Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

Pay and outlook

Median annual wage, May 2025

$47,380

Half earn more, half earn less

Middle half earn

$38,910 – $57,650

25th to 75th percentile

People employed, May 2025

129,140

Wage and salary jobs (OEWS)

Projected change, 2025–35

+9.4%

Growing at twice the all-jobs rate or more (7%+)

Openings a year (projected)

13,400

New jobs plus replacing people who leave

Typical education to enter

Associate's degree

BLS

• All figures are for the United States as a whole. Pay varies a lot by state and city.
• Wages are for everyone working in the occupation in May 2025, at every career stage. They are not starting salaries or figures for new graduates.
• Growth and openings are BLS projections for 2025–35. They are estimates, not promises. Openings include jobs that open up when people retire or change occupation, not just new jobs.

What the work involves

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.

Main 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.

Description and tasks from the O*NET® 31.0 Database.

Getting in

Typical education to enter (BLS)

Associate's degree

O*NET Job Zone 3

Medium preparation

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Fields of study that lead here

From the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk, which links 2 programmes to this occupation. A link means the programme prepares people for this kind of work. It doesn't mean the programme is required, or that it's the only route.

Related careers

Related occupations from the O*NET database, in its order.

• Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

  $38,150 median · +9.1% projected

• Surgical Assistants

  $66,800 median · +6.1% projected

• Medical Assistants

  $45,690 median · +12.9% projected

• Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

  $74,310 median · +3.7% projected

• Surgical Technologists

  $64,650 median · +5% projected

• Emergency Medical Technicians

  $44,470 median · +5.8% projected