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Animal Care 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 ...

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How much do animal care assistant jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for animal care assistant in the United States is $17.98, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.42 and $21.15 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an animal care assistant?

Animal care assistants are professionals who support the daily care and well-being of animals in settings like veterinary clinics, animal shelters, zoos, and research facilities. Their duties typically include feeding, grooming, exercising animals, cleaning enclosures, and monitoring animal health and behavior. They may also assist veterinarians or other staff with medical procedures and record-keeping. Compassion, attention to detail, and good communication skills are important traits for this role.

What does an animal care assistant do?

Animal care assistant help feed and care for one or more animals. In this role, you may provide obedience training for a pet, groom animals, or assist other caregivers as necessary. Many animal care assistants specialize in specific areas, such as farm animals, marine mammals, or horses. This is not a veterinary position, though some animal care assistants work with vets to provide additional services to clients and customers. Many of the specific job duties of this position depend on the employer. For example, animal care assistants who work at zoos may be responsible for feeding animals or cleaning habitats, while animal care assistants at pet stores may help clean and groom animals daily in preparation for adoption.

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

To thrive as an Animal Care Assistant, you need a basic understanding of animal health, handling, and husbandry, often supported by a high school diploma or animal care certification. Familiarity with animal management software, cleaning equipment, and medical or grooming tools is typically required. Compassion, reliability, and strong communication skills help build trust with animals and collaborate effectively with veterinary staff. These skills ensure the well-being of animals, maintain a safe environment, and support the smooth operation of animal care facilities.

What are some common challenges animal care assistants face in their daily work, and how can they be addressed?

Animal Care Assistants often encounter challenges such as managing a high workload, handling stressed or uncooperative animals, and maintaining strict hygiene standards. These can be addressed by developing strong time-management and observation skills, following established safety protocols, and seeking guidance from more experienced staff. Building rapport with animals and learning to recognize signs of stress can also help create a safer and more comfortable environment for both pets and staff. Teamwork and clear communication with veterinarians and other assistants are essential for overcoming these daily challenges.

What is the difference between Animal Care Assistant vs Veterinary Technician?

AspectAnimal Care AssistantVeterinary Technician
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; on-the-job trainingAssociate degree in veterinary technology; certification required
Work EnvironmentAnimal shelters, kennels, pet stores, clinicsVeterinary clinics, hospitals, animal clinics
Employer & Industry UsageAnimal care facilities, shelters, pet storesVeterinary practices, animal hospitals
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding entry-level animal care rolesExploring technical veterinary roles and certifications

Animal Care Assistants typically perform basic animal handling, feeding, and cleaning tasks in shelters or pet stores, often with minimal formal education. Veterinary Technicians have more advanced responsibilities, including assisting veterinarians with medical procedures, requiring specialized training and certification. Both roles are essential in animal care, but Veterinary Technicians have a broader scope of medical duties and higher qualifications.

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Animal Care Assistant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animal Care Assistant job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 71% Full Time, 20% Part Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $37,405 per year, or $18 per hour.

Animal Care Assistant

Salinas, CA

VCA Animal Hospitals
Veterinary Services • 10K+ employees
Learn more about VCA Animal Hospitalsexternal

$18 - $21/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 20 days ago

VCA Animal Hospitals rating

6.2

Company rating: 6.2 out of 10

Based on 663 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

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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