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Veterinarian technician vs surgery technician

The differences between veterinarian technicians and surgery technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a veterinarian technician and a surgery technician. Additionally, a surgery technician has an average salary of $41,646, which is higher than the $38,198 average annual salary of a veterinarian technician.

The top three skills for a veterinarian technician include patients, PET and anesthesia. The most important skills for a surgery technician are patients, patient care, and surgical procedures.

Veterinarian technician vs surgery technician overview

Veterinarian TechnicianSurgery Technician
Yearly salary$38,198$41,646
Hourly rate$18.36$20.02
Growth rate20%20%
Number of jobs37,89883,376
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 39%Associate Degree, 34%
Average age3232
Years of experience1212

Veterinarian technician vs surgery technician salary

Veterinarian technicians and surgery technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Veterinarian TechnicianSurgery Technician
Average salary$38,198$41,646
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $49,000Between $31,000 And $55,000
Highest paying CityPetaluma, CA-
Highest paying stateCalifornia-
Best paying companyBoehringer Ingelheim-
Best paying industryHealth Care-

Differences between veterinarian technician and surgery technician education

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

Veterinarian TechnicianSurgery Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 39%Associate Degree, 34%
Most common majorBiologyMedical Assisting Services
Most common collegeUniversity of VirginiaEmory University

Veterinarian technician vs surgery technician demographics

Here are the differences between veterinarian technicians' and surgery technicians' demographics:

Veterinarian TechnicianSurgery Technician
Average age3232
Gender ratioMale, 22.7% Female, 77.3%Male, 26.3% Female, 73.7%
Race ratioBlack 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%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 Percentage9%9%

Differences between veterinarian technician and surgery technician duties and responsibilities

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

Surgery technician example responsibilities.

  • Sterilized/packed surgical instruments, prepare large and small animal patients for surgery, assist with surgical procedures.
  • Use compassion when client's pets have passed away or need to be euthanize due to loss of quality of life.
  • Assist in positioning and supporting patients for regional anesthesia procedures such as spinal and epidurals.
  • Qualify to administer and monitor anesthesia, and assist in surgical procedures, including preparatory and post-op care.
  • Work closely with clients, other staff and Dr. Faulkner.

Veterinarian technician vs surgery technician skills

Common veterinarian technician skills
  • Patients, 16%
  • PET, 9%
  • Anesthesia, 8%
  • Catheter, 7%
  • Lab Tests, 7%
  • Surgery Room, 6%
Common surgery technician skills
  • Patients, 28%
  • Patient Care, 17%
  • Surgical Procedures, 11%
  • CPR, 4%
  • Infection Control, 3%
  • Surgical Instruments, 3%

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