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Animal Lab Assistant Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Certified Group

Lab Assistant

Tustin, CA

FSNS Certification & Audit - Provides accredited third-party auditing and certification services, including food safety, animal welfare, and GMP programs. Job Summary The Lab Assistant within the ...

Certified Group

Lab Assistant

Tustin, CA · On-site

FSNS Certification & Audit - Provides accredited third-party auditing and certification services, including food safety, animal welfare, and GMP programs. Job Summary The Lab Assistant within the ...

Pulse Biosciences

Manufacturing Technician

Hayward, CA

$30 - $38/hr

... * Assist in new product transfer of manufacturing to contract manufacturer including training of staff. * Provide support in manufacturing products for animal lab studies including execution of ...

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All JobsAnimal Lab JobsAnimal Lab Assistant JobsAnimal Lab Assistant Jobs in California

Animal Lab Assistant information

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$10

$19

$29

How much do animal lab assistant jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 16, 2026, the average hourly pay for animal lab assistant in California is $19.98, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.35 and $22.79 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are Animal Lab Assistants?

Animal Lab Assistants are professionals who support scientific research by caring for laboratory animals and maintaining their living environments. They are responsible for feeding, cleaning, monitoring animal health, and assisting researchers with experiments. Their work ensures that animals are treated ethically and that experiments are conducted in a safe, controlled environment. Animal Lab Assistants may also help with maintaining records and administering medications as directed by veterinarians or researchers.

What are some common challenges faced by Animal Lab Assistants, and how can they be managed?

Animal Lab Assistants often face challenges such as maintaining strict adherence to protocols, handling animals with care under potentially stressful conditions, and managing time efficiently between various tasks like feeding, cleaning, and record-keeping. To manage these challenges, it's helpful to develop strong organizational skills, stay up to date on animal care guidelines, and communicate effectively with research staff and veterinarians. Regular training and working closely within the team can also help ensure both animal welfare and research integrity are maintained.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Animal Lab Assistant, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Animal Lab Assistant, you need a foundational understanding of animal care, handling procedures, and basic laboratory techniques, often supported by a relevant certification or associate degree in animal science or a related field. Familiarity with laboratory equipment, data recording systems, and compliance regulations such as IACUC protocols is typically expected. Attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and the ability to work collaboratively are essential soft skills in this role. These abilities ensure the well-being of laboratory animals, the accuracy of research data, and adherence to ethical and safety standards.

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

AspectAnimal Lab AssistantVeterinary Technician
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; on-the-job trainingAssociate's degree in veterinary technology; certification often required
Work EnvironmentResearch laboratories, animal care facilitiesVeterinary clinics, animal hospitals, research labs
Employer & Industry UsageResearch institutions, pharmaceutical companiesVeterinary clinics, animal hospitals, research facilities
Common Search & Comparison IntentYesYes

Animal Lab Assistants primarily support research labs and animal care in laboratory settings, often with minimal formal credentials. Veterinary Technicians work in veterinary clinics or hospitals, requiring specialized education and certification. While both roles involve animal care, Veterinary Technicians typically have more advanced training and perform clinical procedures, whereas Animal Lab Assistants focus on supporting research activities.

What are popular job titles related to Animal Lab Assistant jobs in California? For Animal Lab Assistant jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Animal Lab Assistant jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Animal Lab Assistant jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Animal Lab Assistant jobs? Cities in California with the most Animal Lab Assistant job openings:
Animal Lab Assistant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animal Lab Assistant job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 5% Temporary. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $41,562 per year, or $20 per hour.
Animal Lab Tech I (Per Diem) - Comparative Medicine

Animal Lab Tech I (Per Diem) - Comparative Medicine

Cedars Sinai

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$24 - $29.87/hr

Per diem

Re-posted 15 days ago

Cedars-Sinai rating

8.6

Company rating: 8.6 out of 10

Based on 130 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

37th of 1,020 rated hospitals

Job description


The Comparative Medicine department is seeking a motivated and eager Animal Lab Tech I to join their team!
The Department of Comparative Medicine is dedicated to the facilitation of biomedical research utilizing animals, while striving to maintain the highest quality of ethical, humane and appropriate animal care. The Department is committed to continuing to improve the quality of services provided to research investigators for the purpose of improving the health of humans and animals. We support groundbreaking research with consultation, training, veterinary care, and facility maintenance services. To learn more, please visit Comparative Medicine | Cedars-Sinai.
Are you ready to be a part of groundbreaking research?
The Animal Lab Technician I (ALTI) is an entry level position for technicians with less than one year of experience in the husbandry of laboratory animals. Job responsibilities include knowledge and application of relevant laboratory animal medicine standards, rules, and regulations and performing animal husbandry tasks under direct or indirect supervision. These tasks include but are not limited to performing daily animal health checks, daily cage assessment, cage changing, primary enclosure wash and disinfection, maintenance of animal rooms and comprehension and application of standard operating procedures (SOP) to prevent cross contamination of colony animals and equipment.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Sanitizes primary enclosures either by cage changing (e.g. rodents) or enclosure wash and disinfection (e.g. swine and canine) including high pressure washing, disinfectant handling and waste management.
  • Assists in routine and special feeding, watering, handling (safely transferring animals from one enclosure to another) and changes cages and sanitizes primary enclosure for all species housed in the vivarium.
  • Follows written and verbal instructions to provide special diets and medicated water to animals in the vivarium.
  • Provides care for both immune-competent and immune-compromised animals, which may also be designated as biohazardous or chemically hazardous.
  • Provides a basic assessment of animal general appearance, clinical signs, and behavior to recognize normal vs abnormal conditions in animals.
  • Reports abnormal conditions in animals to the clinical team for further assessment, including overcrowding and non compliances related to animal welfare and health.
  • Assists clinical and research staff with animal handling and basic treatments of all rodents (teeth trimming, separation, euthanasia).
  • Performs veterinary related tasks post training by Clinical Staff and maintains clinical records as required; rodent breeding tasks may be performed as needed.
  • Provides species-specific environmental enrichment to animals according to Comparative Medicine standards.
  • Assists with animal receiving as instructed by the Animal Care Coordinator.
  • Monitors animal room environmental parameters (e.g. temperature, photoperiods, and humidity), accurately records environmental data and reports abnormalities to ALTIII or Supervisor.
  • Assists the ALTIII and/or area Supervisor with vivarium support tasks including but not limited to Reverse Osmosis/Deionized water system checks, Individual Ventilated Cage rack cycling, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and feed and bedding inventory audits.

Qualifications
Education:
  • A High School Diploma/GED is required. A bachelor's degree is preferred with relevant coursework in laboratory animal sciences.

Licenses and Certifications:
  • Assistant Laboratory Animal Tech (ALAT) from the AALAS is preferred.
  • Valid and current driver's license is required.

Experience and Skills:
  • One (1) year of animal husbandry experience is preferred.
  • Ability to learn, apply and maintain compliance with the rules and regulations governing the care and use of animals in research.
  • Ability to provide and/or support a level of work excellence and accuracy; recognize and address flaws or errors that others may overlook. Ability to document tasks in an orderly, timely, and accurate manner.

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