Vet Assistant Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
Community college programs accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association offer a number of 2-year associate’s degrees in veterinary technology. These programs allow students to use laboratory settings with live animals. A large number of four-year colleges and universities also offer veterinary technology programs that teach about animal nutrition, veterinary anatomy, laboratory techniques, animal husbandry and large and small animal care. In 2006, over 100 veterinary technology programs in more than 40 States were accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Graduation from any such accredited veterinary technology program makes one eligible to take the credential exam in any US State.
Training and Education
Employees are generally expected to have short-term on-the-job training. About 10% of vet assistants hold a bachelor's degree or better. Currently 59% of workers have some college education, though not a degree. About 31% of employees were able to get their jobs with a high-school diploma.
Job Overview
Vet assistants help veterinary surgeons with animal healthcare. When sick animals are bought to the veterinarian, vet assistants conduct preliminary examination. They perform routine laboratory and clinical procedures. The work is then documented by making charts of the treatment procedures followed, lab tests performed and the general observations about the physical condition of the animals. Vet assistants also maintain inventories of medicines, equipment and supplies, answer phone calls and prepare bills for customers. They may work in research facilities where they are required to administer medicines orally or topically, prepare samples for laboratory examinations and record information on an animal’s genealogy, diet, weight, medication, food intake and clinical signs of pain and distress.
Job Requirements
All States in the US require vet assistants to pass a credentialing exam before beginning in this profession. Passing the state exam is a proof of the vet assistant’s knowledge and proficiency in the field. It also allows one to find employment in a veterinary clinic or hospital. Employers generally prefer candidates with the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science certification for positions in research facilities.
Communication skills are very important for veterinary assistants as they often deal with pet owners. Since they mostly work in teams, they should possess good interpersonal skills. To excel in this occupation, it is extremely important to pay attention to detail.
Nature of Work
Vet assistants perform various medical tests for the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions and diseases in animals. Their work includes setting up and cleaning examination and treatment rooms, taking care of the animals during treatments or shots and teaching pet owners about medications, illnesses and general care. Vet assistants also perform lab tests like urinalysis and blood counts, assist with dental prophylaxis and prepare tissue and blood samples. They also take x-rays, provide emergency first-aid, prepare animals for surgery and help veterinarians during operations.
Area Job Conditions
Vet assistants are relatively common in Blacksburg (Virginia), Raleigh (North Carolina), and Billings (Montana). They are rarer in Charlotte (North Carolina), Providence (Rhode Island), and Denver (Colorado).
Workers are paid highest in New Haven (Connecticut), Boston (Massachusetts), and Bethesda (Maryland), and lowest in Las Cruces (New Mexico), Shreveport (Louisiana), and Midland (Texas).
Part-Time and Self Employment
About 23% of vet assistants work less than full-time. In 3% of the cases, workers work for themselves.
Career Videos
Vet Assistants by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn | $23,000 | 80 | +358% |
| Birmingham | $25,000 | 320 | +43% |
| Decatur | $23,000 | 40 | +86% |
| Huntsville | $18,000 | 150 | +63% |
| Mobile | $20,000 | 170 | +120% |
| Montgomery | $21,000 | 160 | +124% |
| Tuscaloosa | $22,000 | 30 | -21% |
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $29,000 | 90 | +23% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingman | $18,000 | 40 | +113% |
| Phoenix | $21,000 | 410 | -49% |
| Tucson | $19,000 | 230 | +49% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $23,000 | 130 | +45% |
| Fort Smith | $20,000 | 100 | +89% |
| Hot Springs | $22,000 | 40 | +187% |
