The Average Job Salaries for Veterinary Assistants

Veterinary assistants usually work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics, animal shelters or research labs. Veterinary assistants can have a wide variety of job responsibilities depending on where they work. Veterinary assistants are generally divided into vet technicians and vet technologists, with vet technologists usually being more trained and higher paid.

Education/Training for Veterinary Technicians and Technologists

• Most veterinary technicians have a two-year associate degree in veterinary technology from an American Veterinary Medical Association-approved community college program. Veterinary technologists usually enroll in a four-year program at a college or university, resulting in a bachelor's degree in veterinary technology. Vet techs must also pass a state licensure exam to become certified, registered or licensed (depending on the state).

Median Annual Salaries for Veterinary Technicians and Technologists

• According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary of a vet tech in the United States was $28,900 as of May 2008. The middle 50 percent of vet techs made between $23,580 and $34,960.

Median Annual Salaries for Vet Techs by Industry

• Vet techs who worked for social advocacy organizations earned the lowest with a median annual salary of $28,640 in May 2009. Vet techs working at colleges, universities and professional schools made $35,980. Vet techs working for the federal executive branch made the most at $47,860.

Work of a Veterinary Assistant

• The work of a veterinary technician and technologist often overlaps a great deal. Both positions usually involve a lot of direct contact with animals, and animal husbandry including feeding and cleaning. Veterinary technologists tend to have more responsibilities in terms of supervising sick animals and making medical decisions. The work of a vet tech can be difficult and stressful, and the rate of on the job injuries is high.

Future Employment Prospects for Veterinary Assistants

• The future employment prospects for vet techs are very good. The BLS estimates that vet tech job positions will grow 36 percent by 2018 -- several times the average job growth rate.