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Career assistant vs veterinary technician

The differences between career assistants and veterinary technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a career assistant and a veterinary technician. Additionally, a veterinary technician has an average salary of $38,441, which is higher than the $29,098 average annual salary of a career assistant.

The top three skills for a career assistant include scheduling appointments, career services and assistance program. The most important skills for a veterinary technician are PET, patients, and anesthesia.

Career assistant vs veterinary technician overview

Career AssistantVeterinary Technician
Yearly salary$29,098$38,441
Hourly rate$13.99$18.48
Growth rate12%20%
Number of jobs17,11741,022
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Average age4332
Years of experience1212

What does a career assistant do?

A career assistant is responsible for conducting one-on-one coaching for students to determine their career aspirations according to their skills and interests. Career assistants support and advise the students in searching for jobs or internships they qualify for, help them create a smart resume, invite them to career seminars and orientations, and manage the students' weaknesses that hinder them from professional growth. A career assistant must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in keeping records of students' information and filing reports as necessary.

What does a veterinary technician do?

A Veterinary Technician, also known as Vet Tech, specializes in performing laboratory tasks and providing immediate and necessary care to animals in a Hospital Clinic or Research Facility under the supervision of a Veterinarian. Moreover, a Veterinary Technician is in charge of administering medicines or treatments, gathering samples such as blood and urine for analysis, monitoring a patient's condition and learning its history, and conducting hygienic procedures such as dental and welfare. There also instances where a Veterinary Technician must communicate with pet owners, sharing extensive knowledge on how to take better care of them.

Career assistant vs veterinary technician salary

Career assistants and veterinary technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Career AssistantVeterinary Technician
Average salary$29,098$38,441
Salary rangeBetween $16,000 And $51,000Between $30,000 And $48,000
Highest paying City-San Rafael, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between career assistant and veterinary technician education

There are a few differences between a career assistant and a veterinary technician in terms of educational background:

Career AssistantVeterinary Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Most common majorBusinessMedical Assisting Services
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Career assistant vs veterinary technician demographics

Here are the differences between career assistants' and veterinary technicians' demographics:

Career AssistantVeterinary Technician
Average age4332
Gender ratioMale, 29.2% Female, 70.8%Male, 17.8% Female, 82.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 21.5% Asian, 6.6% White, 52.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2%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%
LGBT Percentage11%9%

Differences between career assistant and veterinary technician duties and responsibilities

Career assistant example responsibilities.

  • Interact with admissions tours, students, and alumni with a high caliber of customer service.
  • Assist veterans apply for VA educational benefits.
  • Administer workshop surveys and assist with Microsoft PowerPoint demonstrations.
  • Work with coordinator of center on educational and alumni placement.
  • Call non-member veterans, explain organization's mission and perform intake process, entering data in computer database.
  • Verify accuracy of data by combining data from various systems and compiling in spreadsheets, incorporate data into PowerPoint presentations.
  • Show more

Veterinary technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage tech appointments, suture removal, bandage removal and placement, CPR and emergency care when need.
  • Manage operational and administrative functions such as training/supervising new employees, issuing prescriptions, and documenting pet insurance applications and transactions.
  • Advance medical procedures such as intravenous catheter placement, anesthetic monitoring, and nasal catheter placement.
  • Provide specialize nursing care, administer treatments to hospitalize patients, catheter placement and provide post operative care.
  • Assist in surgical preparation of patients and maintain status during surgical procedures including monitoring and adjusting anesthesia base on patient status.
  • Conduct routine health procedures on dogs and non-human primates, including dentistry and TB testing.
  • Show more

Career assistant vs veterinary technician skills

Common career assistant skills
  • Scheduling Appointments, 18%
  • Career Services, 11%
  • Assistance Program, 8%
  • Mock Interviews, 8%
  • Alumni, 8%
  • Customer Service, 6%
Common veterinary technician skills
  • PET, 25%
  • Patients, 12%
  • Anesthesia, 6%
  • Catheter, 6%
  • Exam Rooms, 5%
  • Patient Care, 5%

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