Veterinary Technician Salary

So, you are planning a career in veterinary. Well, definitely you must be an animal lover. While love and care for animals is the major attraction for students entering this field, increasing career opportunities are also an important factor.

Life of a Vet Technician
The life of a veterinary technician revolves around animals and vets, so, the first and foremost thing that any aspiring student should deeply think about before entering this career is; his/her love for animals. If you love animals and have a genuine desire to care for them, only then you should proceed to take further steps. Make sure you know your love for animals. The veterinarian technician salary range is not relatively high, as compared to other medical jobs, so, just don't rush in to this career for money. It's practically impossible to survive in this field if you don't have an inner drive to care for the animals. Most of the positions in this job are very competitive and you have to work hard to establish yourself. So, do consider these important points before you think of becoming a veterinary technician.

Educational Requirements
To become a veterinary technician, one must have bachelor's degree in animal anatomy and related subjects. Awareness and knowledge about animal nursing, performing laboratory procedures, all aspects of animal care, including surgical procedure is expected. Different schools have different educational and training criteria. You also need to pass certification exams before you professionally practice as a veterinary technician.The American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) looks after certification programs related to veterinary technician exams.

Job Description
A veterinary technician is a core member of the veterinary team of doctors. The key role of veterinary technician is to carry out the tasks, as prescribed by the expert doctor. A veterinary technician is responsible for human care of the animals, during all stages of the treatment.

Average Salary
While considering the salary for veterinary technician, there are various important factors that come into play. For example, an average technician's salary is mostly dependent on the branch of the practice. If the veterinary doctor is practicing on his own, he must have large revenue production to run the clinic effectively. The annual salary for veterinary technician in the initial years ranges from USD 20,000 to 30,000 and increases to 50,000 - 70,000 within 15-20 years of practice. Quite evidently, there is not a big change in their salary prospects. The salary of assistant vet technician is between USD 20,000 to USD 35,000. The certified technicians earn higher, as the employers give more preference to any veterinary doctor who has skills and certificates in various parts of this profession. Besides, the salaries, the veterinary technicians are given attractive perks in the forms of health insurance and medical claims.

Work Experience	Vet Technician Salary Range*
Less than 1 year	20,000 to 30,000
1 to 4 years	30,000 to 45,000
5 to 9 years	45,000 to 60,000
10 to 19 years	60,000 to 65,000
20 years or more	65,000 to 70,000

^{* - Approximately in USD (Annually)}

Work Environment
The salary range is closely dependent on the type of the practice, the related veterinary doctor does. For instance, a veterinary technician can choose to work in the community services or owns a private clinic. Working in the community hospitals is a better option, as it helps you to grow and move forward in this profession. Besides, if you are an active member of the community and you really care for the animals, you will surely choose the community job option. A veterinary technician is employed in various specialties like animal hospitals, emergency clinics, diagnostic laboratories, humane societies and animal control facilities, zoos and wildlife facilities.

The good news is, that with cities expanding and the rise in the urban population, the population of pets has also increased. This has created a demand for skilled veterinary technicians. People are now more aware of the needs of their pets, and see to it that they don't get affected by any infections or diseases. All this has led to a good career development path for a veterinary technician. And veterinary technicians are also required in various fields like animal control, biomedical facilities, pet food industry, wildlife refuges and parks.