Veterinary Technician: Career Overview
Official government data · Updated April 2026
Veterinary Technicians earn a national median of $45,980/yr with 9.1% projected employment growth over 2024–2034. The role draws on expertise in Medicine and Dentistry, Customer and Personal Service, Biology.
Median Salary
$45,980
National · 2024
10-Year Growth
9.1%
Faster than average
Employed Nationally
131,320
2024 data
Typical Education
Associate's degree
Entry-level
What Employers Expect From a Veterinary Technician
These are the competencies recruiters screen for in Veterinary Technician candidates, ranked by importance. Your resume should demonstrate each one:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge domains most important for Veterinary Technician performance, based on verified occupational data.
Job Outlook: 2024–2034
Employment is projected to grow 9.1% for Veterinary Technician roles over the 2024–2034 decade. That's faster than average compared to the 4% average across all occupations.
- Current Employment
- 131,320
- Projected Growth
- 9.1%
- Typical Education
- Associate's degree
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a Veterinary Technician do?
- Veterinary Technicians apply expertise in Medicine and Dentistry, Customer and Personal Service, Biology to perform their core responsibilities. Key competencies include Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Speaking.
- How much does a Veterinary Technician make?
- The national median salary for a Veterinary Technician is $45,980 per year based on official government wage survey data. Actual compensation varies by location, experience, and employer.
- Is Veterinary Technician a good career in 2026?
- Employment for Veterinary Technician roles is projected to grow 9.1% over the 2024–2034 decade — faster than average compared to all occupations. There are currently 131,320 workers in this occupation nationally.
- What education do you need to become a Veterinary Technician?
- The typical entry-level education for a Veterinary Technician is Associate's degree. Requirements vary by employer and specialization.
- What skills do Veterinary Technicians need?
- The most important skills for Veterinary Technician roles based on verified occupational data: Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Writing, Monitoring, Complex Problem Solving, Active Learning, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination.
Does Your Resume Cover These Skills?
Tap the skills that are currently on your resume.
Salary, employment, and skills figures sourced from official U.S. government records and occupational databases. Actual compensation and requirements vary by location, experience, and employer. Salary and employment figures from official U.S. government records. Actual compensation varies by location, experience, and employer.