How Much Do Vet Techs Make?

A veterinary technician or vet tech is not a full veterinarian, however, the educational requirements are much lower. Vet techs basically assist vets. They get animals ready for surgical operations, draw blood, check pets’ heart rates and place catheters. They do not perform menial work; instead, they support vets during various medical procedures. As such, this job requires both formal training and licensing. Although it does not rake in the a large income, it’s a stable job once you have the qualifications.

To get started in this career, a vet tech aspirant needs two to four years of training at the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). This is the accredited veterinary technician program which includes courses like anatomy, physiology and biology. After finishing the program, one will also be required to take an exam given by the state.

The process of qualifying may not be simple but this is a good thing. Generally, the more training a job requires, the better the rewards package is. So how much do vet techs make?

First, this depends on the place of work. Vet techs can get employed in animal clinics, hospitals and animal research centers. It is said that those who work in animal clinics get paid more but those who work in research may have more opportunities for career growth.

The size of the employer counts a lot as well. It may be more financially rewarding to work with more established, more reputable facilities with a greater client base. As with most jobs, the pay varies with the State too, because understandably the cost of living is different from one state to another. Vet techs in New York expect to be compensated more than those in Denver, Atlanta, Chicago or Houston.

Second, experience plays a role both in terms of promotion and pay. How much do vet techs make with less than ten years of experience? They earn about $25,000 annually. But those who have worked in the field for 15 years or more can demand a salary of about $45,000 per year. A veterinarian will need different types of technical assistance; the more experienced a vet tech is, the more responsibilities he can handle with minimal supervision.

Finally, education accounts for the huge difference. Some vet techs can start working with only an associate degree earning about $20,000 and $38,000 per year.  They are however paid less than those armed with a bachelor’s degree, whose salaries range from $33,000 - $42,500 per year.

Regular jobs are pretty much the same. Those with more training and experience are always valued more than those who either are just starting out or who invested less in education. So how much do vet techs make? That depends ultimately on how useful he can be.