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Veterinary Technologists and Technicians in California

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians in California

Thinking about a career as a Veterinary Technologists and Technicians in California? Here’s what you need to know. 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.

What do Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Make in California?

For a veterinary technologists and technicians working in California, wages run about $55,080 per year (or roughly $26.48/hour).Earnings range from $41,020 at the 10th percentile to $74,390 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic Annual Hourly
10th percentile $41,020 $19.72
25th percentile $47,340 $22.76
Median (50th) $55,080 $26.48
75th percentile $61,810 $29.72
90th percentile $74,390 $35.77
Salary ranges for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians in California

The job concentration index in California nationwide is 0.74, indicating fewer veterinary technologists and technicians per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, veterinary technologists and technicians earn a median of $47,148 per year ($22.67/hour), higher than the California median.

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians earnings in California vs. the national average

Employment Outlook

National employment for 1,946,495 veterinary technologists and technicians nationwide. In California alone, around 11,380 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 1,780 veterinary technologists and technicians.

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians in California vs. the average state Forecasted number of jobs for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

Top California Metros for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

The metro areas below employ the most veterinary technologists and technicians in California.

Metro Area Number Employed Annual Median Salary
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 3,750 $49,790
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA 1,270 $52,090
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 1,220 $66,300
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA 990 $58,120
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 940 $48,680
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 450 $60,180
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA 360 $50,380
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA 290 $58,010
Fresno, CA 220 $47,690
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA 160 $49,350
Stockton-Lodi, CA 160 $48,500
Modesto, CA 150 $50,370
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA 150 $57,080
Bakersfield-Delano, CA 140 $48,510
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA 140 $49,160
Salinas, CA 120 $55,990
Vallejo, CA 120 $57,610
Chico, CA 70 $57,600
Visalia, CA 70 $44,350
Redding, CA 60 $46,550
Merced, CA 40 $45,870
Napa, CA 40 $57,300
Yuba City, CA 40 $48,630

Top States for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Employment

These states have the highest employment of veterinary technologists and technicians work.

State Number Employed
Texas 16,170
California 11,380
Florida 10,130
Pennsylvania 5,840
New York 5,480
Illinois 4,840
Ohio 4,720
Minnesota 4,320
Colorado 3,990
Massachusetts 3,900
North Carolina 3,650
New Jersey 3,500
Arizona 3,390
Georgia 3,280
Maryland 3,090
Michigan 2,880
Wisconsin 2,860
Virginia 2,800
Indiana 2,340
Tennessee 2,270

Highest-Paying States for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

The highest-paying states for veterinary technologists and technicians.

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

Skills

Key veterinary technologists and technicians skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Active Listening  3.8 / 5
0
5
Critical Thinking  3.8 / 5
0
5
Reading Comprehension  3.6 / 5
0
5
Speaking  3.6 / 5
0
5
Writing  3.2 / 5
0
5
Complex Problem Solving  3.2 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Medicine and Dentistry  4.1 / 5
0
5
Customer and Personal Service  4.1 / 5
0
5
Biology  4.0 / 5
0
5
English Language  4.0 / 5
0
5
Mathematics  3.5 / 5
0
5
Chemistry  3.3 / 5
0
5

Abilities

Key abilities for veterinary technologists and technicians, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Near Vision  3.9 / 5
0
5
Oral Expression  3.9 / 5
0
5
Inductive Reasoning  3.9 / 5
0
5
Deductive Reasoning  3.9 / 5
0
5
Information Ordering  3.8 / 5
0
5
Oral Comprehension  3.8 / 5
0
5

Daily Tasks

Common tasks 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.
  • Provide veterinarians with the correct equipment or instruments, as needed.
  • Perform dental work, such as cleaning, polishing, or extracting teeth.
  • Observe the behavior and condition of animals and monitor their clinical symptoms.
  • Give enemas and perform catheterizations, ear flushes, intravenous feedings, or gavages.

Work Activities

  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  • Assisting and Caring for Others
  • Documenting/Recording Information
  • Getting Information
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
  • Performing General Physical Activities
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  • Handling and Moving Objects

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Access

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Related college programs include:

  • Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians

Other careers like veterinary technologists and technicians include:

Also Known As

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), Swine Technician (Swine Tech), Veterinarian Lab Technician (Veterinary Lab Tech), Veterinarian Technician (Vet Tech), Veterinary Assistant (Vet Assistant), Veterinary Laboratory Technician (Vet Lab Tech), Veterinary Nurse (Vet Nurse), Veterinary Surgery Technician (Vet Surgery Tech).

References

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