### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			Veterinary technologists and techniciansVeterinary technologists and technicians perform medical tests under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian to assist in diagnosing the injuries and illnesses of animals.							
						Quick Facts:     Veterinary Technologists and Technicians2023     Median Pay
            						$43,740     per year
										$21.03     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Associate's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    122,900Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    21% (Much faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    25,200What Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Do
                                                
                        
                        
Veterinary technologists and technicians do medical tests that help diagnose animals’ injuries and illnesses.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Veterinary technologists and technicians work in private clinics, laboratories, and animal hospitals. Their jobs may be physically or emotionally demanding. Many work evenings, weekends, or holidays.
            
                                                How to Become a Veterinary Technologist or Technician
                                                
                        
Veterinary technologists and technicians must complete a postsecondary program in veterinary technology. Technologists usually need a 4-year bachelor’s degree, and technicians need a 2-year associate’s degree. Typically, both technologists and technicians must take a credentialing exam and become registered, licensed, or certified, depending on the requirements of the state in which they work.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for veterinary technologists and technicians was $43,740 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of veterinary technologists and technicians is projected to grow							 21 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 14,800 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.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for veterinary technologists and technicians.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of veterinary technologists and technicians with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about veterinary technologists and technicians by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Do 
            

			veterinary technologists and technicians imageVeterinary technologists and technicians are responsible for the careful and humane handling of laboratory animals.			
Veterinary technologists and technicians, supervised by licensed veterinarians, do medical tests that help diagnose animals’ injuries and illnesses.
Duties
Veterinary technologists and technicians typically do the following:
Observe the behavior and condition of animals
Provide nursing care or emergency first aid to recovering or injured animals
Bathe animals, clip nails or claws, and brush or cut animals’ hair
Restrain animals during exams or procedures
Administer anesthesia to animals and monitor their responses
Take x rays and collect and perform laboratory tests, such as urinalyses and blood counts
Prepare animals and instruments for surgery
Administer medications, vaccines, and treatments prescribed by a veterinarian
Collect and record animals’ case historiesIn addition to helping veterinarians during animal exams, veterinary technologists and technicians do a variety of clinical, care, and laboratory tasks.
Veterinary technologists and technicians who work in research-related jobs ensure that animals are handled carefully and are treated humanely. They may help veterinarians or scientists on research projects in areas such as biomedical research, disaster preparedness, and food safety.
Typically working with small-animal practitioners who care for cats and dogs, veterinary technologists and technicians also may have tasks that involve mice, cattle, or other animals.
Veterinary technologists and technicians may specialize in a particular discipline, such as dentistry, anesthesia, emergency and critical care, and zoological medicine.
***Veterinary technologists*** typically work in more advanced research-related jobs, usually under the guidance of a scientist or veterinarian. Some technologists work in private clinical practices. Working primarily in a laboratory setting, they may administer medications; prepare tissue samples for examination; or record an animal’s genealogy, weight, diet, and signs of pain.
***Veterinary technicians*** generally work in private clinical practices under the guidance of a licensed veterinarian. Technicians may do laboratory tests, such as a urinalysis, and help veterinarians conduct a variety of other diagnostic tests. Although they do some of their work in a laboratory, technicians also talk with animal owners. For example, they explain a pet’s condition or how to administer medication prescribed by a veterinarian.
 Work Environment
			Veterinary technologists and techniciansVeterinary technologists and technicians typically work in private clinics and animal hospitals.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Veterinary technologists and technicians held about 122,900 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of veterinary technologists and technicians were as follows:
        Veterinary services
                90%Junior colleges, colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private
                3Social advocacy organizations
                2Veterinary technologists and technicians typically work in private clinics and animal hospitals. They also may work in laboratories, colleges and universities, and humane societies.
Their jobs may be physically or emotionally demanding. For example, they may witness abused animals or may need to help euthanize sick, injured, or unwanted animals.
Injuries and Illnesses
Veterinary technologists and technicians risk injury on the job. They may be bitten, scratched, or kicked while working with scared or aggressive animals. Injuries may happen while the technologist or technician is holding, cleaning, or restraining an animal.
Work Schedules
Veterinary technologists and technicians may have to work evenings, weekends, or holidays.
 How to Become a Veterinary Technologist or Technician

