Salary Range for a Vet Technician

Vet technicians assist veterinarians by analyzing and conducting tests on animals. Vet technicians use diagnostic and medical equipment to perform these tests and help treat animals. Technicians diagnose and treat infections, diseases and broken limbs. These technicians work in medical clinics and in private laboratories. Vet technicians' salaries vary greatly due to experience and education.

Skills

While in school, vet technicians learn how to use medical equipment and understand anatomy. Because technicians conduct tests and prepare animals for surgery, they have to know how to run radiographs and assist veterinarians with procedures.Vet technicians must communicate effectively because they interact daily with pet owners and doctors. Vet technicians' salaries will increase with experience. Vet technicians who assist with surgery are coveted.

Career Outlook

Though most vet technicians work in private practices, career opportunities are available in research labs, zoos, humane societies and universities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 41 percent increase in jobs through 2016. No matter where a vet technician works, most employers offer benefits such as vacation pay, holiday pay, sick leave, 401(k) and health care. The starting salary for vet technicians in animal research is lower than other jobs in the field. Working in animal care clinics offers the highest-paying opportunities.

Salary

A first-year vet technician earns about $27,000 annually, according to PayScale.com, and that salary rises to about $30,000 a year for technicians with one to four years' experience. After 10 years, a vet technician's salary is more than $35,000 a year, and a technician with 20 or more years' experience can expect to earn about $39,000 a year. Salaries are higher for those working in private practice or clinics, but other techs work for research labs, zoos, humane societies and universities.

Education

The American Veterinary Medical Association requires vet technicians to graduate from an AVMA-accredited program. Most AVMA programs lead to an associate's degree, but there are four-year bachelor's degrees, too. Earning potential is greater with a bachelor's degree, and a portion of the curriculum includes anatomy, anesthesiology, animal nursing, dentistry, parasitology, pharmacology, public health, physiology, radiology and zoonotic diseases.

Wages

The median hourly wage for vet technicians is $12.88, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The top 10 percent earned more than $18.68, the lowest 10 percent earned $8.79, and the middle 50 percent earned anywhere from $10.44 to $15.77 per hour.