What Does A Veterinary Technologist and Technician Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

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Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians 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.

Salary
$37860
Becoming One
Medium
Education
Associate's degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality


What they do

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians 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.

  • Care for and monitor the condition of animals recovering from surgery.
  • Maintain controlled drug inventory and related logbooks.
  • Administer anesthesia to animals, under the direction of a veterinarian, and monitor animals’ responses to anesthetics so that dosages can be adjusted.
  • Restrain animals during exams or procedures.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Veterinary Technicians restrain animals during exams or procedures. They take animals into treatment areas and assist with physical examinations by performing such duties as obtaining temperature, pulse, or respiration data.

A typical day for a Veterinary Technologist and Technician will also include:

  • Clean kennels, animal holding areas, surgery suites, examination rooms, or animal loading or unloading facilities to control the spread of disease.
  • Maintain instruments, equipment, or machinery to ensure proper working conditions.
  • Fill prescriptions, measuring medications, and labeling containers.
  • Collect, prepare, and label samples for laboratory testing, culture, or microscopic examination.
  • Maintain controlled drug inventory and related logbooks.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Veterinary Technicians also monitor medical supplies and place orders when inventory is low. They may also perform dental work, such as cleaning, polishing, or extracting teeth.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Veterinary Technicians provide assistance with animal euthanasia and the disposal of remains. They might also administer emergency first aid, such as performing emergency resuscitation or other life-saving procedures.

In addition, they prepare treatment rooms for surgery.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them dress and suture wounds and apply splints or other protective devices.

To some Veterinary Technicians, it is also their responsibility to perform a variety of office, clerical, or accounting duties, such as reception, billing, bookkeeping, or selling products.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

High

Is this job meaningful

Very High

70% said they were satisfied with their job and 83% said they found their job meaningful.


Penny Paws Animal Clinic

My Typical Day My day starts before we open our doors by ensuring that our treatment rooms, facilities, and supplies are all clean, stocked, and ready to go for the day. Like most businesses, whether in a medical setting or otherwise, we really rely on prep work to make sure our appointments and walk-in visitors … Read More


An emergency hospital in central New Jersey

My name is Crystal Litzenberger and I have been a Veterinary Technician since 2003. I have worked in the veterinary field as a technician helping educate people on how to care for their pets. My experience has grown from nursing and hospital management in general practice to working as a technician in rehabilitation and emergency … Read More


Small animal clinics

I am a Veterinary Technician and have been working in small animal clinics for about 4 years now. My typical day starts at 8:00 am. The first thing I’ll do is tend to any hospitalized patients that have stayed at the hospital overnight. This includes checking that IV lines are patent, administering daily medications, and … Read More


Pros

Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.

Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.

This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.

It is not too difficult to get into this career. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.

Normal working hours (40 hours per week).

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to work with designs.

One of the lowest paying jobs.

How much do they make

Average salary

$37860 per year

Average hourly wage

$18 per hour

Entry-level Veterinary Technologists and Technicians with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $25,520 to $30,030 per year or $12 to $14 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $52,410 $25
Senior (Top 25%) $43,890 $21
Median $36,260 $17
Junior (Bottom 25%) $30,030 $14
No experience (Bottom 10%) $25,520 $12

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Federal Executive Branch $55700 $26.78
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals $46470 $22.34
Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions $45200 $21.73
Scientific Research and Development Services $44860 $21.57
Employment Services $44460 $21.37
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools $43600 $20.96
Local Government $43210 $20.77
State Government $42380 $20.38
Management of Companies and Enterprises $38910 $18.71
Other Personal Services $37510 $18.04

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Veterinary Technologists and Technicians work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Veterinary Technologists and Technicians including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 100360 $37350 $17.95
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 3480 $43600 $20.96
Social Advocacy Organizations 1510 $36460 $17.53
Scientific Research and Development Services 940 $44860 $21.57
Other Personal Services 770 $37510 $18.04
Local Government 640 $43210 $20.77
Federal Executive Branch 490 $55700 $26.78
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 190 $46470 $22.34
Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions 150 $45200 $21.73
Employment Services 90 $44460 $21.37

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
34%

40 hours
56%

More than 40 hours
10%

Working schedule

80%

19%

1%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
17%

Every day
50%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
6%

Every day
78%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
7%

Every day
68%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
74%

Once a year
9%

Once a month
13%

Once a week
3%

Every day
1%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
11%

Slightly competitive
48%

Moderately competitive
14%

Highly competitive
17%

Extremely competitive
9%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
11%

Once a year or more
5%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
1%

Every day
83%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
82%

Once a year or more
9%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
4%

Every day
5%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
53%

Once a year or more
23%

Once a month or more
2%

Once a week or more
10%

Every day
11%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
83%

Once a year or more
10%

Once a month or more
5%

Once a week or more
1%

Every day
0%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Medium
You will need previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Most careers in this difficulty category require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an Associate’s degree, and one or two years of on-the-job training. Similar careers include Travel Agents, Agricultural Technicians, Court Reports, and Medical Assistants.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
0%

High School Diploma or equivalent
41%

Post-Secondary Certificate
15%

Some College Courses
7%

Associate’s Degree or similar
26%

Bachelor’s Degree
5%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
6%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

Veterinary/Animal Health Technology and Veterinary Assistant

A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of veterinarians, laboratory animal specialists, and zoological professionals, to provide patient management, care, and clinical procedures assistance as well as owner communication. Includes instruction in animal nursing care, animal health and nutrition, animal handling, clinical pathology, radiology, anesthesiology, dental prophylaxis, surgical assisting, clinical laboratory procedures, office administration skills, patient and owner management, and applicable standards and regulations.

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
20%

1 month
0%

1 to 3 months
7%

3 to 6 months
12%

6 months to 1 year
31%

1 to 2 years
17%

2 to 4 years
10%

4 to 6 years
2%

6 to 8 years
0%

8 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
4%

1 month
7%

1 to 3 months
42%

3 to 6 months
29%

6 months to 1 year
12%

1 to 2 years
6%

2 to 4 years
0%

4 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Builder

People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

The Builder
100%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
86%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
24%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
43%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
33%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
52%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

They also like working with ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
48%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
52%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
52%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
71%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
67%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
52%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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