Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between veterinary technicians and licensed veterinary 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 licensed veterinary technician. Additionally, a licensed veterinary technician has an average salary of $40,369, which is higher than the $38,441 average annual salary of a veterinary technician.
The top three skills for a veterinary technician include PET, patients and anesthesia. The most important skills for a licensed veterinary technician are PET, patients, and anesthesia.
| Veterinary Technician | Licensed Veterinary Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $38,441 | $40,369 |
| Hourly rate | $18.48 | $19.41 |
| Growth rate | 20% | 20% |
| Number of jobs | 41,022 | 29,983 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Associate Degree, 64% |
| 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 licensed veterinary technician serves as the assistant of the veterinarian who is responsible for doing clinical work inside a clinic or a veterinary hospital. They monitor and observe the current health situation of an animal and also give them first aid when needed. They are also tasked to collect specimens and conduct different laboratory tests, then give it to the veterinarian to determine the pet's health condition. Vet techs can also perform vaccination or prepare sick animals for tests or surgery.
Veterinary technicians and licensed veterinary technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Veterinary Technician | Licensed Veterinary Technician | |
| Average salary | $38,441 | $40,369 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $48,000 | Between $31,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Rafael, CA | San Diego, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute | Zoetis |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a veterinary technician and a licensed veterinary technician in terms of educational background:
| Veterinary Technician | Licensed Veterinary Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Associate Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Medical Assisting Services | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Virginia |
Here are the differences between veterinary technicians' and licensed veterinary technicians' demographics:
| Veterinary Technician | Licensed Veterinary Technician | |
| Average age | 32 | 32 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 17.8% Female, 82.2% | Male, 19.5% Female, 80.5% |
| 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% |