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The differences between veterinary technicians and kennel technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a veterinary technician has an average salary of $38,441, which is higher than the $26,664 average annual salary of a kennel technician.
The top three skills for a veterinary technician include PET, patients and anesthesia. The most important skills for a kennel technician are PET, facility laundry, and administer medications.
| Veterinary Technician | Kennel Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $38,441 | $26,664 |
| Hourly rate | $18.48 | $12.82 |
| Growth rate | 20% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 41,022 | 30,123 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | High School Diploma, 39% |
| Average age | 32 | 29 |
| Years of experience | 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.
Kennel technicians are employees who work in animal boarding houses, veterinary clinics, and shelters. Primarily, they take care of and maintain animals living in a kennel. They are responsible for the upkeep of animals under their supervision and ensure they are healthy, happy, and clean. Often, they work with cats and dogs, although they may also care for other domestic animals. They should have skills in handling animals, sanitation, cleaning, friendly office help, and primary animal care.
Veterinary technicians and kennel technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Veterinary Technician | Kennel Technician | |
| Average salary | $38,441 | $26,664 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $48,000 | Between $20,000 And $35,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Rafael, CA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | California | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute | VetCor |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Government |
There are a few differences between a veterinary technician and a kennel technician in terms of educational background:
| Veterinary Technician | Kennel Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | High School Diploma, 39% |
| Most common major | Medical Assisting Services | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between veterinary technicians' and kennel technicians' demographics:
| Veterinary Technician | Kennel Technician | |
| Average age | 32 | 29 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 17.8% Female, 82.2% | Male, 24.0% Female, 76.0% |
| 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, 17.9% Asian, 3.2% White, 69.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 10% |