Jobs Similar to Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
Also called: Veterinary Assistants
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Veterinary Technologists and Technicians, Animal Caretakers and Phlebotomists.
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers: $38,150 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | 81% | $47,380+24% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Animal Caretakers | 79% | $35,360−7% | High school |
| 3 | PhlebotomistsSame group | 78% | $45,230+19% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Dental AssistantsSame group | 77% | $48,070+26% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | 77% | $50,290Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 6 | Veterinarians | 76% | $130,100+241% | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Dental Hygienists | 75% | $98,100+157% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Ophthalmic Medical Technicians | 75% | $45,570+19% | Training or associate |
| 9 | Embalmers | 75% | $58,780+54% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Nuclear Medicine Technologists | 74% | $101,370+166% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Exercise Physiologists | 74% | $59,460+56% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Prosthodontists | 73% | $311,180+716% | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Chiropractors | 73% | $79,200+108% | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Dentists, General | 73% | $170,950+348% | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | 73% | $74,310+95% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Medical AssistantsSame group | 73% | $45,690+20% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 73% | $64,400+69% | Training or associate |
| 18 | Physical Therapist Aides | 73% | $35,240−8% | High school |
| 19 | Podiatrists | 72% | $160,300+320% | Graduate degree |
| 20 | Respiratory Therapists | 72% | $82,280+116% | Training or associate |
- 1Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
81% similar · $47,380 (+24%) · Training or associate
- 2Animal Caretakers
79% similar · $35,360 (−7%) · High school
- 3Phlebotomists
78% similar · $45,230 (+19%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 4Dental Assistants
77% similar · $48,070 (+26%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 5Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
77% similar · $50,290 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 6Veterinarians
76% similar · $130,100 (+241%) · Graduate degree
- 7Dental Hygienists
75% similar · $98,100 (+157%) · Training or associate
- 8Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
75% similar · $45,570 (+19%) · Training or associate
- 9Embalmers
75% similar · $58,780 (+54%) · Training or associate
- 10Nuclear Medicine Technologists
74% similar · $101,370 (+166%) · Training or associate
- 11Exercise Physiologists
74% similar · $59,460 (+56%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Prosthodontists
73% similar · $311,180 (+716%) · Graduate degree
- 13Chiropractors
73% similar · $79,200 (+108%) · Graduate degree
- 14Dentists, General
73% similar · $170,950 (+348%) · Graduate degree
- 15Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
73% similar · $74,310 (+95%) · Training or associate
- 16Medical Assistants
73% similar · $45,690 (+20%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 17Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
73% similar · $64,400 (+69%) · Training or associate
- 18Physical Therapist Aides
73% similar · $35,240 (−8%) · High school
- 19Podiatrists
72% similar · $160,300 (+320%) · Graduate degree
- 20Respiratory Therapists
72% similar · $82,280 (+116%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs for former veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers →
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Animal Caretakers (89)
- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians (83)
- Animal Trainers (78)
- Animal Control Workers (76)
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists (74)
- Physical Therapist Aides (73)
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers (70)
- Animal Breeders (69)
- Neurodiagnostic Technologists (69)
- Ophthalmic Medical Technicians (68)
Questions about jobs like veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
What jobs are most similar to veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Veterinary Technologists and Technicians (81% similar), Animal Caretakers (79% similar), Phlebotomists (78% similar), Dental Assistants (77% similar) and Ophthalmic Medical Technologists (77% similar).
Which jobs like veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Prosthodontists ($311,180, +716%; usually a graduate degree), Dentists (General) ($170,950, +348%; usually a graduate degree) and Podiatrists ($160,300, +320%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers ($38,150).
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.