Vet technicians are members of a veterinary practice above vet assistants and below veterinary surgeons.
A vet, or veterinary, technician fills a position in relation to a veterinarian as a nurse does to a doctor. He will provide diagnostic support to the veterinarian and care to the practice's animal patients, performing tasks such as urinalysis, taking blood and tissue samples, using X-ray and radiography machinery and preparing animals for surgery. His salary expectations will depend upon a variety of factors.
Average Pay
In May 2009, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics listed the mean yearly salary for a vet technician in America to be $30,580. The average for the lowest 10 percent of earners was $20,180, while that for the top 10 percent was $43,080. Benefits and bonuses, such as pension provision, will augment the basic salary.
Pay by Location
The state in which a veterinary technician practices will impact upon his salary expectations. PayScale found that, of the states it surveyed, New York, Pennsylvania and California offered the highest amounts at the top level of their average salaries -- $42,555, $39,960 and $39,924 respectively.
Pay by Experience
The December 2010 salary survey by PayScale.com found that as a veterinary technician gains experience his earning potential increases, with the peak average salaries being earned by those with between 10 and 19 years of experience - $29,045 to $44,037. With more experience in the field, veterinary technicians are also likely to secure better benefits packages, such as pension provision, to augment their basic pay.
Pay by Employer Type
The December 2010 survey by PayScale found that the federal government and federal agencies that employ veterinary technicians in medical research projects offer the widest range of average salaries, from $19,000 to $45,000. By contrast, those working for a private veterinary practice could expect between $23,905 and $36,327.
Prospects
Demand for veterinary technicians is expected to rise considerably in the future. The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the rise in demand as high as 36 percent until 2018. It predicts that as pet owners become more affluent and prepared to spend on their pets, more veterinarians will go into practice, creating a need for veterinary support staff such as technicians.
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