Veterinarians and veterinarian technicians work closely together to ensure the medical health of animals in veterinary clinics across the United States, but there are important distinctions between them. Veterinarians require far more schooling and assume much more responsibility than do veterinarian technicians, and as a result veterinarians earn far more money.
According to Careers in Healthcare, becoming a veterinary technician can be a stepping stone to a career as a veterinarian. Becoming either a vet or a vet tech will provide an opportunity to help animals at all stages of life.
Contrasting Educational Requirements
Veterinarian technicians typically go through a two-year postsecondary program to acquire the licensing and certification needed to work in the field. To get somewhat higher pay and additional responsibilities, a veterinarian technician can complete a four-year postsecondary program and work as a veterinary technologist or apply to veterinary school.
By contrast, veterinarians first complete a bachelor's degree with a pre-medicine concentration, and then undergo an additional four years of schooling to receive the title of doctor of veterinary medicine.. The UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine says that some veterinarians also complete a residency to become certified in a specialty area like equine medicine. Some earn a Ph.D. and research animal diseases and new cures.
Different Occupational Responsibilities
Veterinarian technicians usually work as assistants to veterinarians. They take X-rays and blood samples, test blood or urine, administer medications and keep patient records in order. They sometimes perform emergency first aid and assist the veterinarian during procedures.
Veterinarians may perform all of these duties. But veterinarians also are responsible for diagnosing the causes of illness, recommending treatment, performing surgery, prescribing treatments and medications, and putting animals to sleep. They may treat livestock or limit their practice to small companion animals.
Wide Salary Gap
Figures published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that as of May 2019, veterinarian technicians earned an average of $17.63 per hour and $36,670 per year. Half of all vet technicians received between $29,080 and $42,540 per year.
By comparison, veterinarians reported an average of $50.39 per hour and $104,820 per year during the same period, and half of them reported actual earnings of between $75,580 and $122,590 per year.
The difference is even starker at the top end of the pay scale. Although the 90th percentile of veterinarian technicians received $51,230 per year, the 90th percentile of veterinarians had an annual salary of $160,780.
Job Outlook for Veterinarian Careers
Because pet populations in the United States are increasing, and because the nation has few accredited veterinary programs, qualified veterinarians looking for work should be able to find employment. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a very high job growth rate of 18 percent between 2018 and 2028, which is much faster than the average growth rate for all occupations.
As rosy as the job outlook for veterinarians is, the outlook for vet techs looks almost as bright. The BLS projects a job growth rate of 16 percent for technicians during this decade, and it predicts that jobs will be widely available as pet care needs rise.
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
- Summary
- What They Do
- Work Environment
- How to Become One
- Pay
- Job Outlook
- State & Area Data
- Similar Occupations
- More Info
Please enable javascript to play this video. Video transcript available at //www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHuStDPc2pM. Veterinary technologists and technicians do medical tests that help diagnose animals’ injuries and illnesses. Veterinary technologists and technicians
work in private clinics, laboratories, and animal hospitals. Their jobs may be physically or emotionally demanding. Many work evenings, weekends, or holidays. Veterinary technologists and technicians must complete a postsecondary program in veterinary technology. Technologists usually need a 4-year bachelor’s
degree, and technicians need a 2-year associate’s degree. Typically, both technologists and technicians must take a credentialing exam and become registered, licensed, or certified, depending on the requirements of the state in which they work. The median annual wage for veterinary technologists and technicians was $36,850 in May 2021. Employment of veterinary technologists and technicians is projected to grow 20 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 15,500 openings for veterinary technologists and technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to
different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for veterinary technologists and technicians. Summary
Quick Facts: Veterinary Technologists and Technicians 2021 Median Pay $36,850 per year
$17.72 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education Associate's degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation None
On-the-job Training None
Number of Jobs, 2021 122,800
Job Outlook, 2021-31 20% (Much faster than average)
Employment Change, 2021-31 24,100
What Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Do
Work Environment
How to Become a Veterinary Technologist or Technician
Pay
Job Outlook
State & Area Data
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of veterinary technologists and technicians with similar occupations.
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about veterinary technologists and technicians by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
What Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Do About this section
Veterinary technologists and technicians are responsible for the careful and humane handling of laboratory animals.
Veterinary technologists and technicians, supervised by licensed veterinarians, do medical tests that help diagnose animals’ injuries and illnesses.
Duties
Veterinary technologists and technicians typically do the following:
- Observe the behavior and condition of animals
- Provide nursing care or emergency first aid to recovering or injured animals
- Bathe animals, clip nails or claws, and brush or cut animals’ hair
- Restrain animals during exams or procedures
- Administer anesthesia to animals and monitor their responses
- Take x rays and collect and perform laboratory tests, such as urinalyses and blood counts
- Prepare animals and instruments for surgery
- Administer medications, vaccines, and treatments prescribed by a veterinarian
- Collect and record animals’ case histories
In addition to helping veterinarians during animal exams, veterinary technologists and technicians do a variety of clinical, care, and laboratory tasks.
Veterinary technologists and technicians who work in research-related jobs ensure that animals are handled carefully and are treated humanely. They may help veterinarians or scientists on research projects in areas such as biomedical research, disaster preparedness, and food safety.
Typically working with small-animal practitioners who care for cats and dogs, veterinary technologists and technicians also may have tasks that involve mice, cattle, or other animals.
Veterinary technologists and technicians may specialize in a particular discipline, such as dentistry, anesthesia, emergency and critical care, and zoological medicine.
