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The differences between veterinary technicians 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 and a laboratory animal technician. Additionally, a veterinary technician has an average salary of $38,441, which is higher than the $30,382 average annual salary of a laboratory animal technician.
The top three skills for a veterinary technician include PET, patients and anesthesia. The most important skills for a laboratory animal technician are animal handling, animal husbandry, and research animals.
| Veterinary Technician | Laboratory Animal Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $38,441 | $30,382 |
| Hourly rate | $18.48 | $14.61 |
| Growth rate | 20% | 20% |
| Number of jobs | 41,022 | 63,768 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| 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.
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 technicians and laboratory animal technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Veterinary Technician | Laboratory Animal Technician | |
| Average salary | $38,441 | $30,382 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $48,000 | Between $22,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Rafael, CA | Santa Cruz, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a veterinary technician and a laboratory animal technician in terms of educational background:
| Veterinary Technician | Laboratory Animal Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Medical Assisting Services | Biology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Ohio State University |
Here are the differences between veterinary technicians' and laboratory animal technicians' demographics:
| Veterinary Technician | Laboratory Animal Technician | |
| Average age | 32 | 32 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 17.8% Female, 82.2% | 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% |