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The differences between veterinarians and associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a veterinarian has an average salary of $109,524, which is higher than the $69,556 average annual salary of an associate.
The top three skills for a veterinarian include PET, customer service and diagnostic tests. The most important skills for an associate are customer service, sales floor, and patients.
| Veterinarian | Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $109,524 | $69,556 |
| Hourly rate | $52.66 | $33.44 |
| Growth rate | 19% | - |
| Number of jobs | 13,255 | 569,041 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
Veterinarians are responsible for diagnosing the injuries and illnesses of animals through a variety of procedures. Veterinarians often perform vaccinations to protect animals from diseases, but they can also be involved with an animal's dental health as well. Some other duties include prescribing medication, performing surgical procedures, and dressing wounds. Veterinarians are concerned with all aspects of an animal's well-being, which inclues emergency procedures as well as long-term preventative healthcare. Veterinarians are also known as "vets," and most conduct their work in private clinics.
Associates are typically entry-level positions for employees who are taking on their first job or organizational role. They are assigned to teams or departments that are related to their skills or educational background. They usually start with smaller tasks that may not seem as impactful but are still essential to the department. Associates are trained by more tenured team members on the ins and outs of the department and the organization. As they grow with the organization, they are given more responsibilities that directly impact the results of the department's initiatives as they work towards their goals.
Veterinarians and associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Veterinarian | Associate | |
| Average salary | $109,524 | $69,556 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $205,000 | Between $34,000 And $140,000 |
| Highest paying City | Portland, ME | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Maine | New York |
| Best paying company | Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium | Simpson Thacher & Bartlett |
| Best paying industry | Professional | - |
There are a few differences between a veterinarian and an associate in terms of educational background:
| Veterinarian | Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Veterinary Medicine | Business |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | - |
Here are the differences between veterinarians' and associates' demographics:
| Veterinarian | Associate | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.1% Female, 62.9% | Male, 50.4% Female, 49.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 1.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 6.1% Asian, 4.8% White, 83.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.3% Asian, 8.3% White, 57.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 7% |