Track an anesthetized patient
Keep watching the animal and the monitor readings under anesthesia, and alert the veterinarian whenever something changes.
Career profile
Veterinary Technician
Veterinary technicians combine hands-on animal nursing, lab work and conversations with animal owners.
During surgery, your attention stays on how the animal is handling the anesthetic. Spotting a change and telling the veterinarian is central to the job.
A day in the life
Test a blood or urine sample
Write down what the test shows, and at some clinics an analyzer handles part of the cell exam.
Check on a patient after surgery
Watch how the animal is recovering and note any changes for the technician taking over later.
Coach an owner on medicine
Explain to the owner how to give the vet's prescribed medicine at home, then leave room for questions.
Quick facts
Associate’s degree
United States
$47,380/year
United States · May 2025
9.4% growth
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
Associate’s degreeA veterinary technology program is the usual starting point.
Pay
$47,380/yearMedian for veterinary technologists and technicians combined; $22.78 an hour.
Outlook
9.4% growthProjected for veterinary technologists and technicians combined.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You like careful lab work as well as handling animals.
- You notice small changes and can describe them clearly.
- You are willing to explain instructions patiently to worried people.
Things to weigh
- Lifting and restraining animals takes physical effort; frightened animals can bite or scratch.
- You may help with euthanasia and spend time with grieving owners.
- Some jobs include evenings, weekends and holidays.
Where AI may help
Some clinics use machines that analyze cells and send results into patient records, reducing manual lab steps.
What people still lead
You still prepare samples, handle the animal and connect observations at the cage with information on a screen.
What we can’t predict yet
How much routine slide work shifts to machines—and how much checking remains with technicians—will depend on the tests and equipment a clinic adopts.
Pay in context
Earnings
When comparing jobs, ask about base pay, extra pay for nights or weekends, and benefits alongside the hourly rate.
The national midpoint
The median was $47,380 a year, or $22.78 an hour. These figures cover veterinary technologists and technicians together; technician-only pay is not reported separately.
The national spread
For the same combined group, the 10th-percentile annual wage was $35,710 and the 90th-percentile wage was $63,180. These describe the wage distribution, not starting and senior salaries.
Openings over the next decade
Employment in the combined group is projected to grow 9.4%, with about 13,400 openings a year on average, including replacement openings. That does not predict hiring in your town.
Getting started
Study through a campus program
- What the route involves
- Complete a veterinary technology associate’s program with classroom and practical training. Look for American Veterinary Medical Association accreditation.
- What it can lead to
- An accredited program provides a standard eligibility pathway to the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE), subject to the jurisdiction’s requirements.
Pair online classes with clinical mentorship
- What the route involves
- In an accredited distance program such as Purdue’s, study online and build hands-on skills at a veterinary clinic with a licensed veterinarian or credentialed technician.
- What it can lead to
- You can earn an associate’s degree through distance study and pursue the accredited-program pathway to VTNE eligibility.
- What to check
- Clinical skills require in-person practice. Confirm the program’s mentorship arrangements before enrolling.
You work under a licensed veterinarian’s supervision. Start by comparing qualifying programs and the credential rules where you plan to work.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization. This path also has a credential or licensing boundary; see the requirements and limits.
Get established
Learn the clinic’s records and lab routines, and give clear patient handovers between shifts.
Build clinical confidence
Deepen your anesthesia and recovery skills, especially noticing changes and reporting them promptly.
Develop a specialty
Explore a Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) credential in an area such as anesthesia or emergency care. Each specialty academy sets its advanced requirements.
Where you can work
Private veterinary clinic
You move between animal care, lab tests and conversations with owners about care at home.
- Indoors
- Lab
- Physical demands
Emergency teaching hospital
You may move between walk-in emergencies and hospitalized critical patients, working with clinicians and helping teach students. Overnight and holiday coverage can be part of the schedule.
- Indoors
- Shift work
- Physical demands
- Safety-sensitive
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Try a paper-only recovery handover. Invent three timed observations of a dog waking after surgery, using only visible actions such as lifting its head. Give a 30-second report that separates observations from guesses. Notice whether you enjoy precise notes and clear communication.
Stay safe: This is a writing exercise, not a guide to monitoring or treating an animal.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine. Veterinary Technologists and Technicians — 29-2056.00. Accessed 2026-10-11.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Veterinary Technologists and Technicians — Occupational Outlook Handbook. Accessed 2026-10-11.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — May 2025 national estimates, SOC 29-2056. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment Projections, Table 1.2 — 2025–2035, SOC 29-2056. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- American Association of Veterinary State Boards. Veterinary Technician National Exam. Accessed 2026-10-11.
- American Association of Veterinary State Boards. Review Your Pathway. Accessed 2026-10-11.
- Purdue University. Veterinary Technology Distance Learning Program. Accessed 2026-10-11.
- Purdue University. Clinical Mentorship for Distance Learners. Accessed 2026-10-11.
- National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America. Veterinary Technician Specialties. Accessed 2026-10-11.
- IDEXX. IDEXX inVue Dx Cellular Analyzer. Accessed 2026-10-11.
- University of Florida. ICU & ER Veterinary Technician I/II — job 540232. Accessed 2026-10-11.