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The differences between licensed veterinary technicians and technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a licensed veterinary technician, becoming a technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a licensed veterinary technician has an average salary of $40,369, which is higher than the $38,045 average annual salary of a technician.
The top three skills for a licensed veterinary technician include PET, patients and anesthesia. The most important skills for a technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.
| Licensed Veterinary Technician | Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $40,369 | $38,045 |
| Hourly rate | $19.41 | $18.29 |
| Growth rate | 20% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 29,983 | 596,842 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 32 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
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.
Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with. They are usually working with electricity or with technological advancements. Technicians may be assigned to do the construction of equipment or materials related to their field of study. They may also be assigned to conduct diagnostics and other maintenance activities to ensure that the equipment works properly. Technicians may also be required to conduct basic repairs in case of problems. It is important that technicians have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.
Licensed veterinary technicians and technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Licensed Veterinary Technician | Technician | |
| Average salary | $40,369 | $38,045 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $52,000 | Between $24,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Diego, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Zoetis | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a licensed veterinary technician and a technician in terms of educational background:
| Licensed Veterinary Technician | Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Medical Assisting Services | Business |
| Most common college | University of Virginia | - |
Here are the differences between licensed veterinary technicians' and technicians' demographics:
| Licensed Veterinary Technician | Technician | |
| Average age | 32 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 19.5% Female, 80.5% | Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8% |
| 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, 9.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 4.9% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 2% |