Jobs Similar to Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to veterinary technologists and technicians, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers, Nuclear Medicine Technologists and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians.
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians: $47,380 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Veterinary Technologists and Technicians) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | 81% | $38,150−19% | High school |
| 2 | Nuclear Medicine TechnologistsSame group | 81% | $101,370+114% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansSame group | 79% | $74,310+57% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Veterinarians | 78% | $130,100+175% | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Nurse Anesthetists | 78% | $236,590+399% | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Ophthalmic Medical TechnologistsSame group | 78% | $50,290Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 7 | Respiratory Therapists | 78% | $82,280+74% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Anesthesiologist Assistants | 78% | $135,880Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansSame group | 77% | $45,570−4% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Dental Hygienists | 77% | $98,100+107% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Radiologists | 77% | $420,860+788% | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansSame group | 77% | $80,110+69% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Neurodiagnostic TechnologistsSame group | 77% | $50,290Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 14 | Diagnostic Medical SonographersSame group | 77% | $96,590+104% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Radiation Therapists | 76% | $105,310+122% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsSame group | 76% | $95,480+102% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons | 75% | $352,220+643% | Graduate degree |
| 18 | Surgical TechnologistsSame group | 75% | $64,650+36% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Dental Assistants | 75% | $48,070+1% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Phlebotomists | 74% | $45,230−5% | Training or associate |
- 1Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
81% similar · $38,150 (−19%) · High school
- 2Nuclear Medicine Technologists
81% similar · $101,370 (+114%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 3Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
79% similar · $74,310 (+57%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 4Veterinarians
78% similar · $130,100 (+175%) · Graduate degree
- 5Nurse Anesthetists
78% similar · $236,590 (+399%) · Graduate degree
- 6Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
78% similar · $50,290 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 7Respiratory Therapists
78% similar · $82,280 (+74%) · Training or associate
- 8Anesthesiologist Assistants
78% similar · $135,880 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 9Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
77% similar · $45,570 (−4%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 10Dental Hygienists
77% similar · $98,100 (+107%) · Training or associate
- 11Radiologists
77% similar · $420,860 (+788%) · Graduate degree
- 12Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
77% similar · $80,110 (+69%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 13Neurodiagnostic Technologists
77% similar · $50,290 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 14Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
77% similar · $96,590 (+104%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 15Radiation Therapists
76% similar · $105,310 (+122%) · Training or associate
- 16Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists
76% similar · $95,480 (+102%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 17Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
75% similar · $352,220 (+643%) · Graduate degree
- 18Surgical Technologists
75% similar · $64,650 (+36%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 19Dental Assistants
75% similar · $48,070 (+1%) · Training or associate
- 20Phlebotomists
74% similar · $45,230 (−5%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than veterinary technologists and technicians.
- Radiation Therapists76% similar · $105,310 (+122%)
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists81% similar · $101,370 (+114%)
- Dental Hygienists77% similar · $98,100 (+107%)
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers77% similar · $96,590 (+104%)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists76% similar · $95,480 (+102%)
- Respiratory Therapists78% similar · $82,280 (+74%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for veterinary technologists and technicians also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where veterinary technologists and technicians is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like veterinary technologists and technicians
What jobs are most similar to veterinary technologists and technicians?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers (81% similar), Nuclear Medicine Technologists (81% similar), Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians (79% similar), Veterinarians (78% similar) and Nurse Anesthetists (78% similar).
Which jobs like veterinary technologists and technicians pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Radiologists ($420,860, +788%; usually a graduate degree), Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons ($352,220, +643%; usually a graduate degree) and Nurse Anesthetists ($236,590, +399%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with veterinary technologists and technicians ($47,380). Without more preparation than veterinary technologists and technicians usually need: Radiation Therapists, Nuclear Medicine Technologists and Dental Hygienists.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.