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Veterinary Technologists and Technicians in California
Thinking about a career as a Veterinary Technologists and Technicians in California? Here’s what the data says. 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 do Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Make in California?
For a veterinary technologists and technicians working in California, the median annual wage is $55,080 per year (or about $26.48/hour).Pay can range from $41,020 at the 10th percentile to $74,390 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $41,020 | $19.72 |
| 25th percentile | $47,340 | $22.76 |
| Median (50th) | $55,080 | $26.48 |
| 75th percentile | $61,810 | $29.72 |
| 90th percentile | $74,390 | $35.77 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in California nationwide is 0.74, meaning fewer veterinary technologists and technicians per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, veterinary technologists and technicians earn a median of $47,148 per year ($22.67/hour), higher than the California median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 1,946,495 veterinary technologists and technicians in the U.S.. In California alone, approximately 11,380 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 1,780 veterinary technologists and technicians.
Top California Metros for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
The largest metro-area employers of veterinary technologists and technicians in California.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 3,750 | $49,790 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,270 | $52,090 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,220 | $66,300 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 990 | $58,120 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 940 | $48,680 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 450 | $60,180 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 360 | $50,380 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 290 | $58,010 |
| Fresno, CA | 220 | $47,690 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 160 | $49,350 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 160 | $48,500 |
| Modesto, CA | 150 | $50,370 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 150 | $57,080 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 140 | $48,510 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 140 | $49,160 |
| Salinas, CA | 120 | $55,990 |
| Vallejo, CA | 120 | $57,610 |
| Chico, CA | 70 | $57,600 |
| Visalia, CA | 70 | $44,350 |
| Redding, CA | 60 | $46,550 |
| Merced, CA | 40 | $45,870 |
| Napa, CA | 40 | $57,300 |
| Yuba City, CA | 40 | $48,630 |
Top States for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Employment
These states have the highest employment of veterinary technologists and technicians work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Texas | 16,170 |
| California | 11,380 |
| Florida | 10,130 |
| Pennsylvania | 5,840 |
| New York | 5,480 |
| Illinois | 4,840 |
| Ohio | 4,720 |
| Minnesota | 4,320 |
| Colorado | 3,990 |
| Massachusetts | 3,900 |
| North Carolina | 3,650 |
| New Jersey | 3,500 |
| Arizona | 3,390 |
| Georgia | 3,280 |
| Maryland | 3,090 |
| Michigan | 2,880 |
| Wisconsin | 2,860 |
| Virginia | 2,800 |
| Indiana | 2,340 |
| Tennessee | 2,270 |
Highest-Paying States for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
Where veterinary technologists and technicians earn the most: veterinary technologists and technicians.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $59,080 |
| New York | $58,830 |
| District of Columbia | $55,900 |
| Virginia | $55,790 |
| California | $55,080 |
| Minnesota | $49,480 |
| Maine | $49,460 |
| Oregon | $48,950 |
| Connecticut | $48,880 |
| New Jersey | $48,630 |
Skills
The most important veterinary technologists and technicians skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Key abilities for veterinary technologists and technicians, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians typically:
- 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.
- Administer emergency first aid, such as performing emergency resuscitation or other life saving procedures.
- Clean and sterilize instruments, equipment, or materials.
- Provide veterinarians with the correct equipment or instruments, as needed.
- Perform dental work, such as cleaning, polishing, or extracting teeth.
- Observe the behavior and condition of animals and monitor their clinical symptoms.
- Give enemas and perform catheterizations, ear flushes, intravenous feedings, or gavages.
Work Activities
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Getting Information
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Handling and Moving Objects
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Microsoft Access
Related Careers
Other careers like veterinary technologists and technicians include:
- Physician Assistants
- Anesthesiologist Assistants
- Veterinarians
- Nurse Anesthetists
- Anesthesiologists
- Emergency Medicine Physicians
Also Known As
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), Veterinarian Technician (Vet Tech), Veterinary Assistant (Vet Assistant), Veterinary Laboratory Technician (Vet Lab Tech), Veterinary Nurse (Vet Nurse), Veterinary Surgery Technician (Vet Surgery Tech).
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 29-2056.00
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