Post job

Vet assistant vs veterinarian technician

The differences between vet assistants and veterinarian technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a veterinarian technician has an average salary of $38,198, 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 veterinarian technician are patients, PET, and anesthesia.

Vet assistant vs veterinarian technician overview

VET AssistantVeterinarian Technician
Yearly salary$30,687$38,198
Hourly rate$14.75$18.36
Growth rate19%20%
Number of jobs6,59137,898
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 43%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Average age2932
Years of experience-12

Vet assistant vs veterinarian technician salary

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

VET AssistantVeterinarian Technician
Average salary$30,687$38,198
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $38,000Between $29,000 And $49,000
Highest paying CitySanta Rosa, CAPetaluma, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaCalifornia
Best paying companyMichigan State UniversityBoehringer Ingelheim
Best paying industryManufacturingHealth Care

Differences between vet assistant and veterinarian technician education

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

VET AssistantVeterinarian Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 43%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Most common majorMedical Assisting ServicesBiology
Most common collegeOhio State UniversityUniversity of Virginia

Vet assistant vs veterinarian technician demographics

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

VET AssistantVeterinarian Technician
Average age2932
Gender ratioMale, 16.1% Female, 83.9%Male, 22.7% Female, 77.3%
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, 10.9% Asian, 2.1% White, 77.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%9%

Differences between vet assistant and veterinarian 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

Veterinarian technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage tech appointments, suture removal, bandage removal and placement, CPR and emergency care when need.
  • Conduct general triage of all appointments before seen by DVM.
  • Assist DVM with schedule appointments, restrain pets as needed, draw blood and place I.V.
  • Develop and implement new drug control procedures as well as pet control and identification program
  • Draw up blood work & assist veterinarian during physical exam of patients, administer controlled/uncontrol drugs to patients
  • Prepare patients for examinations by assessing potential problems prior to entering examination room with doctor -assist Dr. McMahon with surgery
  • Show more

Vet assistant vs veterinarian technician skills

Common vet assistant skills
  • PET, 34%
  • Patients, 24%
  • Exam Rooms, 12%
  • Patient Care, 6%
  • Compassion, 4%
  • Customer Service, 3%
Common veterinarian technician skills
  • Patients, 16%
  • PET, 9%
  • Anesthesia, 8%
  • Catheter, 7%
  • Lab Tests, 7%
  • Surgery Room, 6%

Browse healthcare support jobs