Create your account
← All careers

Veterinary Technician

Do the nursing work of animal medicine: labs, imaging, anaesthesia, and care.

What it pays in the U.S.

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.

Median pay (national)$47,380about $22.78 an hour
Typical range$35,710 – $63,180lowest to highest tenth of earners
Usual way inAssociate's degree

Wage figures are 2025 survey data for United States, shown nationally because no state figure was reported. They describe what people in this job earn now, not what any one person will be offered.

Demand in United StatesBright outlook

Employment is projected to change 9% between 2024 and 2034. About 14,300 openings are projected each year. CareerOneStop flags this career for: Rapid Growth.

What the work actually is

  • Provide information or counseling regarding issues such as animal health care, behavior problems, or nutrition.
  • Schedule appointments and procedures for animals.
  • Prepare and administer medications, vaccines, serums, or treatments, as prescribed by veterinarians.
  • Care for and monitor the condition of animals recovering from surgery.
  • Collect, prepare, and label samples for laboratory testing, culture, or microscopic examination.
  • Perform dental work, such as cleaning, polishing, or extracting teeth.

Read the full Occupational Outlook Handbook entry from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Licensing, by state

Licensing is set by each state, so there is no national answer. Choose a state above to see which licenses it requires for this career, or look one up with the CareerOneStop License Finder.

Certifications employers recognize

These are national certifications, issued by industry bodies rather than a state. Most are optional, but they are how you prove skill to an employer.

Apprenticeships, by state

Registered apprenticeships pay you while you train. Each state runs its own registration office, which is where to start when you want to find an open program.

Choose a state above to see the offices that register apprenticeships there.

Search open programs directly at apprenticeship.gov.

Now find the schools.

4Thought101 tracks the programs that train for this, their deadlines, and what you owe when. This page stays free whether you sign up or not.

Create your free account
Create your account