Veterinary 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 histories
In 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.
Veterinary technologists and technicians typically work in private clinics and animal hospitals.
Veterinary technologists and technicians held about 114,400 jobs in 2020. The largest employers of veterinary technologists and technicians were as follows:
Veterinary services
91%
Junior colleges, colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private
4
Social advocacy organizations
1
Veterinary 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.
Typically, 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.
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.
Note: 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 $36,850 in May 2021.
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 $28,370, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $48,100.
In May 2021, 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
$46,780
Veterinary services
36,770
Social advocacy organizations
35,480
Veterinary 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.
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 15 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations.
About 10,400 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.
Employment
As the number of households with pets and spending on pets continue to rise, demand is expected to increase for veterinary technologists and technicians to do laboratory work and imaging services on household pets.
Employment projections data for veterinary technologists and technicians, 2020-30
Occupational Title
SOC Code
Employment, 2020
Projected Employment, 2030
Change, 2020-30
Employment by Industry
Percent
Numeric
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program