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The differences between veterinary technicians and clinical 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 a clinical technician. Additionally, a veterinary technician has an average salary of $38,441, which is higher than the $35,760 average annual salary of a clinical technician.
The top three skills for a veterinary technician include PET, patients and anesthesia. The most important skills for a clinical technician are patients, vital signs, and phlebotomy.
| Veterinary Technician | Clinical Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $38,441 | $35,760 |
| Hourly rate | $18.48 | $17.19 |
| Growth rate | 20% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 41,022 | 161,812 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 32 | 44 |
| 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.
A clinical technician is responsible for operating and maintaining clinical equipment, ensuring the proper sterilization of all laboratory tools and kits to avoid contamination during medical procedures. Clinical technicians assist the patients with their medical inquiries and needs, collecting samples for laboratory, and helping medical professionals on surgeries and other medical operations. They also maintain medical charts, update patients' information on the database, and administer patients' medication. A clinical technician must have excellent knowledge of the medical industry, as well as strictly following internal guidelines and safety procedures during operations.
Veterinary technicians and clinical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Veterinary Technician | Clinical Technician | |
| Average salary | $38,441 | $35,760 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $48,000 | Between $26,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Rafael, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute | Brigham and Women's Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Government |
There are a few differences between a veterinary technician and a clinical technician in terms of educational background:
| Veterinary Technician | Clinical Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Medical Assisting Services | Nursing |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between veterinary technicians' and clinical technicians' demographics:
| Veterinary Technician | Clinical Technician | |
| Average age | 32 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 17.8% Female, 82.2% | Male, 26.6% Female, 73.4% |
| 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, 12.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 11.2% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 8% |