Veterinary Technician

Veterinary Technician Job Description

Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Feed, water, and examine pets and other nonfarm animals for signs of illness, disease, or injury in laboratories and animal hospitals and clinics. Clean and disinfect cages and work areas, and sterilize laboratory and surgical equipment. May provide routine post-operative care, administer medication orally or topically, or prepare samples for laboratory examination under the supervision of veterinary or laboratory animal technologists or technicians, veterinarians, or scientists.

Veterinary Technician Salary Statistics as of 2015

Average annual salary for a Veterinary Technician is $28191 based on statistics in the U.S. as of 2015. The highest salary recorded was $39028. The lowest salary reported was $20363. These figures will vary on a state to state basis as these are averages across all 50 states.

Median hourly wage for a Veterinary Technician is $14.02 based on statistics in the U.S. as of 2015. The highest hourly rate recorded was $19.41. The lowest hourly rate recorded was $10.13. These figures will vary on a state to state basis as these are averages across all 50 states.

Bonuses for a Veterinary Technician are based on the years of experience using statistics from the U.S. as of 2015. The average bonus recorded was $97.59 from people with 15+ years of experience. The average bonus recorded was $0 from people with under 1 year of experience.

These are the highest paying states for a Veterinary Technician. These numbers are based off the median annual salary as of 2015.
Colorado – n/a
Florida – n/a
Indiana – n/a
New York – $23,958 – $32,809
Ohio – n/a
Pennsylvania – n/a
Texas – n/a

These are the highest paying cities for a Veterinary Technician. These numbers are based off the median annual salary as of 2015.
Houston, Texas –

This chart outlines the average annual salary of a Veterinary Technician from the past 5 years. In 2015 the average annual salary was $28191 while in 2007 it was just $26143.84

How To Become a Verterinary Technician

Most every state has a licensing requirement to be a certified veterinary technician. A 2 year Associates of Arts degree must be obtained from one of the many vet tech schools. Most veterinarians would prefer a graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree. This gives the veterinarian the assurance of a highly trained applicant and that the applicant is committed to the care and well- being of animals, with the credentials to support them.

Most states require the state administered certification exam be passed. This exam is also known as the Veterinary Technician National Examination. This American Association of Veterinarian State Boards oversees this exam. People often confuse the work of a vet assistant as the work of a vet tech. The positions are very different with the vet tech being the professional position.

Job Outlook

There will be many jobs opening in the veterinary technician field. The treatment of animals has advanced to the point where orthopedic surgery is common place, treatment of cancer is routine but specialized, gastro-intentinal problems are treated, and many veterinarians are now treating exotic species and birds.