Career comparison
Animal Caretaker vs. Veterinary Assistant
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Veterinary assistants earn more at the median ($38,150 vs. $35,360), while animal caretakers usually get to work faster (1–4 weeks (longer for grooming) of training). Animal caretakers feed, groom, exercise and care for pets and animals. Veterinary assistants help veterinarians and vet techs care for animals.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Animal Caretaker | Veterinary Assistant | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $35,360 ($17.00/hr) | $38,150 ($18.34/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $27,250 – $50,060 | $30,120 – $49,150 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +12.1% (much faster than average) | +9.1% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 62,800 | 23,200 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 1–4 weeks (longer for grooming) | 2–8 weeks |
| Key credential | National Dog Groomers Association certification | NAVTA Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA) |
| Work setting | Caretakers work in kennels, shelters, daycares, grooming salons and pet stores, indoors and outdoors.. | Assistants work in clinics, hospitals, shelters and research labs. |
What each job does
Animal Caretaker
- Feed and water animals
- Clean enclosures and kennels
- Exercise and socialize animals
- Bathe and groom pets
- Monitor animal health and behavior
Veterinary Assistant
- Restrain animals for exams and procedures
- Clean kennels and exam rooms
- Feed, water and walk animals
- Sterilize instruments
- Help with admissions and discharges
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, helping others, physical work, and indoor work. Both are part of the agriculture, landscaping & animal care field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose animal caretaker if…
- I love animals
- I don’t mind messy work
- I’m patient
Choose veterinary assistant if…
- I love animals
- I don’t mind messy work
- I want to start quickly
Still torn? Take the Animal Caretaker fit quiz and the Veterinary Assistant fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, animal caretaker or veterinary assistant?
Veterinary Assistants earn more at the median: $38,150 versus $35,360 for animal caretakers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Animal Caretakers typically train faster (1–4 weeks (longer for grooming)) than veterinary assistants (2–8 weeks).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects animal caretakers to grow +12.1% from 2025–35, compared with +9.1% for veterinary assistants.