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Animal Assistant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

VCA Animal Hospitals

Animal Care Assistant

Salinas, CA

$18 - $21/hr

VCA All Pets Animal Hospital of Salinas is looking for an experienced Animal Care Attendant to join our team. While we are a general practice, we are also here for the urgent care needs of the ...

VCA Animal Hospitals

Animal Care Assistant

Salinas, CA · On-site

$18 - $21/hr

VCA All Pets Animal Hospital of Salinas is looking for an experienced Animal Care Attendant to join our team. While we are a general practice, we are also here for the urgent care needs of the ...

Animal Care Services

Animal Care Attendant

Norco, CA · On-site

$16.90 - $18.25/hr

... Assist with bathing, brushing, laundry, stocking supplies, and general facility upkeep as assigned. · Support animal intake, discharge, boarding, daycare, or appointment flow by preparing housing ...

Animal Care Services

Animal Care Attendant

Norco, CA · On-site

$16.90 - $18.25/hr

... Assist with bathing, brushing, laundry, stocking supplies, and general facility upkeep as assigned. · Support animal intake, discharge, boarding, daycare, or appointment flow by preparing housing ...

Animal Care Services

Animal Care Attendant

Norco, CA · On-site

$16.90 - $18.25/hr

... Assist with bathing, brushing, laundry, stocking supplies, and general facility upkeep as assigned. · Support animal intake, discharge, boarding, daycare, or appointment flow by preparing housing ...

Santa Fe Animal Shelter

Animal Care Tech 1

Santa Fe, NM · On-site

$14.25 - $19.25/hr

... Assist Behavior Team with AM playgroups. • Watch the following videos and attend trainings ... animal health or behavior concerns to supervisor and/or office team member. • Assist in ...

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Animal Assistant information

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$7

$14

$28

How much do animal assistant jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for animal assistant in the United States is $14.68, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $10.58 and $15.14 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an animal assistant?

Animal Assistants are professionals who help care for animals in a variety of settings, such as veterinary clinics, animal shelters, pet boarding facilities, and research labs. Their duties typically include feeding, grooming, exercising, and monitoring animals, as well as cleaning enclosures and assisting veterinarians or other animal care specialists. They play a crucial role in ensuring the health and well-being of animals, and may also interact with pet owners and assist with administrative tasks. To become an Animal Assistant, a love for animals, attention to detail, and good communication skills are essential.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an animal assistant, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Animal Assistant, you need a basic understanding of animal care, handling, and health, often supported by a high school diploma or relevant coursework. Familiarity with animal restraint techniques, cleaning protocols, and sometimes specialized software for record-keeping is typically required. Compassion, attention to detail, and strong communication skills help you provide quality care and work effectively with both animals and their owners. These skills ensure the safety, health, and well-being of animals while maintaining efficient operations in veterinary or animal care settings.

What are some common challenges animal assistants face in their daily work, and how can they prepare for them?

Animal Assistants often encounter challenges such as managing the stress and unpredictability of working with a variety of animals, handling physically demanding tasks, and ensuring strict adherence to safety protocols. They may also need to communicate effectively with veterinarians, pet owners, or other staff members, which requires patience and strong interpersonal skills. To prepare, candidates should develop resilience, maintain physical fitness, and seek training in animal behavior and handling techniques, as well as familiarize themselves with the specific procedures of their workplace.

What is the difference between Animal Assistant vs Veterinary Technician?

AspectAnimal AssistantVeterinary Technician
CredentialsNone required or basic certificationsLicensed or certified, often requiring an associate degree
Work EnvironmentAnimal shelters, pet clinics, grooming facilitiesVeterinary clinics, animal hospitals, research labs
Job DutiesAssist with animal care, cleaning, feeding, basic handlingPerform medical tests, assist in surgeries, administer medications
Employer & Industry UsageAnimal shelters, pet stores, grooming salonsVeterinary practices, animal hospitals, research institutions

Animal Assistants typically focus on basic animal care and support roles, often with minimal formal credentials. Veterinary Technicians have more advanced responsibilities, including medical procedures, requiring certifications or licenses. Both roles work closely with animals but differ significantly in training, duties, and work settings.

What do you need to be an animal assistant?

To become an animal assistant, candidates typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, experience working with animals, and good communication skills. Knowledge of animal care, basic veterinary procedures, and the ability to handle animals safely are important. Some positions may require certifications in pet first aid or animal handling.
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Animal Assistant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animal Assistant job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 74% Full Time, 21% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $30,541 per year, or $14.7 per hour.

Animal Care Assistant

VCA Animal Hospitals

Salinas, CA

$18 - $21/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 10 days ago

VCA Animal Hospitals rating

6.2

Company rating: 6.2 out of 10

Based on 660 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

28th of 53 rated veterinary

Job description

VCA All Pets Animal Hospital of Salinas is looking for an experienced Animal Care Attendant to join our team. While we are a general practice, we are also here for the urgent care needs of the community, making us a very busy animal hospital. We offer full service boarding and grooming in addition to our medical services!

The successful candidate will share our commitment to delivering exceptional service to our loyal clientele and the highest quality care to their hospitalized pets.

Responsibilities will include - but are not limited to:

  • Cleaning kennels and cages.
  • Feeding, walking, socializing with, and caring for dogs and cats.
  • Bathing and performing light grooming on dogs and cats.
  • Doing laundry and washing dishes.
  • Cleaning and maintaining hospital premises - interior and exterior.
  • Assisting Doctors and Technicians with medical procedures, diagnostics testing, and surgical prep.
  • Cleaning, sterilizing, and assembling surgical tools for surgery packs
  • Greeting clients and retrieving pets at drop-off and discharge
  • Updating clients with boarding pets with regular text message, phone call, or email updates

At VCA, your passion for medicine and compassion for pets and people is matched with a commitment to your professional growth.


You will enjoy exposure to a diverse and stimulating caseload, employ the most advanced imaging and monitoring tools, and tap into the expertise of more than 4,500 doctors, including 600+ boarded specialists.
You will sharpen your skills - and even learn some new techniques - and explore career options that only VCA can offer, such as continuing education, transfer, specialization, and leadership opportunities.
We offer competitive compensation along with a comprehensive benefits package, including: medical/dental/vision and paid vacation (for F/T employees only), 401(k), generous personal pet care discounts, and more!

Compensation ranges from $18.00/hr to $21.00/hr and is dependent upon experience.

If you are a current associate, you need to apply through our internal career site. Please log into Workday and click on the Jobs Hub app or search for Browse Jobs.

Benefits: We offer competitive compensation along with a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision and paid vacation/sick days, 401(k), generous employee pet discounts and more!The information in this position description indicates the general nature and level of work to be performed. It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of associates assigned to this job. Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the job change (for example, emergencies, change in personnel, workload, or technical development).We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer - Veterans / Disabled. For a complete EEO statement please see our career page at vcacareers.com.

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