Some vet techs specialize in the care of exotic animals.
Vet techs assist veterinarians with their animal patients in the same way that a nurse helps a doctor with human ones. Formal post-secondary education is required, ranging from a two-year associate degree to a four-year bachelor's degree. All states mandate a credentialing exam after graduation to ensure that the job candidate can work in a veterinary clinic or hospital.
Pay
The jobs of vet techs can often be unpleasant, physically demanding and sometimes dangerous. Workers must get a high degree of satisfaction from their work to counter these stresses. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that vet techs have a work-related injury and illness rate much higher than the national average, because they must often restrain animals that can bite or scratch. Techs make a median $563 per week, with a range of $388 to $828. This information is as of May 2009 from the BLS.
Experience
Vet techs with more experience generally get higher salaries as they develop more skill in handling animals and dealing with their owners. The PayScale Report reveals that as of December 2010, new techs receive $387 to $594 weekly, while those with one to four years get $404 to $636. At five to nine years, they make $486 to $758, while those with 10 to 19 years earn $560 to $851. Finally, those with 20 years or more under their belts are paid $585 to $824.
Employers
The BLS states that the biggest employers of vet techs are other professional, scientific and technical services, which include veterinary clinics and hospitals. They comprise over 91 percent of the jobs and pay close to the median at $576 per week. The employer paying the best salary is the federal government, with weekly compensation at $904. However, because it only offers 650 positions, it is a difficult workplace to break into.
States
The BLS shows that the state with the highest employment for vet techs is Vermont, with a concentration of 1.28 techs per 1,000 workers. Salaries there are at $595 per week. Connecticut has the highest-paying jobs at $699 but its concentration of 0.71 techs per 1,000 workers is far less than Vermont's.
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