2

Entry Level Animals Jobs in Massachusetts (NOW HIRING)

Animal Care Technician

Wilmington, MA · On-site

$18 - $21.25/hr

... working with animals and interested in building a long-term career within the biotechnology ... This is an excellent entry-level opportunity for candidates looking to gain hands-on experience in ...

... passion for animals, Petco also offers a dynamic and rewarding environment, including ... Recruit, hire, train, and supervise a team of entry-level trainees up to professional level ...

... passion for animals, Petco also offers a dynamic and rewarding environment, including ... Recruit, hire, train, and supervise a team of entry-level trainees up to professional level ...

... passion for animals, Petco also offers a dynamic and rewarding environment, including ... Recruit, hire, train, and supervise a team of entry-level trainees up to professional level ...

... passion for animals, Petco also offers a dynamic and rewarding environment, including ... Recruit, hire, train, and supervise a team of entry-level trainees up to professional level ...

... passion for animals, Petco also offers a dynamic and rewarding environment, including ... Recruit, hire, train, and supervise a team of entry-level trainees up to professional level ...

... passion for animals, Petco also offers a dynamic and rewarding environment, including ... Recruit, hire, train, and supervise a team of entry-level trainees up to professional level ...

... passion for animals, Petco also offers a dynamic and rewarding environment, including ... Recruit, hire, train, and supervise a team of entry-level trainees up to professional level ...

MA · On-site

... passion for animals, Petco also offers a dynamic and rewarding environment, including ... Recruit, hire, train, and supervise a team of entry-level trainees up to professional level ...

... passion for animals, Petco also offers a dynamic and rewarding environment, including ... Recruit, hire, train, and supervise a team of entry-level trainees up to professional level ...

... passion for animals, Petco also offers a dynamic and rewarding environment, including ... Recruit, hire, train, and supervise a team of entry-level trainees up to professional level ...

Bench Scientist II

Cambridge, MA · On-site

$35 - $41.82/hr

... entry level Bench Scientist II. Ideal candidates should have a Bachelors degree in biology ... Comfortable working with laboratory animals (primarily mice), tissue collection/dissection, and ...

... passion for animals, Petco also offers a dynamic and rewarding environment, including ... Recruit, hire, train, and supervise a team of entry-level trainees up to professional level ...

... passion for animals, Petco also offers a dynamic and rewarding environment, including ... Recruit, hire, train, and supervise a team of entry-level trainees up to professional level ...

... passion for animals, Petco also offers a dynamic and rewarding environment, including ... Recruit, hire, train, and supervise a team of entry-level trainees up to professional level ...

... passion for animals, Petco also offers a dynamic and rewarding environment, including ... Recruit, hire, train, and supervise a team of entry-level trainees up to professional level ...

... passion for animals, Petco also offers a dynamic and rewarding environment, including ... Recruit, hire, train, and supervise a team of entry-level trainees up to professional level ...

... passion for animals, Petco also offers a dynamic and rewarding environment, including ... Recruit, hire, train, and supervise a team of entry-level trainees up to professional level ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Entry Level Animals information

See Massachusetts salary details

$11

$18

$29

How much do entry level animals jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average hourly pay for entry level animals in Massachusetts is $18.21, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.30 and $18.37 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an entry-level animal job?

Entry-level animal jobs are positions that require little to no prior experience working with animals. These roles typically involve basic animal care tasks such as feeding, cleaning enclosures, monitoring animal health, and assisting with daily routines. Examples include kennel attendants, animal shelter workers, pet groomer assistants, and veterinary assistants. Entry-level positions provide valuable hands-on experience and can be a stepping stone to more advanced careers in animal care, veterinary medicine, or wildlife conservation.

What types of tasks can I expect to perform daily in an entry-level animal care position?

In an entry-level animal care role, your daily tasks typically include feeding and providing water for animals, cleaning enclosures or kennels, monitoring animal health and behavior, and assisting with basic grooming or exercise routines. You may also help with record keeping and work closely with veterinary staff or senior caretakers to ensure the well-being of animals. This role often requires attention to detail, physical stamina, and a genuine passion for animal welfare.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in an entry-level animal care position, and why are they important?

To thrive in an entry-level animal care position, you need a basic understanding of animal behavior, proper handling techniques, and a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with animal care tools, cleaning equipment, and sometimes animal management software is typically required. Strong attention to detail, reliability, and a genuine compassion for animals help you stand out in this role. These skills and qualities are important for ensuring animal well-being and maintaining safe, effective care environments.

What is the difference between Entry Level Animals vs Animal Care Assistant?