| Jonesboro | $23,000 | 40 | +116% |
| Little Rock | $20,000 | 220 | +41% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $22,000 | 150 | +29% |
| Chico | $25,000 | 110 | +284% |
| Fresno | $26,000 | 130 | -10% |
| Los Angeles | $26,000 | 1,050 | -44% |
| Merced | $22,000 | 40 | +74% |
| Oakland | $27,000 | 430 | -6% |
| Oxnard | $24,000 | 120 | -10% |
| Riverside | $21,000 | 480 | -13% |
| Sacramento | $28,000 | 520 | +31% |
| Salinas | $27,000 | 90 | +29% |
| San Diego | $26,000 | 1,190 | +98% |
| San Francisco | $36,000 | 300 | -34% |
| Santa Ana | $24,000 | 690 | +4% |
| Santa Barbara | $31,000 | 120 | +63% |
| Santa Cruz | $32,000 | 90 | +147% |
| Santa Rosa | $29,000 | 250 | +228% |
| Stockton | $29,000 | 60 | -35% |
| Vallejo | $21,000 | 120 | +133% |
| Visalia | $26,000 | 60 | +3% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $22,000 | 70 | +5% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford | $26,000 | 330 | +26% |
| New Haven | $40,000 | 220 | +80% |
| Norwich | $27,000 | 50 | -5% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $22,000 | 150 | +2% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $25,000 | 1,970 | +76% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | $23,000 | 130 | +52% |
| Deltona | $22,000 | 40 | -40% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $26,000 | 240 | -25% |
| Gainesville | $18,000 | 110 | +111% |
| Jacksonville | $22,000 | 300 | +10% |
| Lakeland | $20,000 | 80 | -4% |
| Miami | $23,000 | 220 | -51% |
| Ocala | $19,000 | 140 | +280% |
| Orlando | $21,000 | 450 | -3% |
| Palm Bay | $24,000 | 140 | +61% |
| Pensacola | $22,000 | 100 | +54% |
| Port St Lucie | $25,000 | 70 | +37% |
| Tallahassee | $18,000 | 170 | +141% |
| Tampa | $21,000 | 1,070 | +104% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens | $24,000 | 110 | +276% |
| Atlanta | $24,000 | 970 | -9% |
| Augusta | $19,000 | 50 | -45% |
| Columbus | $19,000 | 60 | +27% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $20,000 | 200 | +0% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coeur Dalene | $19,000 | 50 | +147% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington | $24,000 | 60 | +107% |
| Champaign | $22,000 | 60 | +38% |
| Chicago | $25,000 | 1,210 | -30% |
| Decatur | $22,000 | 30 | +67% |
| Peoria | $20,000 | 130 | +74% |
| Rockford | $25,000 | 70 | +15% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson | $23,000 | 40 | +171% |
| Bloomington | $22,000 | 70 | +144% |
| Evansville | $21,000 | 70 | -7% |
| Indianapolis | $26,000 | 750 | +83% |
| Lafayette | $24,000 | 110 | +251% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ames | $27,000 | 40 | +177% |
| Davenport | $24,000 | 120 | +46% |
| Dubuque | $23,000 | 40 | +86% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence | $20,000 | 40 | +135% |
| Topeka | $29,000 | 120 | +154% |
| Wichita | $23,000 | 160 | +24% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $21,000 | 310 | +12% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | $19,000 | 40 | +52% |
| Lafayette | $25,000 | 140 | +125% |
| Lake Charles | $22,000 | 40 | +8% |
| Monroe | $18,000 | 30 | -6% |
| New Orleans | $21,000 | 410 | +70% |
| Shreveport | $23,000 | 120 | +52% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $27,000 | 870 | +45% |
| Bethesda | $33,000 | 490 | +86% |
| Hagerstown | $22,000 | 30 | -27% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town | $32,000 | 60 | +42% |
| Boston | $34,000 | 950 | +19% |
| Haverhill | $23,000 | 100 | +191% |
| Lawrence | $23,000 | 40 | +65% |
| New Bedford | $31,000 | 40 | +51% |
| Springfield | $21,000 | 110 | -18% |
| Worcester | $28,000 | 170 | +51% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $23,000 | 120 | +64% |
| Detroit | $26,000 | 500 | +64% |
| Flint | $20,000 | 60 | +7% |
| Grand Rapids | $23,000 | 90 | -47% |
| Jackson | $19,000 | 30 | +55% |
| Kalamazoo | $22,000 | 70 | +19% |
| Lansing | $19,000 | 150 | +71% |
| Niles | $21,000 | 30 | +28% |
| Warren | $23,000 | 610 | +23% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | $24,000 | 70 | +25% |
| Minneapolis | $24,000 | 760 | -7% |
| Rochester | $33,000 | 60 | +37% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport | $20,000 | 60 | +31% |
| Hattiesburg | $19,000 | 60 | +158% |
| Jackson | $20,000 | 160 | +41% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson City | $20,000 | 80 | +160% |
| Joplin | $20,000 | 60 | +82% |
| Kansas City | $21,000 | 590 | +27% |
| Springfield | $17,000 | 90 | +7% |
| St Louis | $21,000 | 1,080 | +76% |
