What does the average vet tech make? (2023)

Where do vet techs get paid the most?

Best-Paying States for Veterinary Techs and Technicians

The states and districts that pay Veterinary Technologists and Technicians the highest mean salary are District of Columbia ($68,110), Washington ($47,550), New York ($45,560), California ($45,140), and Connecticut ($44,380).

Becoming a vet tech is certainly worth it for individuals who want to work with animals and outside of an office environment. To date, the career is experiencing tremendous growth, with about 10,000 new jobs hitting the market each year. The field also provides plenty of job security and room for growth.

How much does a Veterinary Technician make in Michigan? The average Veterinary Technician salary in Michigan is $38,048 as of January 26, 2023, but the range typically falls between $32,027 and $45,213.

There are many reasons veterinary technicians leave their practices. Some of the most common include low pay, compassion fatigue, and burnout from busy schedules and understaffed practices. Another big reason members of your team may look elsewhere for employment is a lack of recognition for a job well done.

Euthanasia is part of being a vet tech

One of the hardest parts of being a veterinary technician is dealing with having to euthanize a patient.

Vet techs tend to make slightly more money than vet assistants since they complete additional education and perform more technical tasks. Here are the salaries for the two roles, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): Vet tech: $36,260 per year. Vet assistance: $29,930 per year.

Earn a doctorate in veterinary medicine

Once you complete your bachelor's program, you can earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree. Attending a college accredited by the American Veterinarian Medicine Association (AVMA) is vital to earn your credential.

It usually takes at least eight years to become a veterinarian. On average, it takes a student four years to complete an undergraduate degree. Then, students must go on to veterinary school, which typically takes another four years.

Approximately 40 residents of Oregon and 32 nonresident students are selected to enter the OSU Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine. These students will complete all four years of their professional education in Corvallis. Completion of the professional program leads to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree.

What do vet assistants do?

Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers typically do the following: Feed, bathe, and exercise animals. Clean and disinfect cages, kennels, and examination and operating rooms. Restrain animals during examination and laboratory procedures.

A vet tech's education is more theoretical and research-based. Vet nurses have a clinical focus in their education. Vet techs can also study a broad array of fields, including diagnostics, zoos, poultry, cattle, or horse farms. A vet tech on average earns more money than a vet nurse, +$30,000 a year vs.

Generally, the scope of education of a Veterinary Technician is similar to that of a Veterinary Nurse, but with a more theoretical and research-based, instead of clinical, focus. Veterinary Technicians can study a broad array of fields, including diagnostics, zoos, poultry, cattle, or horse farms.

Enroll in a two- to four-year veterinary technology program accredited by the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA), the American Veterinary Medical Association's (AVMA) program-approval body. Pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE)

Staffing shortages have contributed to overwork in clinics nationwide. Veterinary technicians' jobs can be both physically and emotionally exhausting. Vet techs spend long hours on their feet doing physically demanding tasks like bending, lifting, and restraining animals.

Veterinary technology school isn't easy. The curriculum is challenging, the time required to study is enormous and the responsibility of providing care for the animals living on campus never lets you forget why you're there.

Being a vet tech is stressful for a lot of obvious reasons, including long hours, a fast pace, difficult schedules, and having to do painful things to animals when you went into the field because you love them. But some of the reasons it's hard to cope with the stress may be less obvious.

Downsides. The clinic can be a stressful work environment. Technicians must be able to deal with upset owners, aggressive or uncooperative animals, euthanasia, and seeing severe injuries caused by trauma or neglect. Stress is one of the biggest factors cited by techs that decide to leave the profession.

Is being a vet harder than med school?

Many of the prerequisites for these schools are similar because biology and chemistry are needed in the veterinary and medical fields. Though aspiring med students have to take the MCAT before applying to medical school, most people agree that vet school is harder than medical school.

In fact, solid math skills are vital for a vet to ensure appropriate diagnostic testing and medication dosing.

veterinary technologist: the difference is a matter of degree. While it may seem that technician and technologist are different words for the same profession, the difference is a matter of degree — specifically a Bachelor's Degree in Veterinary Technology.

Zoological Vet Tech

Zoological vet science is a specialty and requires training and certification specific to zoological medicine. Once a vet tech has their two-year degree, they must go through the training and certification process to gain the zoological technician certification.

They provide professional health care to animals in conjunction with a veterinarian. Like nurses, technicians perform routine and necessary work, such as taking patient histories, administering medications, phlebotomy, surgical prep and assistance, injections, and physical exams.

Veterinary Technician (Vet Tech) Responsibilities

Taking vital signs, drawing blood and gathering medical histories. Providing emergency first aid. Collecting specimens.

Vet assistant school has the quickest completion time. You can earn your degree in as little as 9 months. This career choice works best for people who want to start a vet career as quickly as possible and gain a lot of experience.

