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The differences between vet assistants and nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a nurse has an average salary of $57,564, which is higher than the $30,687 average annual salary of a vet assistant.
The top three skills for a vet assistant include PET, patients and exam rooms. The most important skills for a nurse are patients, home health, and CPR.
| VET Assistant | Nurse | |
| Yearly salary | $30,687 | $57,564 |
| Hourly rate | $14.75 | $27.68 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 6,591 | 696,124 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Average age | 29 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
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.
Nurses are medical professionals assigned to a specific department in the hospital and provide their trusted department services. Nurses are in charge of taking patients' medical histories, getting vital signs, preparing patients for checkups or procedures, explaining upcoming practices, answering any questions, and communicating any concerns to the assigned doctor. Nurses should ensure that patients follow the medical advice given to them. They also assist patients in completing administrative requirements, such as filling out forms, validating details, and endorsing payments.
Vet assistants and nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.
| VET Assistant | Nurse | |
| Average salary | $30,687 | $57,564 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $38,000 | Between $38,000 And $86,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Michigan State University | Conviva |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Government |
There are a few differences between a vet assistant and a nurse in terms of educational background:
| VET Assistant | Nurse | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Medical Assisting Services | Nursing |
| Most common college | Ohio State University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between vet assistants' and nurses' demographics:
| VET Assistant | Nurse | |
| Average age | 29 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 16.1% Female, 83.9% | Male, 14.0% Female, 86.0% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 9% |