Vet tech seems like a perfect job for people who are passionate about animals and want to help them in their day-to-day life. As a veterinary technician, you’ll provide hands-on support to a vet so that he/she can diagnose and treat injured animals. But, as tempting as the job may sound, it’s also important to know what you’ll get paid in return for your services.
In this guide, we are going to share the average vet tech salary in the United States so that you can know if it’s a promising career or not. Also, we’ll discuss a few job roles and education requirements of a veterinary technician to help you sail in the right direction. So, without any further ado, let’s get started.
What are the Job Responsibilities of a Vet Technician
Before revealing the average salary, let’s first discuss the most common job responsibilities of a vet tech. It doesn’t matter which clinic you join, these job roles will remain common in every state of the United States.
As we mentioned earlier, the usual job role of a vet tech is to provide support to a vet as he performs different procedures on injured animals. This means you’ll have to give first aid, medicines, and even vaccination to the animals. In some cases, you might even have to X-Ray an injured animal so that the vet can know what procedure to follow for a successful recovery.
Finally, you’ll also have to interact with the pet owners and prepare a brief report about their pet’s injury before the vet comes in for final examination. As far as the job responsibilities are concerned, there isn’t anything that you’ll find challenging as a vet tech.
How Much Money Do Vet Techs Make?
So, what’s the average vet tech salary in the United States. In general, a vet tech makes $17.63 per hour and $35,560 per annum. However, this salary can vary depending on which state the person works in. For instance, a vet tech working in California can even make up to $49,450 per annum. Here are a few of the cities with the highest vet tech salaries in the country.
- Pennsylvania – $53,690 per annum
- Connecticut – $49,770 per annum
- Las Vegas – $47,460 per annum
- New York – $43,190 per annum
- Nevada – $46,370 per annum
Education Requirements to Become a Vet Tech
Since the veterinary technician is not a highly “technical” job, you don’t need a bachelor’s degree to start your career. However, you will minimum need an associate degree in veterinary technology if you want to join a reputed vet clinic. Also, some vets may only hire people as vet technicians who have a bachelor’s degree as well.
The Expected Job Growth of Vet Technician
The employment rate of vet technicians will more likely grow in the coming years because more and more vets want to hire a professional technician who can help him/her with daily medical procedures.
In the coming decade, it is projected that the need for vet techs will increase by 19%, which means if you do hold an associate or bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology, you’ll most likely get a job in a reputed vet clinic. And, since the demand for professional vet technicians is growing every day, it’s also safe to say that the average vet tech salary will also increase in the future.