Technician Programs

Veterinary Technician Salary

If you love animals, there are few careers more satisfying than that of a veterinary technician. Begin your career in veterinary medicine as veterinary technician.

Veterinary Technician Salary Range
In 2002, the lowest 10 percent of veterinary technicians earned less than $16,170, reports the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The highest 10 percent earned more than $33,750. The current expected median veterinary technician salary is $23,588, according to Salary.com.

Starting Veterinary Technician Salaries
Most states have credentialing requirements for veterinary technicians. As a result, salary levels are affected most by education, experience, geographic region, and work setting. Students who earn bachelor degrees usually garner higher salaries.

Certification and Veterinary Technician Salaries
Most states have credentialing requirements for veterinary technicians. As a result, salary levels are affected most by education, experience, geographic region, and work setting. Students who earn bachelor degrees usually garner higher salaries.

Career Description
Veterinary technicians work alongside and under the supervision of licensed veterinarians and other biomedical researchers. Vet tech duties include assisting with surgery, giving injections, taking x-rays, anesthetizing patients, offering post-operative care, cleaning teeth, and more.

Most veterinary technicians work in private veterinary offices, though opportunities also exist in teaching, biomedical research, zoo/wildlife medicine, and the military.

Educational Requirements
Most veterinary technicians enter the field with a certificate or associate degree from a community or technical college, accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Veterinary technician programs generally consist of two years of academic study. (Four-year vet tech degrees also are available at some institutions.)

The majority of states have vet-tech credentialing regulations, requiring techs to become certified, registered, or licensed. Vet techs are generally credentialed after passing the National Veterinary Technician Exam administered by their state's board of veterinary medical examiners.

Use our technician salary calculator to review veterinary technician salaries in your region.

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