Veterinary Technologists and Technicians: Job Description
Perform medical tests in a laboratory environment for use in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases in animals. Prepare vaccines and serums for prevention of diseases. Prepare tissue samples, take blood samples, and execute laboratory tests, such as urinalysis and blood counts. Clean and sterilize instruments and materials and maintain equipment and machines. May assist a veterinarian during surgery.
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What Do Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Perform?
Typical responsibilities of veterinary technologists and technicians include:
- Administer anesthesia to animals, under the direction of a veterinarian, and monitor animals' responses to anesthetics so that dosages can be adjusted.
- Care for and monitor the condition of animals recovering from surgery.
- Maintain controlled drug inventory and related log books.
- Perform laboratory tests on blood, urine, or feces, such as urinalyses or blood counts, to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of animal health problems.
- Prepare and administer medications, vaccines, serums, or treatments, as prescribed by veterinarians.
- Restrain animals during exams or procedures.
- Administer emergency first aid, such as performing emergency resuscitation or other life saving procedures.
- Clean and sterilize instruments, equipment, or materials.
Skills and Knowledge
Top veterinary technologists and technicians draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Animal Care Technician (Animal Care Tech)
- Animal Health Technician (Animal Health Tech)
- Animal Technician (Animal Tech)
- Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT)
- Emergency Veterinary Technician (Emergency Vet Tech)
- Internal Medicine Veterinary Technician (Internal Medicine Vet Tech)
- Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT)
- Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT)
Job Outlook
There are roughly 1,946,495 veterinary technologists and technicians working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -4.7% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $47,148 |
| Hourly median | $22.67 |
| 10th percentile | $26,888 |
| 25th percentile | $37,018 |
| 75th percentile | $57,279 |
| 90th percentile | $67,409 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $59,080 |
| New York | $58,830 |
| District of Columbia | $55,900 |
| Virginia | $55,790 |
| California | $55,080 |
| Minnesota | $49,480 |
| Maine | $49,460 |
| Oregon | $48,950 |
| Connecticut | $48,880 |
| New Jersey | $48,630 |
| New Hampshire | $48,600 |
| Nevada | $48,590 |
| Colorado | $48,360 |
| Illinois | $47,860 |
| Hawaii | $47,670 |
| Indiana | $47,520 |
| Michigan | $47,150 |
| Massachusetts | $47,130 |
| Delaware | $47,100 |
| Vermont | $46,650 |
| Maryland | $46,620 |
| Ohio | $46,390 |
| North Carolina | $45,460 |
| Wisconsin | $45,340 |
| South Dakota | $45,220 |
| Arizona | $45,110 |
| Rhode Island | $42,230 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,910 |
| Iowa | $41,780 |
| North Dakota | $40,900 |
| Florida | $40,380 |
| Montana | $39,690 |
| Utah | $39,400 |
| Nebraska | $39,180 |
| Kansas | $39,070 |
| Missouri | $39,010 |
| Georgia | $38,810 |
| New Mexico | $37,980 |
| South Carolina | $37,960 |
| Oklahoma | $37,920 |
| Wyoming | $37,580 |
| Texas | $37,250 |
| Kentucky | $37,180 |
| Tennessee | $36,940 |
| Idaho | $36,670 |
| West Virginia | $36,350 |
| Mississippi | $36,090 |
| Arkansas | $34,880 |
| Alabama | $30,480 |
| Louisiana | $29,920 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,530 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for veterinary technologists and technicians shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $54,522 | 12.5% | 0.76 |
| Middle Atlantic | $49,204 | 14.2% | 1.00 |
| New England | $47,551 | 6.4% | 1.35 |
| Great Lakes | $46,897 | 13.4% | 0.95 |
| Plains States | $44,309 | 7.3% | 1.23 |
| Rocky Mountains | $44,151 | 5.4% | 1.40 |
| Southeast | $40,051 | 24.1% | 1.02 |
| Southwest | $38,555 | 16.3% | 1.31 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $66,300 | 1,220 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | WA | $64,750 | 60 |
| Corvallis, OR | OR | $63,970 | 100 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $60,430 | 1,190 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $60,180 | 450 |
| Bellingham, WA | WA | $59,240 | 80 |
| Kingston, NY | NY | $58,660 | 60 |
| Yakima, WA | WA | $58,230 | 110 |
Top Industries Employing Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
The largest employers of veterinary technologists and technicians work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 120,950 | $45,780 |
| Educational Services | 4,050 | $51,250 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 3,610 | $41,730 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 270 | $55,030 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 260 | $47,780 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 220 | $45,880 |
| Retail Trade | 190 | $54,080 |
| Manufacturing | 180 | $74,810 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for veterinary technologists and technicians is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Contact With Others
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Physical Proximity
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Getting Started in This Career
Typical veterinary technologists and technicians positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Physician Assistants (Supplemental)
- Anesthesiologist Assistants (Supplemental)
- Veterinarians (Supplemental)
- Nurse Anesthetists (Supplemental)
- Anesthesiologists (Supplemental)
- Emergency Medicine Physicians (Supplemental)
- Urologists (Supplemental)
- Pediatric Surgeons (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Aspiring veterinary technologists and technicians often complete programs in:
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
2 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-2056.00 (Veterinary Technologists and Technicians).
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