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.
Also called: Animal Care Technician (Animal Care Tech), Animal Health Technician (Animal Health Tech), Animal Technician (Animal Tech), Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT), Emergency Veterinary Technician (Emergency Vet Tech), Internal Medicine Veterinary Technician (Internal Medicine Vet Tech)
Median pay
$47,380
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$35,710 – $63,180
People employed
129,140
Holland code
RIC
Realistic · Investigative · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
- 2.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
- 3.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 4.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
- Exposure to disease or infection
- Tight deadlines are common
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians salary in every state →
What veterinary technologists and technicians do
- 01Administer anesthesia to animals, under the direction of a veterinarian, and monitor animals' responses to anesthetics so that dosages can be adjusted.
- 02Care for and monitor the condition of animals recovering from surgery.
- 03Maintain controlled drug inventory and related log books.
- 04Perform laboratory tests on blood, urine, or feces, such as urinalyses or blood counts, to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of animal health problems.
- 05Prepare and administer medications, vaccines, serums, or treatments, as prescribed by veterinarians.
- 06Restrain animals during exams or procedures.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Writing
- Monitoring
Knowledge
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Customer and Personal Service
- Biology
- English Language
- Mathematics
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Cooperation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
- A certification can help.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from veterinary technologists and technicians
- Surgical Assistants84% · +41%
- Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers83% · −19%
- Phlebotomists81% · −5%
- Medical Assistants81% · −4%
- Respiratory Therapists78% · +74%
Change into veterinary technologists and technicians
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers86% · $38,150
- Dental Assistants82% · $48,070
- Animal Caretakers78% · $35,360
- Phlebotomists78% · $45,230
- Medical Assistants71% · $45,690
Majors that lead here
- Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant
- Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians, Other
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.