Healthcare practitioners
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.
Median pay
$47,380
Growth to 2035
+9%
faster than average
Openings a year
13,400
Time to qualify*
2 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Veterinary technologists and technicians
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to veterinary technologists and technicians
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Veterinary technologists and technicians: 10% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Administer anesthesia to animals, under the direction of a veterinarian, and monitor animals' responses to anesthetics so that dosages can be adjusted.
- Care for and monitor the condition of animals recovering from surgery.
- Maintain controlled drug inventory and related log books.
- Perform laboratory tests on blood, urine, or feces, such as urinalyses or blood counts, to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of animal health problems.
- Prepare and administer medications, vaccines, serums, or treatments, as prescribed by veterinarians.
- Restrain animals during exams or procedures.
- Administer emergency first aid, such as performing emergency resuscitation or other life saving procedures.
- Clean and sterilize instruments, equipment, or materials.
Also called: Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) · Emergency Veterinary Technician (Emergency Vet Tech) · Internal Medicine Veterinary Technician (Internal Medicine Vet Tech) · Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) · Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) · Veterinarian Technician (Vet Tech) · Veterinary Laboratory Technician (Vet Lab Tech) · Veterinary Nurse (Vet Nurse)
Outlook and AI
Veterinary technologists and technicians held 131,400 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 143,800 by 2035 (+9%, faster than average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
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