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For Educators: Military Resources
For Educators: Military Resources

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

Median Salary
43,740
Job Outlook
+1%

Overview

What are the responsibilities of this role?

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 sectors do they work in?

Private for profit

89%

Private not for profit

4%

State and local government

3%

Self-employed

3%

Federal Government

1%

What is the job outlook?

Employment of veterinary technologists and technicians is projected to grow 19 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 15,400 openings for veterinary technologists and technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Compensation

What is the typical salary range?

$23,610

10%

$43,740

Median

$54,640

90%

How does location impact how much salary?

Education

What level of education do professionals in this role have?

Education Level

  • High school

    41%

  • Associate's degree

    26%

  • Post-secondary certificate

    14%

  • Some college

    7%

  • Doctoral degree

    5%

  • Bachelor's degree

    4%

Which college majors best prepare you for this role?

  • Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant
  • Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians, Other

Skills and Interest

Which skill sets are the most valuable to possess?

Skills

  • Math and Science Skills

    High

  • Equipment Operation and Maintenance

    High

  • Verbal Skills

    Mid

  • Leadership

    Mid

  • Technology Design and Control

    Mid

  • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

    Mid

What knowledge should you bring to the table?

  • Medicine and Dentistry
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Education and Training

What challenges will you likely face in the workplace?

Workplace

  • Decision Making

    High

  • Physical Activity

    High

  • Exposure to Job Hazards

    Mid

  • Time Pressure

    Mid

  • Repetitiveness

    Mid

  • Responsibility

    Mid

  • Level Of Competition

    Low

What personality traits help people thrive in this role?

Realistic

You love hands-on work and solving practical problems — like fixing things and building stuff.

Investigative

You love figuring out how things work and researching subjects that interest you.

Conventional

You like structure, staying organized, and working with systems to get things done efficiently.

RIASEC represents six broad interest areas—Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional—helping individuals identify careers that match their skills and preferences.

Take the RIASEC Test

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Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.