What Does a Veterinary Technician Do?
Veterinary technicians assist veterinarians in diagnosing and treating animals by performing clinical tasks such as laboratory tests, administering medications, and providing nursing care. They work in animal hospitals, private practices, research facilities, and zoos. Vet techs are essential members of the veterinary care team.
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as 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).
Veterinary Technician Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a veterinary technician include:
- Restrain animals during examinations, treatments, and surgical procedures to ensure safety.
- Collect and process blood, urine, and tissue samples for laboratory analysis.
- Administer medications, vaccines, and treatments as directed by the supervising veterinarian.
- Prepare animals for surgery by shaving surgical sites, placing IV catheters, and inducing anesthesia.
- Monitor anesthesia levels, vital signs, and patient recovery during and after surgical procedures.
- Take and develop diagnostic radiographs (X-rays) and assist with ultrasound examinations.
- Perform dental cleanings, polish teeth, and take dental radiographs under veterinary supervision.
- Educate pet owners on medication administration, post-operative care, and preventive health measures.
- Maintain medical records, update patient files, and manage inventory of medications and supplies.
- Clean and sterilize surgical instruments, examination rooms, and animal housing areas.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a veterinary technician, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Animal restraint and handling
- Laboratory procedures and testing
- Anesthesia monitoring and recovery
- Surgical preparation and assistance
- Radiography and imaging
- Medication administration
- Client communication
- Veterinary medical terminology
Education and Training
Veterinary technicians typically earn an associate degree in veterinary technology from a program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Programs include coursework in animal anatomy, pharmacology, clinical pathology, and surgical nursing, along with extensive hands-on clinical training. Graduates must pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) to become credentialed, though licensing requirements vary by state. Some states use the titles licensed veterinary technician (LVT), certified veterinary technician (CVT), or registered veterinary technician (RVT).
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $38,910 - $57,650 per year, with a median of $47,380.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Veterinary Technologists and Technicians.
BLS projects employment of veterinary technologists and technicians to grow about 9 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 13,400 openings a year. Growth is driven by increasing pet ownership and the willingness of pet owners to invest in advanced veterinary care. The expanding scope of veterinary technology roles, including emergency and specialty care, also contributes to demand. Vet techs with specialty certifications in areas such as anesthesia, dentistry, or emergency care will have the best advancement opportunities.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Veterinary technologists and technicians.
Veterinary Technician Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $35,710 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $38,910 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $47,380 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $57,650 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $63,180 |
Highest-Paying States for Veterinary Technicians
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are District of Columbia ($61,270), California ($60,630), Washington ($59,740), New York ($59,010), Minnesota ($57,270). Pay is lowest in Alabama ($36,590), Mississippi ($36,380), Louisiana ($35,530).
Median pay in all 51 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $36,590 |
| Alaska | $46,480 |
| Arizona | $46,300 |
| Arkansas | $38,360 |
| California | $60,630 |
| Colorado | $49,650 |
| Connecticut | $50,950 |
| Delaware | $48,370 |
| District of Columbia | $61,270 |
| Florida | $46,380 |
| Georgia | $43,060 |
| Hawaii | $48,550 |
| Idaho | $42,120 |
| Illinois | $46,440 |
| Indiana | $48,720 |
| Iowa | $45,560 |
| Kansas | $45,810 |
| Kentucky | $39,590 |
| Louisiana | $35,530 |
| Maine | $50,810 |
| Maryland | $47,350 |
| Massachusetts | $49,540 |
| Michigan | $49,710 |
| Minnesota | $57,270 |
| Mississippi | $36,380 |
| Missouri | $43,520 |
| Montana | $41,170 |
| Nebraska | $43,680 |
| Nevada | $50,250 |
| New Hampshire | $48,780 |
| New Jersey | $49,050 |
| New Mexico | $44,790 |
| New York | $59,010 |
| North Carolina | $47,620 |
| North Dakota | $48,790 |
| Ohio | $47,990 |
| Oklahoma | $39,100 |
| Oregon | $55,810 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,430 |
| Rhode Island | $45,310 |
| South Carolina | $39,020 |
| South Dakota | $45,300 |
| Tennessee | $42,810 |
| Texas | $39,410 |
| Utah | $40,560 |
| Vermont | $49,490 |
| Virginia | $52,090 |
| Washington | $59,740 |
| West Virginia | $37,700 |
| Wisconsin | $47,020 |
| Wyoming | $38,650 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as veterinary technologists and technicians about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 89% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 83% work indoors in a climate-controlled space every day
- 83% spend more than half the workday on their feet
- 78% are on the phone every day
- 76% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
- 65% use their hands on tools, objects or controls for more than half the day
- 59% are exposed to disease or infection every day
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or GED | 41% |
| Associate's degree | 26% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 15% |
| Some college | 7% |
Tools and Software Veterinary Technicians Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy hands-on work with tools, machines or the outdoors as well as analyzing problems and working with ideas.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Writing, Monitoring.
Knowledge areas used most: Medicine and Dentistry, Customer and Personal Service, Biology, English Language, Mathematics.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 3 of 5, which means medium preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 29-2056.00 (Veterinary Technologists and Technicians). View on O*NET OnLine.
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