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.
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. The role reports a median annual salary of $45,980 in the US and is projected to grow 9% over the next decade (faster than average). Entry typically requires a Associate's degree, and shows low AI exposure (0.34 on a 0-1 scale) — the role's core work resists automation. The most in-demand skills for the role include Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Monitoring.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £25,067 a year for Animal care services occupations n.e.c. (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £22,826 to £27,865 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 6129). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Technicians and associate professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Veterinary technologists and technicians, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 3. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Customer and Personal Service
- Biology
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Chemistry
- Computers and Electronics
- Education and Training
A day in the life
You start the morning at the animal clinic checking on patients kept overnight: a dog recovering from surgery and a cat on a drip. You record their temperatures, give prescribed medicines and clean their cages. Next you prepare the operating room and, under the vet's direction, give anaesthetic to a dog for a dental procedure, watching its breathing and heart rate throughout. After surgery you care for it as it wakes. Mid-morning you run blood and urine tests in the lab, then help restrain a frightened cat for a vaccination, talking softly to keep it calm. You also update the controlled drug log, recording every dose. In the afternoon you take X-rays and explain home-care instructions to an owner. Handling scared animals can be tricky and sad cases are hard, but helping pets recover and seeing grateful owners makes it worthwhile.
In India: In India this work is often done by livestock and veterinary assistants in government veterinary hospitals and dispensaries, where much of the day involves cattle, goats and poultry as well as pets.
Illustrative: one typical day, written from the O*NET task statements for this occupation. Real days vary by employer and seniority.
What you'd actually do
- Administer anesthesia to animals, under the direction of a veterinarian, and monitor animals' responses to anesthetics so that dosages can be adjusted.
- 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.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Veterinary technologists and technicians do?
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.
What does a typical day look like in Veterinary technologists and technicians?
You start the morning at the animal clinic checking on patients kept overnight: a dog recovering from surgery and a cat on a drip. You record their temperatures, give prescribed medicines and clean their cages. Next you prepare the operating room and, under the vet's direction, give anaesthetic to a dog for a dental procedure, watching its breathing and heart rate throughout. After surgery you care for it as it wakes.
How much does Veterinary technologists and technicians earn?
The median annual salary for Veterinary technologists and technicians in the US is $45,980.
What is the job outlook for Veterinary technologists and technicians?
The role is projected to grow 9% over the next decade (faster than average). Current US employment is approximately 134,200 workers.
How do I become veterinary technologists and technicians?
The typical entry education is a Associate's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Veterinary technologists and technicians need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Monitoring, Complex Problem Solving. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Veterinary technologists and technicians?
Our AI-durability model gives Veterinary technologists and technicians a score of 0.34 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at low AI exposure — the role's core work resists current-generation automation. It's a comparatively AI-durable choice within its field.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Veterinary technologists and technicians has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.