			Veterinary technologists and techniciansTypically, both technologists and technicians must pass a credentialing exam and must become registered, licensed, or certified, depending on the state in which they work.			
Veterinary technologists and technicians must complete a postsecondary program in veterinary technology. Technologists usually need a 4-year bachelor’s degree, and technicians need a 2-year associate’s degree. Typically, both technologists and technicians must pass a credentialing exam to become registered, licensed, or certified, depending on the requirements of the state in which they work.
Education
Veterinary technologists usually have a 4-year bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology. Veterinary technicians usually have a 2-year associate’s degree in a veterinary technology program. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredits veterinary technology programs. Most of these programs offer a 2-year associate’s degree for veterinary technicians; others offer a 4-year bachelor’s degree for veterinary technologists
People interested in becoming a veterinary technologist or technician can prepare by taking biology and other science courses in high school.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Although each state regulates veterinary technologists and technicians differently, most candidates must pass a credentialing exam. Most states require technologists and technicians to pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE), offered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards.
Important Qualities
***Communication skills.*** Veterinary technologists and technicians communicate with supervisors, other staff, and animal owners. A growing number of technicians counsel pet owners on animal behavior and nutrition.
***Compassion.*** Veterinary technologists and technicians must treat animals with kindness and must be sensitive when dealing with the owners of sick pets.
***Detail oriented.*** Veterinary technologists and technicians must pay attention to detail. They must be precise when recording information, performing diagnostic tests, and administering medication.
***Manual dexterity.*** Veterinary technologists and technicians must handle animals, medical instruments, and laboratory equipment with care. They need a steady hand for intricate tasks such as doing dental work, giving anesthesia, and taking x rays.
***Physical strength.***Veterinary technologists and technicians need to be able to manage and lift animals.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansMedian annual wages, May 2023Health technologists and technicians$51,250  Total, all occupations$48,060  Veterinary technologists and technicians$43,740Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for veterinary technologists and technicians was $43,740 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $30,180, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $59,310.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for veterinary technologists and technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Junior colleges, colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private
                $48,850Veterinary services
                43,150Social advocacy organizations
                38,530Veterinary technologists and technicians working in research positions often earn more than those in other fields.
Veterinary technologists and technicians may have to work evenings, weekends, or holidays.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Veterinary technologists and technicians21%  Health technologists and technicians7%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of veterinary technologists and technicians is projected to grow				 21 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 14,800 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.
			Employment
	
			
As the number of households with pets and spending on pets continue to rise, strong demand is expected for veterinary technologists and technicians. Increased treatment options also will contribute to rising demand for these workers over the projections decade.
			

                        Employment projections data for     veterinary technologists and technicians, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Veterinary technologists and technicians**
			29-2056
			122,900
			148,100
			21
			25,200
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Veterinary technologists and technicians **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of veterinary technologists and technicians. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Animal Care and Service Workers**
            Animal care and service workers attend to or train animals.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $31,830**Radiologic and MRI Technologists**
            Radiologic technologists perform diagnostic imaging examinations on patients. MRI technologists operate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners to create diagnostic images.
            Associate's degree
            $76,020**Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians**
            Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians perform medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.
            Bachelor's degree
            $60,780**Phlebotomists**
            Phlebotomists draw blood for tests, transfusions, research, or blood donations.
            Postsecondary nondegree award
            $41,810**Surgical Assistants and Technologists**
            Surgical assistants and technologists help with surgical operations.
            Postsecondary nondegree award
            $60,370**Veterinarians**
            Veterinarians care for the health of animals and work to protect public health.
            Doctoral or professional degree
            $119,100**Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers**
            Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers handle routine animal care and help scientists, veterinarians, and others with their daily tasks.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $36,440
 Contacts for More Information
								
For information about careers in veterinary medicine and a listing of AVMA-accredited veterinary technology programs, visit
American Veterinary Medical Association
For more information about becoming a veterinary technician or technologist, visit
National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America
For information about certification as a laboratory animal technician or technologist, visit
American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
For information about the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE), visit
American Association of Veterinary State Boards


                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Veterinary Technologists and Technicians, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/veterinary-technologists-and-technicians.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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