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The differences between veterinary technician assistants and laboratory animal 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 veterinary technician assistant and a laboratory animal technician. Additionally, a veterinary technician assistant has an average salary of $39,025, which is higher than the $30,382 average annual salary of a laboratory animal technician.
The top three skills for a veterinary technician assistant include patients, PET and patient care. The most important skills for a laboratory animal technician are animal handling, animal husbandry, and research animals.
| Veterinary Technician Assistant | Laboratory Animal Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $39,025 | $30,382 |
| Hourly rate | $18.76 | $14.61 |
| Growth rate | 20% | 20% |
| Number of jobs | 35,338 | 63,768 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 32 | 32 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A veterinary technician assistant is primarily in charge of performing support tasks in a veterinary hospital or clinic. Their responsibilities include administering medication to animals in adherence to the veterinarian's directives and performing basic care tasks such as feeding, bathing, and walking animals. They may also clean cages, sterilize equipment, prepare and process documents, and answer calls and inquiries. Furthermore, as a veterinary technician assistant, it is essential to monitor the behavior of animals, reporting to the veterinarian or technician should there be any problems.
A laboratory animal technician is responsible for conducting animal research studies by observing and analyzing animal nature and conditions. Laboratory animal technicians maintain the safety and cleanliness of animal cages, supply them food and water, and administer medications as needed. They also take samples for laboratory examinations, monitor the adequacy of inventories, and sterilize tools and equipment. A laboratory animal technician writes finding reports, logs information on the database, and coordinates with other animal experts for study validations.
Veterinary technician assistants and laboratory animal technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Veterinary Technician Assistant | Laboratory Animal Technician | |
| Average salary | $39,025 | $30,382 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $49,000 | Between $22,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bakersfield, CA | Santa Cruz, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | University of Wisconsin System | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a veterinary technician assistant and a laboratory animal technician in terms of educational background:
| Veterinary Technician Assistant | Laboratory Animal Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Medical Assisting Services | Biology |
| Most common college | Ohio State University | Ohio State University |
Here are the differences between veterinary technician assistants' and laboratory animal technicians' demographics:
| Veterinary Technician Assistant | Laboratory Animal Technician | |
| Average age | 32 | 32 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 16.8% Female, 83.2% | Male, 37.5% Female, 62.5% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 Percentage | 9% | 9% |