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Public health veterinarian vs vet assistant

The differences between public health veterinarians and vet assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a public health veterinarian has an average salary of $62,550, which is higher than the $30,687 average annual salary of a vet assistant.

The top three skills for a public health veterinarian include plant management, EEO and HACCP. The most important skills for a vet assistant are PET, patients, and exam rooms.

Public health veterinarian vs vet assistant overview

Public Health VeterinarianVET Assistant
Yearly salary$62,550$30,687
Hourly rate$30.07$14.75
Growth rate19%19%
Number of jobs63,0676,591
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Average age4429
Years of experience2-

What does a public health veterinarian do?

Public Health Veterinarians require participation in a public health program that leads to a master's degree in public health with a focus on veterinarian medicine, should this be their career choice. Earning an average of $76K per year, it is a position that requires a great deal of compassion, as well as manual dexterity, and decision-making, interpersonal, problem-solving, and management skills. They are often needed to consulting with physicians, emergency rooms, legislators, local officials, schools, health departments, and the public on disease control and preventative measures of diseases spread by animals.

What does a vet assistant do?

VET Assistants are in-charge of taking care of the well-being of animals in Veterinary clinics and hospitals. Most of the tasks involved are feeding, bathing, weighing, and providing overall nursing care of animals on a routine and sometimes daily basis. VET is short for Veterinary, and as the job title implies, one must also provide assistance to Veterinarians, Veterinary Technologists, or Animal Scientists during Procedures and even Surgeries. A VET Assistant is expected to be equipped with good communication skills and compassion towards animals, but above all, one must also have emotional strength as there are cases which might involve abuse and even euthanasia.

Public health veterinarian vs vet assistant salary

Public health veterinarians and vet assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Public Health VeterinarianVET Assistant
Average salary$62,550$30,687
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $137,000Between $24,000 And $38,000
Highest paying City-Santa Rosa, CA
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-Michigan State University
Best paying industry-Manufacturing

Differences between public health veterinarian and vet assistant education

There are a few differences between a public health veterinarian and a vet assistant in terms of educational background:

Public Health VeterinarianVET Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Most common majorVeterinary MedicineMedical Assisting Services
Most common collegeUniversity of GeorgiaOhio State University

Public health veterinarian vs vet assistant demographics

Here are the differences between public health veterinarians' and vet assistants' demographics:

Public Health VeterinarianVET Assistant
Average age4429
Gender ratioMale, 39.5% Female, 60.5%Male, 16.1% Female, 83.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 1.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 4.2% Asian, 3.9% White, 86.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 6.8% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 3.2% White, 69.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage15%10%

Differences between public health veterinarian and vet assistant duties and responsibilities

Public health veterinarian example responsibilities.

  • Manage wildlife rehabilitation program for native species, including state and federal rehabilitation licenses for the practice.
  • Plan, coordinate and conduct USDA inspections at various plants.
  • Guide new facilities transitioning to USDA inspection in developing programs that comply with federal regulatory requirements.
  • Manage wildlife rehabilitation program for native species, including state and federal rehabilitation licenses for the practice.
  • Advance services include enucleation, fracture fixation, Ultrasonography, chemotherapy and others.

Vet assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage tech appointments, suture removal, bandage removal and placement, CPR and emergency care when need.
  • Provide care of hospitalize animals taking vital signs, administer medications and explaining discharge medications to pet owners.
  • Monitor multiple patients in ICU.
  • Assist in triage, gathering medical history and client education.
  • Qualify to administer medications, perform blood draws, proper radiology techniques and all other aspects of a veterinary technician.
  • Provide exceptional veterinary care to companion animal patients, while professionally serving clients and pet owners.
  • Show more

Public health veterinarian vs vet assistant skills

Common public health veterinarian skills
  • Plant Management, 32%
  • EEO, 25%
  • HACCP, 24%
  • Public Health Professionals, 11%
  • Animal Handling, 2%
  • Disease Control, 2%
Common vet assistant skills
  • PET, 34%
  • Patients, 24%
  • Exam Rooms, 12%
  • Patient Care, 6%
  • Compassion, 4%
  • Customer Service, 3%

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