Becoming a Veterinary Technician via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Penn Foster College
is a US school (accredited) offering veterinary technician courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
veterinary technicians,
veterinarians,
veterinarian assistants,
veterinary scientistss,
veterinary technologists, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 79,200 people employed as
veterinary technologists and technicians alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$30,580.
Animal scientists make on average $64,510
per year and there are about 2,190
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Penn Foster College that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Veterinary Technician
- Animal Laboratories
- Private Animal Practices
- Emergency Animal Clinics
- Animal Hospitals
- Humane Societies
- Animal Protective Services
- Police Departments
- Farms
- Agricultural Institutions
- Animal Welfare Agencies
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Veterinary Technician
- Job availability
- Job security
- Ability to work with animals without having to complete a doctoral degree
- Increasing demand
- Rising salaries
- Great demand for vet techs most of whom are employed at private clinics
- Stable during economic recession
- Attractive salary
- Working flexible hours
- Able to work calmly while dealing with euthanasia and situations with pets who do not survive accidents or surgeries
Potential Drawbacks
- Sometimes unpleasant and dangerous work
- Physically and emotionally challenging job
- Private offices pay less than government or commercial jobs
- Must maintain self control
- Must have high tolerance for stress
- Must be service oriented
- Must pay attention to detail
- Opportunities for advancement are slim
- May have to clean examination rooms
- Must have concern and empathy for others
Related Professions to Consider
- Veterinary Assistant
- Veterinary Laboratory Assistant
- Veterinary Critical Care Technician
- Veterinary Surgical Technician
- Veterinary Imaging Technician
- Veterinary Nurse
- Veterinary Receptionist
- Veterinary Technician Ophthalmology Supervisor
- Veterinary Technician Team Leader
- Veterinary Field Services Representative
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Veterinary Technician
- What experience have you had in extended treatment of an animal?
- Have you ever had to put down an animal you've been treating How did you feel about that?
- What challenges are you looking for in this position?
- What job in your career were you most satisfied working?
- What gives you the most joy when working with animals?
- What are the steps in a urinalysis What issues might arise in a standard test environment?
- Are you comfortable cleaning kennels?
- How long do you plan on working for this clinic?
- Do you plan on becoming a veterinarian technician in the future?
- How do you feel about the use of animals in vet school?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Credentialed Veterinary Technician
- Technical Services Field Representative
- Pet Nurse
- Solution Strategist
- Services Project Manager
- Senior Solution Strategist
- Solution Strategist
- Veterinarian Technician
- IT Training Certification
- Assistant Veterinary Technician
Veterinary Technician Training books
