Careers / Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$47,380
United States, 2025
Employment
129,140
United States, 2025
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Job Zone 3
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
Perform medical tests in a laboratory environment for use in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases in animals. Prepare vaccines and serums for prevention of diseases. Prepare tissue samples, take blood samples, and execute laboratory tests, such as urinalysis and blood counts. Clean and sterilize instruments and materials and maintain equipment and machines. May assist a veterinarian during surgery.
- O*NET code
- 29-2056.00
- Job zone
- 3
- Experience required
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Typical tasks
- Care for and monitor the condition of animals recovering from surgery.
- Maintain controlled drug inventory and related log books.
- Perform laboratory tests on blood, urine, or feces, such as urinalyses or blood counts, to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of animal health problems.
- Prepare and administer medications, vaccines, serums, or treatments, as prescribed by veterinarians.
- Restrain animals during exams or procedures.
- Administer emergency first aid, such as performing emergency resuscitation or other life saving procedures.
- Clean and sterilize instruments, equipment, or materials.
- Provide veterinarians with the correct equipment or instruments, as needed.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$35,710
25th percentile
$38,910
75th percentile
$57,650
90th percentile
$63,180
Most important skills
- Active Listening3.8
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Speaking3.6
- Reading Comprehension3.6
- Writing3.3
- Monitoring3.3
- Complex Problem Solving3.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Active Learning3.1
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Coordination3.1
- Service Orientation3.1
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 14 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
14
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.8 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.6 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.6 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Monitoring | 3.3 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.3 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Writing | 3.3 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 3.1 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Service Orientation | 3.1 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $71,090 | 1,220 | 2025 |
| Corvallis, OR | $67,960 | 80 | 2025 |
| San Jose, CA | $67,280 | 470 | 2025 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $62,810 | 150 | 2025 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $61,940 | 250 | 2025 |
| Salinas, CA | $61,330 | 130 | 2025 |
| DC | $61,270 | 120 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | $61,260 | 1,170 | 2025 |
| Vallejo, CA | $61,230 | 110 | 2025 |
| Kennewick, WA | $61,070 | 50 | 2025 |
| Sacramento, CA | $60,970 | 1,010 | 2025 |
| Mount Vernon, WA | $60,830 | 40 | 2025 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $60,670 | 3,640 | 2025 |
| CA | $60,630 | 11,310 | 2025 |
| Oxnard, CA | $60,410 | 390 | 2025 |
| Napa, CA | $60,410 | 30 | 2025 |
| San Diego, CA | $60,280 | 1,330 | 2025 |
| WA | $59,740 | 2,290 | 2025 |
| New York, NY | $59,680 | 4,850 | 2025 |
| Bellingham, WA | $59,360 | 100 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Veterinary Technologists and Technicians to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.