What is the salary of a Veterinary Technologist and Technician?

The typical salary range is $32,185 - $64,371 per year.

Medical & WelfareGrowingBright Outlook

Veterinary Technologist and Technician

Operational-level

Also known as: Animal Care Technician (Animal Care Tech), Animal Health Technician (Animal Health Tech), Animal Technician (Animal Tech), Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT)

Medical & WelfareBachelor's Degree

Job Description

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.

Veterinary TechnologyAnimal HealthVeterinary DiagnosticsClinical PathologyHealthcareLife SciencesBiotechnologyMedical CareersPatient CareEnvironment

A Day in the Life

You arrive at Evergreen Pet Clinic in Portland, Oregon, just before 8 AM. After grabbing your scrubs, you check the daily schedule, noting a full morning of appointments. The lab needs a quick sweep, and you power on the IDEXX VetLab Station and centrifuge, ensuring everything is calibrated. Sarah, another vet tech, gives you a rundown of overnight drop-offs needing STAT bloodwork before you even pour your first coffee.

Skills employers are looking for in 2027

Software and technologies flagged by O*NET as Hot or In-Demand for this role.

Hot technologies

Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word

Job Outlook 2025-2035

Bright Outlook

O*NET flags this career as a Bright Outlook occupation: grows rapidly over the next decade.

Projected growth

+9.4%

US average: +3.5%

Job openings

13,400

per year (US)

Jobs today

131,400

in 2025 → 143,800 (2035)

Typical entry education

Associate's degree

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections; O*NET Bright Outlook. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook

Work Environment

How this work is typically performed, based on O*NET work context data.

Email & digital communication

Moderate

Working in a team

High

Contact with others

High

Freedom to make decisions

Moderate

Time pressure

High

Time spent sitting

Low

Working outdoors

Low

Indoor, climate-controlled

High

Dealing with customers

High

Level of competition

Moderate

Source: O*NET Work Context (v31.0)

Future Perspective

Growing Job Market

This field is experiencing expansion with increasing job opportunities and career advancement potential. Market demand is rising, with new positions being created.

Career ladder

Often before this role

Aide-vétérinaire
Soigneur animalier
Assistant de laboratoire

Veterinary Technologist and Technician

Where it can lead

Gestionnaire de clinique vétérinaire
Technicien vétérinaire spécialisé (ex: anesthésie)
Coordinateur de laboratoire de recherche

Impact of AI on this Job

AI will increasingly impact this career by automating routine laboratory analyses and enhancing diagnostic accuracy through image recognition for samples. While AI can streamline workflows and optimize treatment protocols, the hands-on patient care and complex problem-solving will remain critical human functions, requiring technologists to adapt to new AI-powered tools for improved efficiency and data interpretation.

Salary

$47,380

Median annual wage, BLS 2025

Required Education

Bachelor's Degree

Minimum educational requirement for this position