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The differences between associate veterinarians and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an associate veterinarian, becoming a certified medical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an associate veterinarian has an average salary of $78,407, which is higher than the $38,859 average annual salary of a certified medical technician.
The top three skills for an associate veterinarian include PET, patients and private practice. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.
| Associate Veterinarian | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $78,407 | $38,859 |
| Hourly rate | $37.70 | $18.68 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 13,071 | 164,424 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 28% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
An associate veterinarian specializes in providing medical care and treatment to animals. One may work part-time or full-time at a veterinary clinic, together with practice owners, assistants, and veterinary technicians. An associate veterinarian's responsibilities primarily revolve around examining animals to diagnose any injuries or diseases, performing surgeries, and administering or prescribing medication. Other responsibilities include discussing the pets' condition to owners, ensuring to relay the necessary care and welfare advice needed during treatment, or after surgery. Moreover, an associate veterinarian may also euthanize, spay, neuter, and even perform dental procedures to animals.
Certified Medical Technicians are specialists in medical diagnoses by performing laboratory testing and analysis for hospitals and physicians. Their duties include lab sanitization to prepare for testing and collection, recording medical samples for testing, specimen preparation, blood drawing for donation and testing, and assisting physicians with sample collection as well as equipment handling in surgical rooms. They must also understand how to use complex and sensitive testing equipment such as cell counters, analyzers, microscopes, and centrifuges.
Associate veterinarians and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Associate Veterinarian | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Average salary | $78,407 | $38,859 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $149,000 | Between $28,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Denton, TX |
| Highest paying state | New Mexico | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Providence Hospital | Favorite Healthcare Staffing |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Health Care |
There are a few differences between an associate veterinarian and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:
| Associate Veterinarian | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 28% |
| Most common major | Veterinary Medicine | Nursing |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between associate veterinarians' and certified medical technicians' demographics:
| Associate Veterinarian | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.0% Female, 72.0% | Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 1.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 6.2% Asian, 4.9% White, 83.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 15.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 10.0% White, 53.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 8% |