical College
📍 Lawrenceville, GA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Technical College
Michigan Career and Technical Institute
📍 Plainwell, MI
Award
Federal dataset match
Community College
Central Piedmont Community College
📍 Charlotte, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Catawba Valley Community College
📍 Hickory, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
📍 Richmond, VA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Milwaukee Area Technical College
📍 Milwaukee, WI
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Chippewa Valley Technical College
📍 Eau Claire, WI
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
East Mississippi Community College
📍 Scooba, MS
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Southeast Community College Area
📍 Lincoln, NE
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Fayetteville Technical Community College
📍 Fayetteville, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Guilford Technical Community College
📍 Jamestown, NC
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Technical College
High Plains Technology Center
📍 Woodward, OK
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Chattahoochee Technical College
📍 Marietta, GA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Central Lakes College-Brainerd
📍 Brainerd, MN
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Technical College
First Coast Technical College
📍 Saint Augustine, FL
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Cape Fear Community College
📍 Wilmington, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Forsyth Technical Community College
📍 Winston-Salem, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Sandhills Community College
📍 Pinehurst, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Johnson County Community College
📍 Overland Park, KS
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Mercer County Community College
📍 West Windsor, NJ
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas
📍 Helena, AR
Award
Federal dataset match
Community College
Santa Barbara City College
📍 Santa Barbara, CA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Southern Crescent Technical College
📍 Griffin, GA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Lanier Technical College
📍 Gainesville, GA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Indian Hills Community College
📍 Ottumwa, IA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
North Shore Community College
📍 Danvers, MA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Western Piedmont Community College
📍 Morganton, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Clackamas Community College
📍 Oregon City, OR
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Georgia Northwestern Technical College
📍 Rome, GA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
North Georgia Technical College
📍 Clarkesville, GA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Southwestern Illinois College
📍 Belleville, IL
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Danville Area Community College
📍 Danville, IL
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Anne Arundel Community College
📍 Arnold, MD
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Jones County Junior College
📍 Ellisville, MS
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
El Camino Community College District
📍 Torrance, CA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Lincoln Land Community College
📍 Springfield, IL
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Springfield Technical Community College
📍 Springfield, MA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
State Technical College of Missouri
📍 Linn, MO
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland Campus
📍 Vineland, NJ
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Carteret Community College
📍 Morehead City, NC
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Dakota College at Bottineau
📍 Bottineau, ND
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Lakeshore Technical College
📍 Cleveland, WI
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Mt San Jacinto Community College District
📍 San Jacinto, CA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Eastern Iowa Community College District
📍 Davenport, IA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Iowa Central Community College
📍 Fort Dodge, IA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Oakland Community College
📍 Auburn Hills, MI
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
📍 Perkinston, MS
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center
📍 Cape Girardeau, MO
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Metropolitan Community College Area
📍 Omaha, NE
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Blue Ridge Community College
📍 Flat Rock, NC
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Westmoreland County Community College
📍 Youngwood, PA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Virginia Highlands Community College
📍 Abingdon, VA
Certificate 2-4yr
Federal dataset match
Technical College
Lebanon County Area Vocational Technical School
📍 Lebanon, PA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Federal dataset match
Community College
Coastal Pines Technical College
📍 Waycross, GA
Certificate 1-<2yr
Get Your Veterinary Assistant Starter Kit
Enter your email to get the free report plus state-specific next steps for Veterinary Assistant training.
Helpful next-step resource
Want a second opinion on your career fit?
USA Career Finder helps you compare pay, training time, schools, and next steps. If you also want a personality-based career assessment, CareerFitter offers a separate test to compare against your results here.
Compare My Career Fit ↗Some links may be affiliate links. If you use them, USA Career Finder may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Privacy Policy