Resilient
Last Update: 7/31/2026
AI Resilience Score for Vet Asst & Lab Animal Carer:
70.6%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
High
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
High
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
Med
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
Most data sources align, with only minor variation. This is a well-supported result.
Contributing sources
AI Resilience Report forVeterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
$38,150 median salary•22,200 annual openings•SOC Code: 31-9096.00
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers are more resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 8 sources.
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers earn the "Resilient" label because the heart of the job, which includes hands-on animal care, physical handling, and reading an animal's emotional state, requires exactly the kind of human touch that AI simply cannot replicate. AI tools are stepping in to help with paperwork, scheduling, and monitoring systems, but they are acting as assistants to the humans, not replacements for them.
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Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers earn the "Resilient" label because the heart of the job, which includes hands-on animal care, physical handling, and reading an animal's emotional state, requires exactly the kind of human touch that AI simply cannot replicate. AI tools are stepping in to help with paperwork, scheduling, and monitoring systems, but they are acting as assistants to the humans, not replacements for them.
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Vet Asst & Lab Animal Carer
Updated Quarterly
How is AI changing Vet Asst & Lab Animal Carer jobs?
If you're worried about AI taking over jobs caring for animals, here's some good news: in this field, AI is mostly being used to help people, not replace them. The hands-on parts of the job — feeding, bathing, restraining, comforting a scared puppy — still require human hands and human judgment. What AI is doing is taking over the boring paperwork. "AI scribes" listen during exams and write up medical notes automatically, so staff can spend more time with animals.
The University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine recently adopted ScribbleVet, an AI-driven digital scribe designed to complete veterinary SOAP notes during a patient exam by recording the appointment and streamlining medical record-keeping. A 2024 AVMA-published survey of nearly 4,000 veterinary professionals [1] found that the top benefits were "improving efficiencies, streamlining administrative tasks," not replacing clinical care. On the laboratory side, researchers at Rutgers published in the Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [2] using machine learning to predict cage-change timing for mice, and a 2025 paper in Disease Models & Mechanisms [3] describes home cage monitoring systems with cameras and sensors that can monitor animals 24/7 in a non-intrusive way over extended time periods, detecting early or subtle indicators of disease, experimental outcomes, or welfare concerns that brief daily observations might miss.
How fast is AI adoption growing for Vet Asst & Lab Animal Carer?
Adoption is moving quickly for paperwork tools but slowly for hands-on care. On the "fast" side, there's a huge worker shortage — Virginia Tech reports that the shortage of credentialed veterinary technicians who keep practices running has reached critical levels, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 9% job growth from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations [4]. Clinics are leaning on AI to handle scheduling, transcription, and reminders so their human teams can focus on animals.
On the "slow" side, trust is still a big barrier: the AVMA-published survey found that key concerns included the reliability and accuracy of AI in diagnosis and treatment, alongside data security worries. The trade publication Vet Times notes that many vets remain cautious about accuracy and worried about what AI means for their roles, framing the shift as empowering staff rather than replacing them [5]. The bottom line for a young person eyeing this career: empathy, careful hands, and observational skills with living animals are exactly the things AI is worst at — and those are the skills employers will keep paying for.
Sources
Will AI replace Vet Asst & Lab Animal Carer?
No. We don't think AI will replace Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers, but it will absolutely change how the job gets done day to day.
This career earns a 70.6% AI Resilience Score, and the reason is straightforward: the core of the work is physical and relational. Feeding, restraining, comforting, and closely observing living animals requires human hands, human judgment, and genuine empathy. Those are exactly the things AI handles worst. What AI is doing instead is absorbing the paperwork. Tools like AI scribes now handle medical note-taking during exams, and a survey of nearly 4,000 veterinary professionals found the top benefits were improving efficiencies and streamlining administrative tasks, not replacing clinical care [1]. On the lab side, monitoring systems using cameras and sensors can track animal welfare around the clock, catching subtle signs that brief daily checks might miss [3].
The job market picture supports optimism too. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 9% job growth from 2024 to 2034, faster than average for all occupations [4]. Many practices are already short-staffed, and AI is being used to help existing teams cope, not shrink them [5]. If you care about animals and want a career with staying power, this field is a solid bet.
Sources
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Latest AI news for Vet Asst & Lab Animal Carer
These articles highlight how AI is transforming the roles of veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers rather than replacing them. For instance, AI tools are streamlining administrative tasks, allowing assistants to focus more on animal care and client interactions. Additionally, with AI enhancing practice efficiency, assistants can play a crucial role in implementing these technologies, ensuring a smoother workflow. Embracing AI can make these professionals more resilient, adapting to new technologies while enhancing the quality of care in veterinary settings.
Understanding the Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in ...
invma.org • 7/20/2026
The primary goal of AI integration in veterinary medicine is to increase efficiency and, in some cases, improve the quality of care. Read more
Artificial intelligence poised to transform veterinary care
www.avma.org • 7/20/2026
May 29, 2024 — Veterinarians increasingly are embracing artificial intelligence (AI) to improve practice efficiency and clinical outcomes.
Will AI replace veterinary assistants?
www.careerexplorer.com • 7/20/2026
Jul 8, 2026 — AI won't replace veterinary assistants, but it's changing the paperwork side of the job. Clinics now use AI scribes and smart scheduling, ... Read more
Applying AI in veterinary medicine strategically
www.facebook.com • 7/20/2026
AI is already reshaping veterinary medicine, but knowing how to apply it strategically is the real challenge. Join us at the Pre-Conference ...
AI in Veterinary Medicine: How Every Role Can Thrive With ...
otto.vet • 7/20/2026
Jan 29, 2026 — AI is not replacing veterinary teams. It is reducing admin burden and improving workflows. See how all clinic team memebers can use it ...
More Career Info
Career: Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
They help care for animals by feeding them, cleaning their spaces, and assisting vets with treatments to keep the animals healthy and happy.
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Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$38,150
Jobs (2024)
117,800
Growth (2024-34)
+8.7%
Annual Openings
22,200
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Perform routine laboratory tests or diagnostic tests, such as taking or developing x-rays.
2
Record information relating to animal genealogy, feeding schedules, appearance, behavior, or breeding.
3
Perform office reception duties, such as scheduling appointments or helping customers.
4
Provide emergency first aid to sick or injured animals.
5
Prepare feed for animals according to specific instructions, such as diet lists or schedules.
6
Perform accounting duties, such as bookkeeping, billing customers for services, or maintaining inventories.
7
Write reports, maintain research information, or perform clerical duties.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
