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Surgery technician vs veterinary laboratory technician

The differences between surgery technicians and veterinary laboratory 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 surgery technician and a veterinary laboratory technician. Additionally, a surgery technician has an average salary of $41,646, which is higher than the $34,460 average annual salary of a veterinary laboratory technician.

The top three skills for a surgery technician include patients, patient care and surgical procedures. The most important skills for a veterinary laboratory technician are animal handling, laboratory procedures, and diagnostic tests.

Surgery technician vs veterinary laboratory technician overview

Surgery TechnicianVeterinary Laboratory Technician
Yearly salary$41,646$34,460
Hourly rate$20.02$16.57
Growth rate20%20%
Number of jobs83,37690,066
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 34%Bachelor's Degree, 42%
Average age3232
Years of experience1212

Surgery technician vs veterinary laboratory technician salary

Surgery technicians and veterinary laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Surgery TechnicianVeterinary Laboratory Technician
Average salary$41,646$34,460
Salary rangeBetween $31,000 And $55,000Between $27,000 And $43,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between surgery technician and veterinary laboratory technician education

There are a few differences between a surgery technician and a veterinary laboratory technician in terms of educational background:

Surgery TechnicianVeterinary Laboratory Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 34%Bachelor's Degree, 42%
Most common majorMedical Assisting ServicesMedical Assisting Services
Most common collegeEmory UniversityOhio State University

Surgery technician vs veterinary laboratory technician demographics

Here are the differences between surgery technicians' and veterinary laboratory technicians' demographics:

Surgery TechnicianVeterinary Laboratory Technician
Average age3232
Gender ratioMale, 26.3% Female, 73.7%Male, 21.3% Female, 78.7%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage9%9%

Differences between surgery technician and veterinary laboratory technician duties and responsibilities

Surgery technician example responsibilities.

  • Sterilized/packed surgical instruments, prepare large and small animal patients for surgery, assist with surgical procedures.
  • Use compassion when client's pets have passed away or need to be euthanize due to loss of quality of life.
  • Assist in positioning and supporting patients for regional anesthesia procedures such as spinal and epidurals.
  • Qualify to administer and monitor anesthesia, and assist in surgical procedures, including preparatory and post-op care.
  • Work closely with clients, other staff and Dr. Faulkner.

Veterinary laboratory technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage operational and administrative functions such as training/supervising new employees, issuing prescriptions, and documenting pet insurance applications and transactions.
  • Perform all animal technician functions for surgical and radiology procedures in compliance with pertinent regulations and guidelines as required by protocol.
  • Work closely with clients, other staff and Dr. Faulkner.

Surgery technician vs veterinary laboratory technician skills

Common surgery technician skills
  • Patients, 28%
  • Patient Care, 17%
  • Surgical Procedures, 11%
  • CPR, 4%
  • Infection Control, 3%
  • Surgical Instruments, 3%
Common veterinary laboratory technician skills
  • Animal Handling, 13%
  • Laboratory Procedures, 12%
  • Diagnostic Tests, 11%
  • Biomedical, 7%
  • Catheter, 7%
  • Laboratory Animals, 7%

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