What You Need to Know About Veterinary Technologist or Technician
Job Description & Duties 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.
List of Veterinary Tech Job Duties
- Fill prescriptions, measuring medications and labeling containers.
- Bathe animals, clip nails or claws, and brush or cut animals’ hair.
- Provide information or counseling regarding issues such as animal health care, behavior problems, or nutrition.
- Take and develop diagnostic radiographs, using x-ray equipment.
- Provide veterinarians with the correct equipment or instruments, as needed.
- Administer emergency first aid, such as performing emergency resuscitation or other life saving procedures.
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What a Veterinary Tech Should Know
When polled, Veterinary Technologists and Technicians say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Other Veterinary Tech Job Titles
- Clinical Researcher
- Clinical Laboratory Scientist
- Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT)
- Veterinary Laboratory Technician (Veterinary Lab Tech)
- Medical Technologist
Veterinary Tech Employment Estimates
In the United States, there were 102,000 jobs for Veterinary Technologist or Technician in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 20% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 20,400 new jobs for Veterinary Technologist or Technician by 2026. The BLS estimates 10,700 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Veterinary Tech are Utah, Nevada, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Ohio, Maine, or District of Columbia. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Salary
The typical yearly salary for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians is somewhere between $23,490 and $50,010.
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians who work in Nevada, New York, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $31,480 |
| Alaska | $39,550 |
| Arizona | $33,910 |
| Arkansas | $29,990 |
| California | $41,920 |
| Colorado | $36,390 |
| Connecticut | $43,340 |
| Delaware | $34,670 |
| District of Columbia | $37,140 |
| Florida | $33,280 |
| Georgia | $31,690 |
| Hawaii | $35,950 |
| Idaho | $31,660 |
| Illinois | $36,750 |
| Indiana | $32,030 |
| Iowa | $35,500 |
| Kansas | $33,920 |
| Kentucky | $32,450 |
| Louisiana | $26,410 |
| Maine | $36,760 |
| Maryland | $36,190 |
| Massachusetts | $40,990 |
| Michigan | $37,420 |
| Minnesota | $38,740 |
| Mississippi | $36,060 |
| Missouri | $31,910 |
| Montana | $31,580 |
| Nebraska | $33,190 |
| Nevada | $46,370 |
| New Hampshire | $34,900 |
| New Jersey | $37,630 |
| New Mexico | $34,150 |
| New York | $43,190 |
| North Carolina | $32,760 |
| North Dakota | $35,990 |
| Ohio | $33,170 |
| Oklahoma | $29,600 |
| Oregon | $36,670 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,860 |
| Rhode Island | $35,670 |
| South Carolina | $31,630 |
| South Dakota | $33,720 |
| Tennessee | $31,150 |
| Texas | $31,010 |
| Utah | $30,560 |
| Vermont | $34,680 |
| Virginia | $39,060 |
| Washington | $38,220 |
| West Virginia | $30,360 |
| Wisconsin | $33,870 |
| Wyoming | $31,620 |
What Tools & Technology do Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Veterinary Technologists and Technicians:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Word processing software
- FileMaker Pro
- McAllister Software Systems AVImark
How to Become a Veterinary Tech
What education or degrees do I need to become a Veterinary Technologist or Technician?
What work experience do I need to become a Veterinary Tech?
Where Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Work
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Similar Careers
Those interested in being a Veterinary Technologist or Technician may also be interested in:
Career changers with experience as a Veterinary Technologist or Technician sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: Ryan Conroy via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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