Veterinary Technician (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- GIS
- Biology
- Biotechnology
- Environmental Science
- Aviation Science
- Mathematics Statistics
- Fire Science
- Physics
- Veterinary Science
- Health Care
Veterinary Technician Salary Information
Category: Animal scientists
| Total # Employed in the US |
2,190 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$31.02/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $15.25 |
$19.68 |
$27.38 |
$39.68 |
$51.77 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$64,510 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $31,730 |
$40,930 |
$56,960 |
$82,540 |
$107,680 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.5% |
4.2% |
8.9% |
7.5% |
41.4% |
23.4% |
14.2% |
|
Animal scientists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Mississippi |
$50.84/hr
|
$105,750
|
| North Dakota |
$38.64/hr
|
$80,370
|
| New Hampshire |
$32.86/hr
|
$68,350
|
| Louisiana |
$32.77/hr
|
$68,170
|
| Maine |
$32.55/hr
|
$67,700
|
| Maryland |
$31.25/hr
|
$65,010
|
| Michigan |
$30.43/hr
|
$63,300
|
| South Dakota |
$30.25/hr
|
$62,930
|
| Hawaii |
$27.81/hr
|
$57,850
|
| Wyoming |
$27.67/hr
|
$57,540
|
| Nebraska |
$26.79/hr
|
$55,720
|
| South Carolina |
$24.75/hr
|
$51,490
|
| Nevada |
$22.75/hr
|
$47,310
|
| West Virginia |
$17.83/hr
|
$37,080
|
Category: Veterinarians
| Total # Employed in the US |
54,130 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$43.32/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $22.92 |
$30.18 |
$38.71 |
$50.57 |
$68.71 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$90,110 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $47,670 |
$62,770 |
$80,510 |
$105,190 |
$142,910 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.1% |
0.6% |
0.3% |
0.0% |
1.3% |
1.7% |
96.1% |
|
Veterinarians — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| North Dakota |
$56.33/hr
|
$117,170
|
| Delaware |
$55.84/hr
|
$116,150
|
| Hawaii |
$50.74/hr
|
$105,540
|
| Colorado |
$48.05/hr
|
$99,940
|
| Washington |
$47.9/hr
|
$99,630
|
| District of Columbia |
$47.74/hr
|
$99,290
|
| Wyoming |
$47.71/hr
|
$99,240
|
| Utah |
$47.68/hr
|
$99,170
|
| Indiana |
$47.13/hr
|
$98,020
|
| Oklahoma |
$47.06/hr
|
$97,890
|
| Virginia |
$46.08/hr
|
$95,840
|
| Mississippi |
$46.01/hr
|
$95,710
|
| Maryland |
$45.68/hr
|
$95,020
|
| Nebraska |
$44.93/hr
|
$93,440
|
| Oregon |
$44.88/hr
|
$93,350
|
| Florida |
$44.3/hr
|
$92,150
|
| Guam |
$43.92/hr
|
$91,350
|
| Montana |
$43.67/hr
|
$90,830
|
| South Carolina |
$43.55/hr
|
$90,590
|
| Kentucky |
$43.47/hr
|
$90,430
|
| North Carolina |
$43.31/hr
|
$90,090
|
| Missouri |
$41.31/hr
|
$85,930
|
| Kansas |
$40.9/hr
|
$85,070
|
| Puerto Rico |
$39.71/hr
|
$82,590
|
| Michigan |
$39.63/hr
|
$82,430
|
| Massachusetts |
$39.39/hr
|
$81,930
|
| New York |
$39.18/hr
|
$81,490
|
| Idaho |
$38.98/hr
|
$81,080
|
| Tennessee |
$38.5/hr
|
$80,080
|
| Alaska |
$38.12/hr
|
$79,290
|
| South Dakota |
$38.06/hr
|
$79,160
|
| Nevada |
$38.03/hr
|
$79,100
|
| Maine |
$37.54/hr
|
$78,090
|
| Arkansas |
$37.41/hr
|
$77,800
|
| Wisconsin |
$37.16/hr
|
$77,280
|
| Alabama |
$36.45/hr
|
$75,810
|
| California |
$35.94/hr
|
$74,750
|
| Connecticut |
$35.9/hr
|
$74,670
|
| Iowa |
$35.46/hr
|
$73,760
|
| New Hampshire |
$34.43/hr