Veterinary technologists typically work in more advanced research-related jobs, usually under the guidance of a scientist or veterinarian. Some technologists work in private clinical practices. Working primarily in a laboratory setting, they may administer medications; prepare tissue samples for examination; or record an animal’s genealogy, weight, diet, and signs of pain.
Veterinary technicians generally work in private clinical practices under the guidance of a licensed veterinarian. Technicians may do laboratory tests, such as a urinalysis, and help veterinarians conduct a variety of other diagnostic tests. Although they do some of their work in a laboratory, technicians also talk with animal owners. For example, they explain a pet’s condition or how to administer medication prescribed by a veterinarian.
Work Environment About this section
Veterinary technologists and technicians typically work in private clinics and animal hospitals.
Veterinary technologists and technicians held about 122,800 jobs in 2021. The largest employers of veterinary technologists and technicians were as follows:
| Veterinary services | 91% |
| Junior colleges, colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | 3 |
| Social advocacy organizations | 2 |
Veterinary technologists and technicians typically work in private clinics and animal hospitals. They also may work in laboratories, colleges and universities, and humane societies.
Their jobs may be physically or emotionally demanding. For example, they may witness abused animals or may need to help euthanize sick, injured, or unwanted animals.
Injuries and Illnesses
Veterinary technologists and technicians risk injury on the job. They may be bitten, scratched, or kicked while working with scared or aggressive animals. Injuries may happen while the technologist or technician is holding, cleaning, or restraining an animal.
Work Schedules
Veterinary technologists and technicians may have to work evenings, weekends, or holidays.
How to Become a Veterinary Technologist or Technician
About this section
Typically, both technologists and technicians must pass a credentialing exam and must become registered, licensed, or certified, depending on the state in which they work.
Veterinary technologists and technicians must complete a postsecondary program in veterinary technology. Technologists usually need a 4-year bachelor’s degree, and technicians need a 2-year associate’s degree. Typically, both technologists and technicians must pass a credentialing exam to become registered, licensed, or certified, depending on the requirements of the state in which they work.
Education
Veterinary technologists usually have a 4-year bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology. Veterinary technicians usually have a 2-year associate’s degree in a veterinary technology program. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredits veterinary technology programs. Most of these programs offer a 2-year associate’s degree for veterinary technicians; others offer a 4-year bachelor’s degree for veterinary technologists
People interested in becoming a veterinary technologist or technician can prepare by taking biology and other science courses in high school.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Although each state regulates veterinary technologists and technicians differently, most candidates must pass a credentialing exam. Most states require technologists and technicians to pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE), offered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards.
Important Qualities
Communication skills. Veterinary technologists and technicians communicate with supervisors, other staff, and animal owners. A growing number of technicians counsel pet owners on animal behavior and nutrition.
Compassion. Veterinary technologists and technicians must treat animals with kindness and must be sensitive when dealing with the owners of sick pets.
Detail oriented. Veterinary technologists and technicians must pay attention to detail. They must be precise when recording information, performing diagnostic tests, and administering medication.
Manual dexterity. Veterinary technologists and technicians must handle animals, medical instruments, and laboratory equipment with care. They need a steady hand for intricate tasks such as doing dental work, giving anesthesia, and taking x rays.
Physical strength. Veterinary technologists and technicians need to be able to manage and lift animals.
Median annual wages, May 2021 Pay About this section
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
The median annual wage for veterinary technologists and technicians was $36,850 in May 2021. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $28,370, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $48,100.
In May 2021, the median annual wages for veterinary technologists and technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Junior colleges, colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | $46,780 |
| Veterinary services | 36,770 |
| Social advocacy organizations | 35,480 |
Veterinary technologists and technicians working in research positions often earn more than those in other fields.
Veterinary technologists and technicians may have to work evenings, weekends, or holidays.
Percent change in employment, projected 2021-31 Job Outlook
About this section
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
Employment of veterinary technologists and technicians is projected to grow 20 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 15,500 openings for veterinary technologists and technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
As the number of households with pets and spending on pets continue to rise, demand is expected to increase for veterinary technologists and technicians to do laboratory work and imaging services on household pets.
Employment projections data for veterinary technologists and technicians, 2021-31SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program | |||||
| 29-2056 | 122,800 | 146,900 | 20 | 24,100 | Get data |
The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows
projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. CareerOneStop includes hundreds of
occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a
salary info tool to search for wages by zip code. State & Area Data About this section
Occupational
Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Projections Central
CareerOneStop
Similar Occupations About this section
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of veterinary technologists and technicians.
|
| Animal Care and Service Workers | Animal care and service workers attend to or train animals. | High school diploma or equivalent | $28,730 |
| | Radiologic and MRI Technologists | Radiologic technologists perform diagnostic imaging examinations on patients. MRI technologists operate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners to create diagnostic images. | Associate's degree | $61,980 |
| | Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians collect samples and perform tests to analyze body fluids, tissue, and other substances. | Bachelor's degree | $57,800 |
| | Phlebotomists | Phlebotomists draw blood for tests, transfusions, research, or blood donations. | Postsecondary nondegree award | $37,380 |
| | Surgical Assistants and Technologists | Surgical assistants and technologists help with surgical operations. | Postsecondary nondegree award | $48,510 |
| | Veterinarians | Veterinarians care for the health of animals and work to protect public health. | Doctoral or professional degree | $100,370 |
| | Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers handle routine animal care and help scientists, veterinarians, and others with their daily tasks. | High school diploma or equivalent | $29,780 |
Last Modified Date: Thursday, September 8, 2022