Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between animal technicians and science technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become an animal technician, becoming a science technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a science technician has an average salary of $35,570, which is higher than the $31,378 average annual salary of an animal technician.
The top three skills for an animal technician include animal handling, autoclaves and euthanasia. The most important skills for a science technician are lab equipment, safety regulations, and research projects.
| Animal Technician | Science Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $31,378 | $35,570 |
| Hourly rate | $15.09 | $17.10 |
| Growth rate | 20% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 39,917 | 16,073 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 32 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
An animal technician is responsible for ensuring the animals' welfare under the supervision and guidance of a licensed veterinarian. Animal technicians maintain an organized record of animal information, assisting in medical surgeries and procedures, administering medications, collecting laboratory samples, and sending examination reports to the animal owners. They also keep the cages clean, inspecting the clinic's tools and equipment, and sterilizing laboratory materials to avoid contamination. An animal technician must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in responding to the owners' inquiries and concerns and monitoring the animals' conditions.
A science technician is responsible for supporting research studies and product development processes by utilizing a scientific method approach and theories. Science technicians assist in conducting laboratory investigations, ensuring the adequacy of laboratory inventory, and inspecting the efficiency and performance of laboratory tools and equipment to prevent examination delays and potential hazards. They also write findings reports, record results, and develop accurate analysis. A science technician runs quality control procedures, interpret data, and ensuring that the investigations adhere to internal regulations and state requirements.
Animal technicians and science technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Animal Technician | Science Technician | |
| Average salary | $31,378 | $35,570 |
| Salary range | Between $19,000 And $51,000 | Between $26,000 And $47,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Harvard University | Wayfair |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Government |
There are a few differences between an animal technician and a science technician in terms of educational background:
| Animal Technician | Science Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Ohio State University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between animal technicians' and science technicians' demographics:
| Animal Technician | Science Technician | |
| Average age | 32 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.8% Female, 55.2% | Male, 61.7% Female, 38.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 6.8% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 2.1% White, 77.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 12.6% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.3% Asian, 12.8% White, 52.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 6% |