Which Types of Companies Employ Veterinary Technicians?

Veterinary technicians make up 91 percent of the workforce in the veterinary services industry. If you focus on a specific area of expertise throughout veterinary tech school, you may work in an area more directly related to that area. Professional certification enables you to achieve specialties by studying coursework to prepare for the area of interest and passing an exam to obtain the title issued by professional organizations that provide the credential.

Additionally, veterinary technicians can find work in the following industries:

• Animal Shelters
• Zoos
• Laboratories
• Animal emergency care services
• Boarding Kennels

FAQs

Q: Vet Tech Salary in Colorado Springs

A: The average annual wage for veterinary technologists in Colorado Springs is $26,194 as of May 15, 2022. If a quick salary calculation is needed, this works out to be roughly $12.59 per hour. This is equivalent to $504 each week or $2,183 per month.

Most certified veterinary technician salaries in Colorado Springs vary from $23,488 (25th percentile) to $30,534 (75th percentile), with the highest salary earners (90th percentile) making $33,353 yearly, according to ZipRecruiter.

Registered veterinary technician salaries are vast (up to $7,046), indicating numerous prospects for advancement and a higher average wage based on skill level, location, and years of experience.

Q: What is the Difference between veterinary technicians and technologists?

A: The Difference between veterinary technicians and technologists is the level of education. Technicians must have a bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology, animal science, biology, or a related field, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In contrast, a veterinary technician typically has an associate’s degree in veterinary technology.

American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) states that the minimum education necessary to be a veterinary technician is an associate’s degree. Technologists usually work in supervisory or administrative positions, while technicians work with animals in clinical settings.

Technologists and technicians in veterinary medicine both perform many similar jobs, such as taking radiographs, performing lab tests, and administering medications and other treatments. However, veterinary technology students take advanced courses in veterinary medical procedures, pathological and clinical sciences, anatomy and physiology, medical ethics, and computer technology.

Q: Where can you find job alerts for veterinary techs?

A: You can find job alerts for veterinary techs in your area and your desired occupation around the country. By registering with job alert sites, you can save time by having employers contact you when posting a job that meets your criteria. Below are a few of the best job alert sites:

The New York Times Job Search is a free service that allows you to set up customized email job alerts for your desired location and career. To create an alert for veterinary technician jobs, visit the website and select the category “Career and Education,” then select “Jobs & Salaries.” Create your custom alert by entering the location and the job title.

Monster is the most popular job search engine on the web. Choose “Veterinary Technician Jobs” under the “Jobs” category, selecting the state and city. Monster will provide you with a list of all available jobs posted in your area.

Simply Hired allows you to pick the region, job description, average base salary, and degree of experience to receive email job alerts whenever a new opening is listed.

Q: Do veterinarians need veterinary techs?

A: Veterinarians have relatively fixed schedules and typically have one or two assistants working alongside them. It may sound like veterinarians do not need veterinary technicians because professionals already assist them.

Although this is true, the demand for veterinary care in the United States has exploded in the last decade. More pets are being cared for and treated than ever before. Veterinarians need the work of veterinary technicians.

Veterinary techs may get paid a decent amount. Still, they are not typically in the highest income bracket for allied health professionals.

VET TECH SALARIES

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics currently reports that the median annual Vet. Tech. salary is $31,800 per year.  This can be very misleading.  Consider this: the $31,800 per year Vet. Tech. salary is $15.29 per hour.  Graduates of the Colorado Academy of Veterinary Technology Vet. Tech. program START at $14.00 to $17.00 per hour (which is a Vet. Tech. salary of $29,106 to $35,343.  So… why is the median so low?  This has to do with the definition of median salary.

The MEDIAN means that half of the measured salaries are above the median, and half are below.  The MEDIAN says NOTHING about how HIGH salaries can go.  In fact, salaries can reach $80,000-$90,000 per year (there is, as a technical matter, no true upper limit).  Higher salaries are earned by Vet. Techs. who are specialists, faculty members at Vet. Tech. schools and universities, Vet. Techs. in industry (in research for example), or are part owners of clinics.  In addition, Vet. Tech. salaries creep higher once a Vet. Tech. has increased experience, especially in clinics or in office management.  Therefore, the MEDIAN says NOTHING about how high salaries can go.

To become a VTS or veterinary technician specialist, you must be in the field for about 5 years.  This will enable you to begin to accumulate the required hours to apply for your VTS.  Several organizations called colleges manage these credentials.  You can increase your Vet. Tech. salary by applying for specialization in: internal medicine, surgery, laboratory medicine, diagnostic imaging, emergency nursing, and several other fields.   A VTS might increase their Vet. Tech. Salary by working in a specialty facility or veterinary teaching facility.

Vet. Techs. That work in emergency clinics generally make higher Vet. Tech. salaries as well.   Emergency veterinary technicians care for critically ill patients that may have been sick for some time before going to see a veterinarian, or may have been suddenly and seriously injured. They may also care for animals that may be recovering from major surgery. Emergency Vet. Techs. employ a greater degree of skill and experience, so they generally earn higher Vet. Tech. Salaries.

Another career option for Vet. Techs. is to become a laboratory animal technician.   Laboratory animal technicians are specially credentialed to work in laboratories housing laboratory animal species such as rats and mice. Vet. Tech. Salaries for these Vet. Techs. tend to be higher, because they employ special skills in a highly technical environment.  Jobs that pay higher Vet. Tech. Salaries for lab animal technicians are found in veterinary teaching hospitals, industry, and the research divisions of large hospitals.

So, Vet. Tech. salaries increase as you gain more experience and skills during your career.  Remember: this is about more than just money.  Vet. Techs. are skilled medical professionals with meaningful jobs.