What Is the Shortest Time to Become a Vet? The shortest possible time is six years: however, you're more likely to complete your veterinary education in seven to nine years.

Is vet a hard major?

Compared to most undergraduate curriculums, veterinary school is hard. Most veterinary students take 25-30 credits per semester of rigorous science-based courses. This means that veterinary students can expect to be in a classroom or laboratory 35 to 40 hours per week, and will need to study several hours more.

Veterinary school graduates can expect to pay off their veterinary education between 20-25 years after graduation. But, this all depends on income, which makes income-driven repayment plans a great way to accomplish this in a shorter amount of time.

Applying for a license as a certified veterinary technician in Oregon first requires the applicant to have a degree from an approved school with AVMA accreditation. In addition, the graduate needs to have taken and passed the Veterinary Technician National Exam, or VTNE.

There are no specific entry requirements. However, vet tech candidates are likely to have some husbandry skills and livestock knowledge and may have worked in a vet practice at a more junior level. A Vet Tech may be required to work unsociable hours and will be required to visit clients.

Yes, being a vet assistant is hard.

This career comes with relatively low earnings, which is a big drawback of being a veterinarian's assistant.

It usually takes one academic year to complete. The Level 2 Diploma for Veterinary Care Assistants programme was developed by The College of Animal Welfare and City & Guilds.

The veterinary profession is a science-based degree, so unfortunately maths, chemistry and physics are always going to be part of the curriculum.

Average salaries for a veterinarian vary, but we found that the highest paid specialty in the industry is Ophthalmology, with AVMA reporting annual incomes of $199K+. Pathologists and Lab Animal Specialists weren't far behind, with average salaries of $157K to $169K.

Veterinary nursing is a career that requires considerable study and training before starting your role. This is to ensure that you have the skills and knowledge to deliver the best possible care to animals. Veterinary nursing is a challenging career, but it is also extremely rewarding.

The vet's job ultimately is to make decisions on medical and surgical treatment of animals, and then to prescribe treatment or perform surgery. The primary role of a veterinary nurse is completely different – their job is to care for the animal and look after it while treatment proceeds.

What state pays vet techs the best?

Licensed veterinary technicians, referred to as veterinary nurses at MSU, are integral members of the veterinary health care team.

You can earn a veterinary nursing degree through a college accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Veterinary nurses can earn either a two-year degree to become a veterinary technician, or a four-year degree to become a veterinary technologist.

The average Veterinary Assistant salary in Michigan is $32,529 as of January 26, 2023, but the range typically falls between $26,210 and $39,238.

Earn a doctorate in veterinary medicine

Once you complete your bachelor's program, you can earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree. Attending a college accredited by the American Veterinarian Medicine Association (AVMA) is vital to earn your credential.

How much does a Veterinary Technician make in Ohio? The average Veterinary Technician salary in Ohio is $37,120 as of January 26, 2023, but the range typically falls between $31,246 and $44,111.

The average Veterinary Technician salary in Portland, OR is $39,607 as of January 26, 2023, but the range typically falls between $33,339 and $47,066.

Essential College Criteria

Grade Point Average (GPA): Maintain a competitive GPA, preferably 3.5 or higher. Most veterinary schools examine courses taken in the last 3-4 semesters closely.

What is the lowest paying state for veterinarians?

Obtain your DVM

Programs vary, but you should expect to spend four years completing basic sciences courses and gaining clinical experience. Your final year of veterinary school will be dedicated to completing clinical rotations.

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.

Vet techs tend to perform more medical-related tasks than vet assistants. This includes taking blood samples, preparing vaccines and conducting lab tests. They also assist a veterinarian during surgery and sterilize equipment. A vet assistant performs duties that are less technical.

Ohio is very lucky to have several American Veterinary Medical Association accredited veterinary technology programs. Attaining a degree in veterinary technology can take 2-4 years depending on whether you are enrolled full-time or part-time.

How much does a Zoo Veterinarian make in Ohio? As of Feb 3, 2023, the average annual pay for a Zoo Veterinarian in Ohio is $58,922 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $28.33 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,133/week or $4,910/month.

Veterinary Technician Licensing Requirements in Ohio

You must be a graduate from an approved, accredited school of animal technology to become a Registered Veterinary Technician in the State of Ohio.

Veterinarians require far more schooling and assume much more responsibility than do veterinarian technicians, and as a result veterinarians earn far more money. According to Careers in Healthcare, becoming a veterinary technician can be a stepping stone to a career as a veterinarian.

The average Veterinary Assistant salary in Oregon is $32,373 as of January 26, 2023, but the range typically falls between $26,085 and $39,050.

1) A veterinary technician degree from a Board-approved veterinary technology program (copy of diploma or transcript required); —OR— 2) On-the-job training and experience as a veterinary technician verified by an Oregon licensed veterinarian, plus completion of a 20-hour radiation safety training course.