AspectEntry Level AnimalsAnimal Care Assistant
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; basic animal handling knowledgeHigh school diploma; some certifications in animal care preferred
Work EnvironmentZoos, shelters, pet stores, farmsVeterinary clinics, animal shelters, research facilities
Employer & Industry UsageAnimal shelters, pet stores, zoosVeterinary clinics, animal rescue organizations
Common Search & ComparisonEntry Level Animals vs Animal Care Assistant

Entry Level Animals typically refers to basic roles involving animal handling and care in various settings, often requiring minimal certifications. Animal Care Assistants usually have more specialized training and work closely with veterinary staff or in clinical environments. Both roles serve the purpose of caring for animals but differ in complexity, work environment, and required credentials.

How do I start to work with animals?

To start working with animals in entry-level roles, gain experience through volunteering at shelters or farms, and consider obtaining relevant certifications such as pet first aid or animal care courses. Developing skills in handling, feeding, and basic medical care can improve your chances of employment in pet care, grooming, or animal shelter positions.

How to start a career with animals?

Starting a career with animals often involves gaining relevant experience through volunteering or internships at shelters, zoos, or veterinary clinics. Obtaining certifications such as animal care or veterinary assistant credentials can improve job prospects, and entry-level roles typically require a high school diploma or equivalent. Developing skills in animal handling, communication, and patience is also beneficial.

What are the most commonly searched types of Animals jobs in Massachusetts?

The most popular types of Animals jobs in Massachusetts are:

What are popular job titles related to Entry Level Animals jobs in Massachusetts?

For Entry Level Animals jobs in Massachusetts, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Entry Level Animals jobs in Massachusetts look for?

The top searched job categories for Entry Level Animals jobs in Massachusetts are:

Infographic showing various Entry Level Animals job openings in Massachusetts as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 81% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $37,874 per year, or $18.2 per hour.

Animal Care Associate (EG)

Charles River Laboratories, Inc.

Wilmington, MA • On-site

$18/hr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 27 days ago


Charles River Laboratories rating

8.4

Company rating: 8.4 out of 10

Based on 94 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

22nd 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 Summary

As an Animal Care Associate for our GEMS Breed Group in Wilmington, MA.  The GEMS Animal Care Associate will learn how and continue to maintain and monitor the health, production, and physical environment of client or Charles River Laboratories (CRL) animals housed at CRL facilities. These environments may include isolators or individual ventilated cages (IVC).

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Perform entry-level husbandry tasks, including supplying food, bedding, water and environmental enrichment.
  • Maintain rat and mouse colonies, including setting up matings, weaning and sexing of offspring, genetic sampling of animals.
  • Handle rodents (mice and rats), including restraining of animals for collection of fecal pellets, ear/tail sampling as well as tagging animals for identification.
  • Observe animals for any abnormalities or common health issues.
  • Identify and select specific animals for customer shipments, genotyping, health monitoring, matings, transfers or other various tasks as needed.
  • Learn, understand, and comply with all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) with direct supervision and instruction for most processes/tasks.
  • Learn and strictly follow all animal welfare standards and biosecurity procedures necessary to maintain isolator integrity and animal health status, including the proper sterilization and entry of supplies/animals into isolators.
  • Be detailed-oriented and enter accurate data entry into Internet Colony Management (ICM).
  • Ensure compliance with all local, state and federal laws governing the use of research animals.
  • Ability to prioritize and execute daily tasks with guidance from supervisor(s).
  • Perform general housekeeping and adhere to EHS, safety, and ergonomic procedures.
  • General computer skills and ability to quickly learn required computer programs, databases and other applications (i.e. ICM and Microsoft Office)
  • Be able to learn to identify issues and communicate to management and learn the importance of our CRL DNA and core values.
  • Perform all other related duties as assigned.

Role Specific Information: 

  • Location:  Wilmington, MA 
  • Schedule:  Monday - Friday - early shifts, no weekends required.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
  • Experience: Entry-level, no previous experience required.
  • Sufficient computer knowledge to use a tablet computer and communicate using Microsoft Applications.
  • The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
  • The ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Certification/Licensure: AALAS certification at the ALAT or above.

The hourly pay rate for this position is $18.00.  

About Research Models & Services
Fundamental to basic research and discovery is the use of in vivo models to help identify disease targets and determine potential biological pathways that regulate the condition.  As the world’s leader in the production and distribution of the highest quality research animal, with 1 out of 2 animal models produced for preclinical research globally, we understand the importance of this step. With seven decades of experience, our expertise is unmatched, allowing us to provide you with the perfect model, including disease-specific and preconditioned options, for basic research and beyond.


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

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Charles River logo

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