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The differences between licensed veterinary technicians and laboratory animal 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 licensed veterinary technician and a laboratory animal technician. Additionally, a licensed veterinary technician has an average salary of $40,369, which is higher than the $30,382 average annual salary of a laboratory animal technician.
The top three skills for a licensed veterinary technician include PET, patients and anesthesia. The most important skills for a laboratory animal technician are animal handling, animal husbandry, and research animals.
| Licensed Veterinary Technician | Laboratory Animal Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $40,369 | $30,382 |
| Hourly rate | $19.41 | $14.61 |
| Growth rate | 20% | 20% |
| Number of jobs | 29,983 | 63,768 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 32 | 32 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A licensed veterinary technician serves as the assistant of the veterinarian who is responsible for doing clinical work inside a clinic or a veterinary hospital. They monitor and observe the current health situation of an animal and also give them first aid when needed. They are also tasked to collect specimens and conduct different laboratory tests, then give it to the veterinarian to determine the pet's health condition. Vet techs can also perform vaccination or prepare sick animals for tests or surgery.
A laboratory animal technician is responsible for conducting animal research studies by observing and analyzing animal nature and conditions. Laboratory animal technicians maintain the safety and cleanliness of animal cages, supply them food and water, and administer medications as needed. They also take samples for laboratory examinations, monitor the adequacy of inventories, and sterilize tools and equipment. A laboratory animal technician writes finding reports, logs information on the database, and coordinates with other animal experts for study validations.
Licensed veterinary technicians and laboratory animal technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Licensed Veterinary Technician | Laboratory Animal Technician | |
| Average salary | $40,369 | $30,382 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $52,000 | Between $22,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Diego, CA | Santa Cruz, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Zoetis | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a licensed veterinary technician and a laboratory animal technician in terms of educational background:
| Licensed Veterinary Technician | Laboratory Animal Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Medical Assisting Services | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Virginia | Ohio State University |
Here are the differences between licensed veterinary technicians' and laboratory animal technicians' demographics:
| Licensed Veterinary Technician | Laboratory Animal Technician | |
| Average age | 32 | 32 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 19.5% Female, 80.5% | Male, 37.5% Female, 62.5% |
| 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, 2.7% Unknown, 6.8% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 2.1% White, 77.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |