ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Animal Assistant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Happy Life Animal Rescue

Animal Care Technician

Pawling, NY · On-site

$16 - $18/hr

The Animal Care Technician position ensures animal care at Happy Life Animal Rescue is timely ... Meet transporters bringing dogs and cats to APA and assist with loading/unloading * Customer ...

Apply Early

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 ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsAnimal Assistant Jobs

Animal Assistant information

See salary details

$7

$14

$28

How much do animal assistant jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 3, 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 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 are Animal Assistants?

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.
More about Animal Assistant jobs
What cities are hiring for Animal Assistant jobs? Cities with the most Animal Assistant job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Animal jobs? The most popular types of Animal jobs are:
What states have the most Animal Assistant jobs? States with the most job openings for Animal Assistant jobs include:
Animal Assistant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animal Assistant job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 77% Full Time, 22% Part Time, and 1% Temporary. Highlights an 96% Physical, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $30,541 per year, or $14.7 per hour.
Asst Laboratory Animal Tech

Asst Laboratory Animal Tech

University of Kansas

Lawrence, KS

Other

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 14 days ago

University Of Kansas rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 40 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

97th of 544 rated colleges and universities

Job description

70% - Animal Husbandry:
  • Provides diligent and responsible animal care.
  • Feeds and waters animals.
  • Changes and cleans cages.
  • Sanitizes equipment and facilities.
  • Records and reports animal abnormalities including altered eating, drinking, waste elimination, behavior, superficial lesions, and/or death.
  • Assists with technical procedures including record keeping, animal identification, breeding, sexing, specimen collection, preparing diets, and euthanasia.
  • Records and reports on environmental abnormalities.
  • Provides routine physical maintenance of assigned areas.
30% - Facility Operations:
  • Performs routine duties associated with cage sanitation and preparation for reuse in a research setting including cage maintenance, monitoring equipment for proper function and maintaining sanitary conditions. 
  • Operates mechanical washers and ensures cage washing and related equipment are in proper working order. 
  • Performs routine start-up and shut down procedures. 
  • Operates autoclaves to sterilize or decontaminate caging and equipment. Assists in receiving and storing materials, food, and supplies. 
  • Transports caging and supplies between animal rooms and cage wash facilities including intra-institutional transfers. 
  • Maintains sanitary condition of cage wash facilities and other ancillary areas including corridors and storage rooms. 
  • May assist in training other animal science workers or student assistants. 
  • Works independently. 
  • Takes necessary precautions to adhere to OSHA standards, other hazardous agents, animals, and power equipment.
  • Other duties as assigned.
,The University of Kansas is looking to fill a full-time, benefits-eligible Assistant Laboratory Animal Tech with previous animal care experience. This position plays an integral role in ensuring research animals and facilities are maintained consistently with exemplary standards of animal care. Under immediate supervision, the Assistant Lab Animal tech provides routine husbandry and care of research animals. Responsibilities also include cage sanitation and preparation for reuse.
The University of Kansas offers great benefits to employees such as paid vacation, sick leave, paid holidays, plus one discretionary day, a retirement program, medical and dental insurance, life and disability insurance, other benefit plan options and State of Kansas discounts offered by various vendors. KU also offers employees education and professional development opportunities.

What University Of Kansas employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Apply