|
$71,600
|
| New Mexico |
$34.3/hr
|
$71,330
|
| West Virginia |
$33.99/hr
|
$70,690
|
| Pennsylvania |
$33.22/hr
|
$69,090
|
| Ohio |
$31.3/hr
|
$65,110
|
| Louisiana |
$31.24/hr
|
$64,990
|
| New Jersey |
$29.06/hr
|
$60,430
|
Category: Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
| Total # Employed in the US |
71,350 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$11.25/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $7.7 |
$8.72 |
$10.43 |
$12.83 |
$15.79 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$23,400 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $16,020 |
$18,140 |
$21,700 |
$26,680 |
$32,840 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 4.8% |
29.0% |
37.8% |
16.3% |
9.1% |
1.6% |
1.4% |
|
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Florida |
$18.61/hr
|
$38,710
|
| Missouri |
$14.46/hr
|
$30,080
|
| Colorado |
$14.01/hr
|
$29,130
|
| Delaware |
$13.54/hr
|
$28,160
|
| Michigan |
$13.1/hr
|
$27,260
|
| Mississippi |
$13.04/hr
|
$27,120
|
| Oklahoma |
$12.79/hr
|
$26,600
|
| North Dakota |
$11.99/hr
|
$24,950
|
| Kansas |
$11.75/hr
|
$24,450
|
| Alaska |
$11.7/hr
|
$24,350
|
| Puerto Rico |
$11.58/hr
|
$24,090
|
| Ohio |
$11.51/hr
|
$23,930
|
| Utah |
$11.5/hr
|
$23,910
|
| Nebraska |
$11.5/hr
|
$23,920
|
| District of Columbia |
$11.49/hr
|
$23,900
|
| North Carolina |
$11.36/hr
|
$23,640
|
| New Mexico |
$11.24/hr
|
$23,390
|
| Tennessee |
$11.18/hr
|
$23,250
|
| Montana |
$11.06/hr
|
$23,000
|
| Massachusetts |
$10.94/hr
|
$22,760
|
| Washington |
$10.92/hr
|
$22,720
|
| Idaho |
$10.85/hr
|
$22,560
|
| Indiana |
$10.85/hr
|
$22,570
|
| Oregon |
$10.79/hr
|
$22,450
|
| Connecticut |
$10.65/hr
|
$22,160
|
| Kentucky |
$10.58/hr
|
$22,010
|
| Pennsylvania |
$10.4/hr
|
$21,620
|
| New Jersey |
$10.37/hr
|
$21,560
|
| Wyoming |
$10.36/hr
|
$21,560
|
| New York |
$10.31/hr
|
$21,440
|
| South Carolina |
$10.29/hr
|
$21,390
|
| Louisiana |
$10.27/hr
|
$21,350
|
| Hawaii |
$10.15/hr
|
$21,110
|
| Maine |
$10.1/hr
|
$21,000
|
| Wisconsin |
$10.05/hr
|
$20,900
|
| Maryland |
$9.96/hr
|
$20,710
|
| California |
$9.93/hr
|
$20,660
|
| Iowa |
$9.86/hr
|
$20,500
|
| South Dakota |
$9.82/hr
|
$20,430
|
| Arkansas |
$9.7/hr
|
$20,180
|
| New Hampshire |
$9.68/hr
|
$20,130
|
| Alabama |
$9.52/hr
|
$19,810
|
| Guam |
$9.18/hr
|
$19,090
|
| Nevada |
$9.16/hr
|
$19,050
|
| West Virginia |
$9.04/hr
|
$18,800
|
Category: Animal control workers
| Total # Employed in the US |
15,320 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$16.14/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $9.39 |
$12.1 |
$15.17 |
$19.58 |
$24.6 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$33,560 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $19,540 |
$25,180 |
$31,550 |
$40,720 |
$51,170 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 6.9% |
37.0% |
34.4% |
9.5% |
10.3% |
1.4% |
0.5% |
|
Animal control workers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| New York |
$23.51/hr
|
$48,910
|
| Colorado |
$22.18/hr
|
$46,130
|
| Alaska |
$19.79/hr
|
$41,150
|
| Nebraska |
$19.5/hr
|
$40,560
|
| Tennessee |
$18.7/hr
|
$38,900
|
| Mississippi |
$18.48/hr
|
$38,440
|
| Connecticut |
$18/hr
|
$37,440
|
| Delaware |
$17.93/hr
|
$37,300
|
| North Dakota |
$17.41/hr
|
$36,220
|
| Virginia |
$17.27/hr
|
$35,920
|
