Q: Does a vet assistant get paid well?

No, a vet assistant does not get paid well. The average pay for a vet assistant is $28,000 a year ($13.50 an hour). This can range anywhere from $20,000 a year ($10.02 an hour) to $38,000 a year ($18.27 an hour). Factors such as location and years of experience impact how much a vet assistant is paid.

Q: How long do you have to go to school to be a vet?

You have to go to school for eight years to become a vet. This includes four years of undergrad and four years of DM in Veterinary Medicine. Types of four-year undergraduate degrees you can earn include:

Q: Is being a vet assistant hard?

Yes, being a vet assistant is hard. Working as a vet assistant is sometimes stressful and physically demanding. Animals become ill and need care at all hours of the day or night, so vet assistants often work holidays, nights, and weekends. Assistants sometimes have to move large animals and hold them still for treatments.

Q: Where do vet assistants get paid the most?

Vet assistants get paid the most in Seattle, WA. The average salary for a vet assistant is $13.50 an hour. However, a vet assistant in Seattle earns an average of $18.06 an hour. Factors such as location and company impact how much a vet assistant can make.

Q: Can a vet assistant make 100k?

No, you cannot make $100,000 per year as a vet assistant. It is highly unlikely to earn over $100k because the average annual salary for a vet assistant is $29,807. Even vet assistants in higher-paid positions do not typically earn more than $38,000 per year.

Q: Can you make a living as a vet assistant?

No, you can not make a living as a vet assistant. Working as a vet assistant earns you, on average, $28,000 a year ($13.50 an hour) with a modest range between $20,000 a year ($10.02 an hour) to $38,000 a year ($18.27 an hour).

Q: Do you need a degree to be a vet assistant?

No, you do not need a degree to be a vet assistant. Instead, a veterinary assistant certificate is usually all that is required to begin working as a vet assistant. A veterinary assistant certificate training program can be completed in as little as nine months and includes animal nursing fundamentals, animal handling, and laboratory procedures.

Question 1

Does a vet assistant get paid well?

Accepted Answer

No, a vet assistant does not get paid well. The average pay for a vet assistant is $28,000 a year ($13.50 an hour). This can range anywhere from $20,000 a year ($10.02 an hour) to $38,000 a year ($18.27 an hour). Factors such as location and years of experience impact how much a vet assistant is paid.

Question 2

How long do you have to go to school to be a vet?

Accepted Answer

You have to go to school for eight years to become a vet. This includes four years of undergrad and four years of DM in Veterinary Medicine.

Types of four-year undergraduate degrees you can earn include:

Question 3

How long does it take to become a veterinary assistant?

Accepted Answer

It takes between 3 to 12 months to become a veterinary assistant. Most places require vet assistants to have earned their Veterinary Assistant certificate.

To become an AVA, prospective veterinary assistants must graduate from a 3-to-12-month NAVTA-approved veterinary assistant training program and then sit and pass the AVA examination.

Question 4

Is being a vet assistant hard?

Accepted Answer

Yes, being a vet assistant is hard. Working as a vet assistant is sometimes stressful and physically demanding. Animals become ill and need care at all hours of the day or night, so vet assistants often work holidays, nights, and weekends. Assistants sometimes have to move large animals and hold them still for treatments.

Question 5

What are the requirements to become a veterinary assistant?

Accepted Answer

The requirements to become a veterinary assistant are ultimately a desire to help animals and a willingness to follow directions. At the same time, many veterinary assistants have completed a veterinary assistant certificate program.

Question 6

What is a good starting salary for a VET Assistant?

Accepted Answer

A good starting salary for a vet assistant is $23,000 in the United States. That puts you in the 10th percentile of annual income for a vet assistant in the U.S., which is about what you would expect if you were new to the field. The average salary for vet assistants is $29,807, but that normally requires some level of experience to achieve. Furthermore, a good starting salary for a vet assistant can vary by state.

Question 7

Where do vet assistants get paid the most?

Accepted Answer

Vet assistants get paid the most in Seattle, WA. The average salary for a vet assistant is $13.50 an hour. However, a vet assistant in Seattle earns an average of $18.06 an hour. Factors such as location and company impact how much a vet assistant can make.

Question 8

Can a vet assistant make 100k?

Accepted Answer

No, you cannot make $100,000 per year as a vet assistant. It is highly unlikely to earn over $100k because the average annual salary for a vet assistant is $29,807. Even vet assistants in higher-paid positions do not typically earn more than $38,000 per year.

Question 9

Can you make a living as a vet assistant?

Accepted Answer

No, you can not make a living as a vet assistant. Working as a vet assistant earns you, on average, $28,000 a year ($13.50 an hour) with a modest range between $20,000 a year ($10.02 an hour) to $38,000 a year ($18.27 an hour).

Question 10

Do you need a degree to be a vet assistant?

Accepted Answer

No, you do not need a degree to be a vet assistant. Instead, a veterinary assistant certificate is usually all that is required to begin working as a vet assistant.

A veterinary assistant certificate training program can be completed in as little as nine months and includes animal nursing fundamentals, animal handling, and laboratory procedures.

Question 11

What percentage of VET Assistants are female?

Accepted Answer

81.8% of vet assistants are female in the United States. This is -2.2 percentage points lower than last year. Additionally, the percentage of female vet assistants has decreased by -0.3 percentage points since 2010. That means there are a total of 58,032 female vet assistants in the U.S. and 12,912 male vet assistants in the United States. Note that Zippia's estimate accounts only for the 70,944 people with the specific job title of vet assistant and doesn't include grouping similar job titles, or people with potentially similar credentialing.

Question 12

What is a vet assistant's job description?

Accepted Answer

A vet assistant's job description is to care for animals under the supervision of a veterinarian or veterinary technician. They are the people responsible for feeding, bathing, and exercising the animals, and they restrain them during examinations and treatment.

Question 13

What should a vet assistant put on a resume?

Accepted Answer

A vet assistant should put highlights of their experience, skills, and passion for helping animals on a resume. Working as a vet assistant does not require a formal degree or specific training per se. The most important part of your resume as a vet assistant should demonstrate your enthusiasm and passion for animals.

Question 14

What should be included in a vet resume?

Accepted Answer

Highlights of your education, experience, skills, and passion for helping animals are what should be included on a vet resume. Your resume should demonstrate to the hiring manager that you're the best darn doggy doctor out there.

Question 15

What skills do you need to be a vet assistant?

Accepted Answer

Skills you need to be a vet assistant include a passion for animals and an understanding of how best to care for them and calm them, as well as dexterity and patience. As a vet assistant, you play a vital role not only in the animal's well-being but also in assisting veterinarians or research scientists.

Frequently asked questions about vet assistants

Questions About Becoming a VET Assistant