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Vet assistant vs kennel technician

The differences between vet assistants and kennel technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a vet assistant has an average salary of $30,687, which is higher than the $26,664 average annual salary of a kennel technician.

The top three skills for a vet assistant include PET, patients and exam rooms. The most important skills for a kennel technician are PET, facility laundry, and administer medications.

Vet assistant vs kennel technician overview

VET AssistantKennel Technician
Yearly salary$30,687$26,664
Hourly rate$14.75$12.82
Growth rate19%19%
Number of jobs6,59130,123
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 43%High School Diploma, 39%
Average age2929
Years of experience--

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.

What does a kennel technician do?

Kennel technicians are employees who work in animal boarding houses, veterinary clinics, and shelters. Primarily, they take care of and maintain animals living in a kennel. They are responsible for the upkeep of animals under their supervision and ensure they are healthy, happy, and clean. Often, they work with cats and dogs, although they may also care for other domestic animals. They should have skills in handling animals, sanitation, cleaning, friendly office help, and primary animal care.

Vet assistant vs kennel technician salary

Vet assistants and kennel technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

VET AssistantKennel Technician
Average salary$30,687$26,664
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $38,000Between $20,000 And $35,000
Highest paying CitySanta Rosa, CAAnchorage, AK
Highest paying stateAlaskaNorth Dakota
Best paying companyMichigan State UniversityVetCor
Best paying industryManufacturingGovernment

Differences between vet assistant and kennel technician education

There are a few differences between a vet assistant and a kennel technician in terms of educational background:

VET AssistantKennel Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 43%High School Diploma, 39%
Most common majorMedical Assisting ServicesMedical Assisting Services
Most common collegeOhio State UniversityNorthwestern University

Vet assistant vs kennel technician demographics

Here are the differences between vet assistants' and kennel technicians' demographics:

VET AssistantKennel Technician
Average age2929
Gender ratioMale, 16.1% Female, 83.9%Male, 24.0% Female, 76.0%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 6.8% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 3.2% White, 69.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between vet assistant and kennel technician duties and responsibilities

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

Kennel technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage, and safely operate the MWD explosive program.
  • Place iv catheters in dogs and cats.
  • Maintain and update website and FaceBook page.
  • Restrain animals for various procedures such as blood draws and catheter placement.
  • Operate autoclaves for the sterilization of clean supplies as well as potentially infectious waste for disposal.
  • Perform animal grooming duties such as washing, and brushing coats, trimming nails, and cleaning ears.
  • Show more

Vet assistant vs kennel technician skills

Common vet assistant skills
  • PET, 34%
  • Patients, 24%
  • Exam Rooms, 12%
  • Patient Care, 6%
  • Compassion, 4%
  • Customer Service, 3%
Common kennel technician skills
  • PET, 27%
  • Facility Laundry, 10%
  • Administer Medications, 10%
  • Scheduling Appointments, 5%
  • Animal Handling, 4%
  • Front Desk, 4%

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