Montana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $22,000 | 120 | +240% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $26,000 | 120 | -44% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $22,000 | 470 | +21% |
| Reno | $24,000 | 160 | +90% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | $20,000 | 50 | +13% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City | $23,000 | 50 | -21% |
| Camden | $23,000 | 240 | +1% |
| Edison | $24,000 | 400 | -15% |
| Newark | $29,000 | 380 | -17% |
| Trenton | $28,000 | 90 | -11% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $30,000 | 310 | +78% |
| Las Cruces | $19,000 | 50 | +91% |
| Santa Fe | $26,000 | 70 | +176% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $23,000 | 270 | +32% |
| Binghamton | $21,000 | 80 | +66% |
| Buffalo | $22,000 | 230 | -9% |
| Kingston | $23,000 | 30 | +22% |
| Nassau | $29,000 | 470 | -19% |
| New York | $31,000 | 790 | -67% |
| Poughkeepsie | $26,000 | 210 | +91% |
| Rochester | $26,000 | 170 | -26% |
| Syracuse | $29,000 | 80 | -43% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $24,000 | 220 | +182% |
| Durham | $30,000 | 250 | +102% |
| Greensboro | $20,000 | 130 | -19% |
| Raleigh | $23,000 | 770 | +228% |
| Wilmington | $21,000 | 50 | -16% |
| Winston Salem | $22,000 | 190 | +103% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $22,000 | 270 | +86% |
| Cincinnati | $22,000 | 720 | +55% |
| Cleveland | $21,000 | 590 | +26% |
| Dayton | $20,000 | 180 | +4% |
| Toledo | $19,000 | 140 | +6% |
| Youngstown | $22,000 | 80 | -21% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $33,000 | 170 | -35% |
| Tulsa | $24,000 | 490 | +151% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medford | $24,000 | 70 | +117% |
| Portland | $24,000 | 800 | +71% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $22,000 | 190 | +21% |
| Erie | $21,000 | 90 | +62% |
| Harrisburg | $20,000 | 170 | +18% |
| Lancaster | $22,000 | 130 | +24% |
| Lebanon | $25,000 | 50 | +178% |
| Philadelphia | $29,000 | 1,130 | +29% |
| Pittsburgh | $26,000 | 470 | -11% |
| Reading | $21,000 | 70 | -4% |
| Scranton | $22,000 | 110 | -6% |
| State College | $33,000 | 60 | +134% |
| York | $20,000 | 90 | +16% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson | $24,000 | 40 | +75% |
| Greenville | $22,000 | 230 | +71% |
| Myrtle Beach | $26,000 | 40 | -14% |
| Spartanburg | $20,000 | 60 | +21% |
South Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $19,000 | 50 | -17% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $20,000 | 170 | +68% |
| Johnson City | $19,000 | 60 | +101% |
| Kingsport | $22,000 | 90 | +72% |
| Memphis | $22,000 | 200 | -29% |
| Morristown | $18,000 | 40 | +121% |
| Nashville | $21,000 | 460 | +36% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo | $23,000 | 80 | +76% |
| Austin | $23,000 | 450 | +25% |
| Beaumont | $22,000 | 140 | +98% |
| College Station | $23,000 | 160 | +310% |
| Corpus Christi | $20,000 | 80 | +2% |
| Dallas | $25,000 | 1,200 | +25% |
| El Paso | $25,000 | 160 | +31% |
| Fort Worth | $22,000 | 520 | +31% |
| Houston | $24,000 | 1,290 | +7% |
| Mcallen | $22,000 | 30 | -71% |
| San Antonio | $24,000 | 680 | +70% |
| Tyler | $19,000 | 30 | -21% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logan | $18,000 | 30 | +59% |
| Provo | $18,000 | 120 | +60% |
| Salt Lake City | $18,000 | 110 | -60% |
Vermont
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | $25,000 | 50 | +4% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg | $29,000 | 110 | +343% |
| Charlottesville | $24,000 | 110 | +203% |
| Lynchburg | $19,000 | 150 | +257% |
| Richmond | $25,000 | 750 | +167% |
| Roanoke | $20,000 | 190 | +179% |
| Virginia Beach | $20,000 | 610 | +76% |
| Winchester | $23,000 | 90 | +353% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham | $26,000 | 100 | +227% |
| Bremerton | $24,000 | 90 | +159% |
| Kennewick | $23,000 | 50 | +17% |
| Olympia | $23,000 | 100 | +138% |
| Seattle | $25,000 | 720 | +12% |
| Spokane | $23,000 | 200 | +120% |
| Tacoma | $22,000 | 130 | +10% |
| Yakima | $24,000 | 60 | +71% |
West Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $20,000 | 60 | -5% |
| Huntington | $20,000 | 100 | +105% |
| Wheeling | $18,000 | 50 | +88% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | $24,000 | 50 | +1% |
| Janesville | $24,000 | 60 | +132% |
| Madison | $27,000 | 150 | -2% |
| Milwaukee | $22,000 | 340 | -11% |
| Oshkosh | $21,000 | 40 | +8% |
| Racine | $27,000 | 80 | +159% |