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Animal Care Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Passionately Pets

Animal Care Specialist

Alexandria, VA · On-site

$24 - $28/hr

Passionately Pets is seeking an animal care specialist in Shirlington (22206) for pet sitting and dog walking services . Daily Responsibilities * Enter client homes to provide pet care visits * Walk ...

Passionately Pets

Animal Care Specialist

Alexandria, VA · On-site

$24 - $28/hr

Passionately Pets is seeking an animal care specialist in Shirlington (22206) for pet sitting and dog walking services . Daily Responsibilities * Enter client homes to provide pet care visits * Walk ...

Passionately Pets

Animal Care Specialist

Alexandria, VA · On-site

$28/hr

Passionately Pets is seeking an animal care specialist in Shirlington (22206) for pet sitting and dog walking services . Daily Responsibilities * Enter client homes to provide pet care visits * Walk ...

Passionately Pets

Animal Care Specialist

Alexandria, VA · On-site

$28/hr

Passionately Pets is seeking an animal care specialist in Shirlington (22206) for pet sitting and dog walking services . Daily Responsibilities * Enter client homes to provide pet care visits * Walk ...

Passionately Pets

Animal Care Specialist

Alexandria, VA · On-site

$24 - $28/hr

Passionately Pets is seeking an animal care specialist in Shirlington (22206) for pet sitting and dog walking services . Daily Responsibilities * Enter client homes to provide pet care visits * Walk ...

Bioqual Inc

Animal Caretaker

Rockville, MD · On-site

This includes tasks in animal care, sanitation, operations support, quality control and technical assistance. They perform these duties under supervision until skill, training and understanding of ...

Bioqual Inc

Animal Caretaker

Rockville, MD · On-site

$19.85 - $23/hr

This includes tasks in animal care, sanitation, operations support, quality control and technical assistance. They perform these duties under supervision until skill, training and understanding of ...

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All JobsAnimal Care JobsAnimal Care Jobs in Reston, VA

Animal Care information

See Reston, VA salary details

$10

$19

$28

How much do animal care jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for animal care in Reston, VA is $19.03, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.77 and $21.25 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an animal care worker?

Animal care workers are professionals who provide daily care and support for animals in various settings, such as shelters, zoos, veterinary clinics, and pet boarding facilities. Their responsibilities typically include feeding, grooming, cleaning enclosures, monitoring animal health, and assisting with medical treatments. They play a crucial role in ensuring the well-being and safety of animals and often work closely with veterinarians and animal trainers. Compassion, attention to detail, and physical stamina are important qualities for success in this field.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an animal care professional?

To thrive as an Animal Care professional, you need a strong understanding of animal behavior, basic veterinary care, and proper handling techniques, often supported by a high school diploma or relevant certification. Familiarity with animal management software, feeding and cleaning protocols, and safety equipment is typically required. Compassion, patience, attention to detail, and effective communication are essential soft skills for building trust with animals and working well with team members. These skills ensure the health, safety, and well-being of animals while maintaining efficient and humane care standards.

What are some common challenges faced by animal care professionals, and how can they be managed effectively?

Animal care professionals frequently encounter challenges such as handling animals with unpredictable behavior, managing emotionally difficult situations like illness or euthanasia, and maintaining strict sanitation standards. Building strong observation skills, practicing patience, and adhering to safety protocols can help manage these challenges. Additionally, teamwork and open communication with colleagues, as well as ongoing training, are crucial for ensuring both animal welfare and personal well-being.

What are different types of animal care jobs?

There are many different animal care jobs available, and which one you choose to do depends on your qualifications, interests, and training. If you are interested in working with household pets, you can find work as a vet tech or assistant, a pet groomer, or an animal trainer. If you have higher qualifications and an interest in working with larger or more exotic animals, you can work as a zoo caretaker or even in a state park or wildlife refuge. The qualifications for all of these jobs vary drastically from no education to a doctorate.

What is the difference between Animal Care vs Veterinary Assistant?

AspectAnimal CareVeterinary Assistant
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; certifications varyHigh school diploma; often requires veterinary assistant certification
Work EnvironmentAnimal shelters, pet stores, kennels, rescue organizationsVeterinary clinics, animal hospitals
Employer & Industry UsageAnimal care facilities, pet services, sheltersVeterinary practices, animal healthcare industry
Common Search & ComparisonAnimal Care vs Veterinary Assistant

Animal Care roles focus on caring for animals in shelters, pet stores, and rescue organizations, often requiring basic certifications. Veterinary Assistants work directly in veterinary clinics, assisting veterinarians with medical procedures and patient care, usually needing specific certifications. While both roles involve animal handling, Veterinary Assistants have a more medical focus, whereas Animal Care roles emphasize daily animal welfare and enrichment.

