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The differences between veterinary technicians and 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 and an animal technician. Additionally, a veterinary technician has an average salary of $38,441, which is higher than the $31,378 average annual salary of an animal technician.
The top three skills for a veterinary technician include PET, patients and anesthesia. The most important skills for an animal technician are animal handling, autoclaves, and euthanasia.
| Veterinary Technician | Animal Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $38,441 | $31,378 |
| Hourly rate | $18.48 | $15.09 |
| Growth rate | 20% | 20% |
| Number of jobs | 41,022 | 39,917 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 32 | 32 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A Veterinary Technician, also known as Vet Tech, specializes in performing laboratory tasks and providing immediate and necessary care to animals in a Hospital Clinic or Research Facility under the supervision of a Veterinarian. Moreover, a Veterinary Technician is in charge of administering medicines or treatments, gathering samples such as blood and urine for analysis, monitoring a patient's condition and learning its history, and conducting hygienic procedures such as dental and welfare. There also instances where a Veterinary Technician must communicate with pet owners, sharing extensive knowledge on how to take better care of them.
An animal technician is responsible for ensuring the animals' welfare under the supervision and guidance of a licensed veterinarian. Animal technicians maintain an organized record of animal information, assisting in medical surgeries and procedures, administering medications, collecting laboratory samples, and sending examination reports to the animal owners. They also keep the cages clean, inspecting the clinic's tools and equipment, and sterilizing laboratory materials to avoid contamination. An animal technician must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in responding to the owners' inquiries and concerns and monitoring the animals' conditions.
Veterinary technicians and animal technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Veterinary Technician | Animal Technician | |
| Average salary | $38,441 | $31,378 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $48,000 | Between $19,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Rafael, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute | Harvard University |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a veterinary technician and an animal technician in terms of educational background:
| Veterinary Technician | Animal Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Medical Assisting Services | Biology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Ohio State University |
Here are the differences between veterinary technicians' and animal technicians' demographics:
| Veterinary Technician | Animal Technician | |
| Average age | 32 | 32 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 17.8% Female, 82.2% | Male, 44.8% Female, 55.2% |
| 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% |