| Montana |
$17.2/hr
|
$35,770
|
| Missouri |
$16.95/hr
|
$35,260
|
| District of Columbia |
$16.39/hr
|
$34,090
|
| Hawaii |
$16.21/hr
|
$33,720
|
| Kansas |
$15.94/hr
|
$33,160
|
| Utah |
$15.88/hr
|
$33,030
|
| Oklahoma |
$15.78/hr
|
$32,820
|
| South Carolina |
$15.53/hr
|
$32,300
|
| Louisiana |
$15.47/hr
|
$32,180
|
| Guam |
$15.42/hr
|
$32,070
|
| Arkansas |
$15.42/hr
|
$32,080
|
| New Mexico |
$15.16/hr
|
$31,520
|
| Oregon |
$14.67/hr
|
$30,510
|
| Kentucky |
$14.39/hr
|
$29,930
|
| Wyoming |
$14.19/hr
|
$29,520
|
| Iowa |
$14.18/hr
|
$29,500
|
| Ohio |
$14.15/hr
|
$29,430
|
| Idaho |
$13.64/hr
|
$28,360
|
| Washington |
$13.64/hr
|
$28,370
|
| New Hampshire |
$13.62/hr
|
$28,330
|
| Wisconsin |
$13.45/hr
|
$27,980
|
| North Carolina |
$13.32/hr
|
$27,710
|
| Alabama |
$13.31/hr
|
$27,690
|
| New Jersey |
$13.22/hr
|
$27,510
|
| Maine |
$13.16/hr
|
$27,380
|
| Massachusetts |
$12.91/hr
|
$26,840
|
| California |
$12.82/hr
|
$26,670
|
| South Dakota |
$12.59/hr
|
$26,190
|
| West Virginia |
$12.13/hr
|
$25,220
|
| Nevada |
$11.26/hr
|
$23,420
|
| Michigan |
$11.2/hr
|
$23,290
|
| Maryland |
$11.06/hr
|
$23,010
|
Category: Nonfarm animal caretakers
| Total # Employed in the US |
132,860 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$10.5/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $7.49 |
$8.22 |
$9.4 |
$11.63 |
$15.22 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$21,830 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $15,590 |
$17,110 |
$19,550 |
$24,190 |
$31,660 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 10.2% |
38.2% |
26.6% |
8.7% |
13.8% |
1.6% |
1.0% |
|
Nonfarm animal caretakers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Indiana |
$15.02/hr
|
$31,240
|
| Alaska |
$13.07/hr
|
$27,190
|
| Florida |
$12.46/hr
|
$25,920
|
| Missouri |
$11.8/hr
|
$24,550
|
| District of Columbia |
$11.79/hr
|
$24,530
|
| Connecticut |
$11.68/hr
|
$24,290
|
| Mississippi |
$11.61/hr
|
$24,150
|
| Delaware |
$11.48/hr
|
$23,880
|
| Colorado |
$11.43/hr
|
$23,780
|
| Virginia |
$11.28/hr
|
$23,450
|
| North Dakota |
$11.11/hr
|
$23,120
|
| Ohio |
$10.82/hr
|
$22,510
|
| Hawaii |
$10.79/hr
|
$22,440
|
| Oklahoma |
$10.7/hr
|
$22,250
|
| Kansas |
$10.59/hr
|
$22,030
|
| Nebraska |
$10.49/hr
|
$21,810
|
| Michigan |
$10.48/hr
|
$21,790
|
| Massachusetts |
$10.47/hr
|
$21,780
|
| Tennessee |
$10.39/hr
|
$21,610
|
| Idaho |
$10.38/hr
|
$21,590
|
| Montana |
$10.35/hr
|
$21,530
|
| Utah |
$10.34/hr
|
$21,510
|
| Puerto Rico |
$10.3/hr
|
$21,430
|
| New Hampshire |
$10.2/hr
|
$21,210
|
| North Carolina |
$10.19/hr
|
$21,200
|
| Arkansas |
$10.16/hr
|
$21,140
|
| Wisconsin |
$10.09/hr
|
$20,980
|
| Oregon |
$10/hr
|
$20,790
|
| South Carolina |
$10/hr
|
$20,800
|
| New York |
$9.98/hr
|
$20,760
|
| New Mexico |
$9.85/hr
|
$20,500
|
| Guam |
$9.84/hr
|
$20,460
|
| Louisiana |
$9.79/hr
|
$20,360
|
| New Jersey |
$9.79/hr
|
$20,370
|
| Maryland |
$9.75/hr
|
$20,290
|
| Wyoming |
$9.72/hr
|
$20,220
|
| Washington |
$9.64/hr
|
$20,040
|
| Maine |
$9.63/hr
|
$20,020
|
| Kentucky |
$9.49/hr
|
$19,730
|
| South Dakota |
$9.48/hr
|
$19,720
|
| Iowa |
$9.46/hr
|
$19,670
|
| West Virginia |
$9.4/hr
|
$19,560
|
| Alabama |
$9.3/hr
|
$19,350
|
| Pennsylvania |
$9.28/hr
|
$19,310
|
| Nevada |
$9.12/hr
|
$18,960
|
| California |
$8.83/hr
|
$18,360
|
