Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Draws blood, runs urinalysis and blood counts, and prepares tissue samples so a veterinarian can diagnose and treat animals. Work with live animals often includes giving medications and vaccines, restraining them during exams, administering anesthesia and watching how they respond, and caring for them after surgery. Instruments are cleaned and sterilized, and controlled drugs must be inventoried and logged. Emergency first aid, including resuscitation, can come up. Suits people who like mixed lab and hands-on animal work and following directions when an animal needs emergency care.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$47'380
Median Wage Market Position
$47'380
What you might do
- Run lab tests on blood, urine, or stool
- Give anesthesia and watch how animals respond
- Prepare and give prescribed medicines and vaccines
- Hold animals still during exams and procedures
- Care for animals recovering from surgery
- Keep logs of tightly regulated drugs on hand
Skills that matter
- Watching animals under anesthesia
- Blood, urine, and fecal lab tests
- Controlled-drug inventory and log books
- Prescribed vaccines, serums, and treatments
- Safe restraint during exams
- Emergency first aid and resuscitation
AI & the future of this role
Hands-on animal restraint, sample collection, surgery assist, and clinic care depend on tactile skill and calm handling. Lab analyzers and records software may speed routine tests, but veterinary demand and in-person care still protect most of this work.
Does Veterinary Technologists and Technicians fit your values?
Take the free LostInCareer assessment to see personalized matches based on your core values—not just a personality label.
Related careers
Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details