What animal care jobs pay well?

Animal care jobs that tend to pay higher salaries include veterinary technicians, zoo keepers, and animal researchers, often requiring specialized skills or certifications. Positions in wildlife rehabilitation or working with exotic animals can also offer higher pay, especially with experience and advanced training.

What jobs can I do if I love animals?

Animal care offers various job opportunities such as veterinary technician, animal shelter worker, pet groomer, zookeeper, and pet trainer. These roles typically require knowledge of animal behavior, some may need certifications or training, and often involve working in environments like clinics, shelters, or zoos.

What jobs can I do in animal care?

Jobs in animal care include roles such as veterinary technician, animal caretaker, pet groomer, zookeeper, and animal trainer. These positions often require specific skills, certifications, or experience working with animals in settings like clinics, shelters, zoos, or grooming salons.
More about Animal Care jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Animal Care jobs in Reston, VA?

The most popular types of Animal Care jobs in Reston, VA are:

What job categories do people searching Animal Care jobs in Reston, VA look for?

The top searched job categories for Animal Care jobs in Reston, VA are:

What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Animal Care jobs?

Cities near Reston, VA with the most Animal Care job openings:

Animal Care jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animal Care job openings in Reston, VA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 71% Full Time, 21% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $39,592 per year, or $19 per hour.

Animal Care Technician II

Charles River Laboratories, Inc.

Bethesda, MD • On-site

$23.50/hr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 3 days ago

New

Charles River Laboratories rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 95 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

24th of 86 rated pharmaceutical

Job description

For 75 years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people across the globe. Whether your background is in life sciences, finance, IT, sales or another area, your skills will play an important role in the work we perform. In return, we’ll help you build a career that you can feel passionate about.

Job Overview

We are seeking an experienced Animal Care Technician II to join our Insourcing Solutions team, located in Bethesda, MD. 

As an Animal Care Technician II, you will perform daily animal health observations to maintain the quality and health of research animals in complex/high traffic rooms, cubicles, vertical vivarium rooms, and/or a satellite facility. 

Additional responsibilities include: 

  • Perform daily water bottle and cage checks, cage changing and/or cage cleaning as required; provide food and water; and record health concerns. 
  • Maintain accurate records of animal breeding, housing, or support areas. 
  • Receive, inspect, and house incoming animals. 
  • Assist with restraint, handling, and manipulation of various animal species. 
  • May become involved in breeding and weaning procedures. 
  • Monitor personnel and equipment entry into various rooms. 
  • Operate required equipment and perform general housekeeping. 
Job Description

The following are minimum requirements related to the Animal Care Technician II position: 

  • high school diploma or general education degree 
  • minimum one year's experience performing basic animal care 
  • ALAT eligibility required, ALAT certification preferred

The pay range for this position is $23.50 USD per hour.  Please note that salaries vary within the range based on factors including experience, skills, education, certifications, and location.

About Insourcing Solutions
Charles River Insourcing Solutions℠ can streamline research by delivering operational and cost efficiencies through the strategic insourcing of GMP, GLP and non-GLP research services from discovery through safety assessment. Insourcing Solutions℠ provides you with the ability to maintain control of your facility and expertise while leveraging available space.


About Charles River
Charles River is an early-stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non-GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients’ clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market.

With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in over 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our client’s unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world.

At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people’s lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well-being of many across the globe. We have proudly worked on 80% of the drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the past five years.

We’re committed to providing benefits that elevate your quality of life.  Based on your position these may include:  bonus/incentives based on performance, 401K, paid time off, stock purchase program, Health and wellness coverage, employee and family wellbeing support programs, and work life balance flexibility.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Charles River is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, family status, pregnancy, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

It is unlawful in some states (including Massachusetts) to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

If you are interested in applying to Charles River Laboratories and need special assistance or an accommodation due to a disability to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the resume submission process, please contact a member of our Human Resources team by sending an e-mail message to crrecruitment_US@crl.com. This contact is for accommodation requests for individuals with disabilities only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

For more information, please visit www.criver.com.

What Charles River Laboratories employees say

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About Charles River

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Charles River is an early-stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non-GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients' clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market. With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our client's unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world. At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people's lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well-being of many across the globe. We have proudly supported the development of 86% of the drugs approved by the FDA in 2021.

Industry

Scientific research and development services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Wilmington, MA, US

Year founded

1947

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