# Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/veterinary-technologists-and-technicians
- SOC code: 29-2056.00
- Career family: Healthcare practitioners
- Median annual pay: $47,380 (10th percentile $35,710, 90th percentile $63,180)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +9.4%
- Openings a year: 13,400
- Typical entry education: Associate's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RIC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 95 |
| Investigative (I) | 71 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 34 |
| Enterprising (E) | 0 |
| Conventional (C) | 59 |

## What you'd do

- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 88/100)
- Assisting and Caring for Others (importance 87/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 84/100)
- Getting Information (importance 84/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 83/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 81/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 81/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 79/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 74/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 74/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Complex Problem Solving, Monitoring, Writing, Active Learning, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making

## Knowledge

Medicine and Dentistry, Customer and Personal Service, Biology, English Language, Mathematics, Chemistry, Computers and Electronics, Administrative, Education and Training, Sales and Marketing

## Also called

Animal Care Technician (Animal Care Tech), Animal Health Technician (Animal Health Tech), Animal Technician (Animal Tech), Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT), Emergency Veterinary Technician (Emergency Vet Tech), Internal Medicine Veterinary Technician (Internal Medicine Vet Tech), Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT), Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT), Swine Technician (Swine Tech), Veterinarian Lab Technician (Veterinary Lab Tech)

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0183) (CIP 0183, 235 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [St Petersburg College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/st-petersburg-college-2570) | Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | not reported | $61,428 | not reported |
| [University of Massachusetts-Amherst UMASS Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-massachusetts-amherst-umass-main-campus-2950) | Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | $45,633 | $59,298 | $22,300 |
| [Michigan State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/michigan-state-university-1677) | Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | $42,510 | $46,669 | $26,500 |
| [Purdue University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/purdue-university-main-campus-2163) | Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | $42,584 | $45,935 | $17,495 |
| [North Dakota State University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/north-dakota-state-university-main-campus-1896) | Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | $44,485 | $44,457 | $22,250 |
| [Wilson College-Pennsylvania](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wilson-college-pennsylvania-3288) | Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | $38,955 | $41,954 | $25,000 |
| [SUNY College of Technology at Canton](https://www.collegesref.com/college/suny-college-of-technology-at-canton-2650) | Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | $42,004 | $41,426 | $22,022 |
| [Texas A & M University-Kingsville](https://www.collegesref.com/college/texas-a-m-university-kingsville-2697) | Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | $36,997 | $40,816 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/veterinary-assistants-and-laboratory-animal-caretakers): $38,150 median pay
- [Surgical Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/surgical-assistants): $66,800 median pay
- [Medical Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/medical-assistants): $45,690 median pay
- [Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cardiovascular-technologists-and-technicians): $74,310 median pay
- [Surgical Technologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/surgical-technologists): $64,650 median pay
- [Emergency Medical Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/emergency-medical-technicians): $44,470 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.