Readers Respond: Are vet tech salaries representative of the level of training & responsibility?

The subject of veterinary technician salaries is a hotly debated topic on this site. Is love of animals enough? Factoring in the cost of a formal vet tech education (versus on-the-job training), is this a career with adequate income for the level of training and responsibility?

You are invited to post your thoughts and experiences here. Think of this as your own mini-article.

Please note: questions or responses to others cannot be published. All entries are moderated prior to appearing live on the site.

In Respect of the Profession

As more and more Vet Techs are required to be licensed, their salaries should be commensurate! I put the Vet Tech on a par with at least an LPN, if not an RN in the human side of medicine. People nurses make a fair amount of money these days and are desperately needed! I think, as veterinary medicine progresses in the amount and type of care given, compensation to the givers of care should be as high as their knowledge base. It is only fair. Of course, veterinarians themselves do not make a heck of a lot; most are in it for the love of animals as well and have incurred many years' worth of university bills. It's a pity we can't have veterinary and vet tech professions on a par with the human medical and nursing professions, salary-wise. Perhaps it will happen sooner than later. Workers, unite!

—Guest Katma

So what should we do?

I agree with all the statements above. I have worked for and volunteered for an animal shelter. I left there for a job as a dental assistant. I hated it...I've been doing that for over 7 years now. I like it a little better but the best job i ever had was at the shelter. Even though it wasn't glamorous and I made barely over minimum wage that's what I love. I grew up with animals and I always wanted to be a vet, but the schooling is so long. I looked into being a vet tech or a zoo keeper but both careers seemed to require more schooling and I would be making much less then what I was making having no degree. So here I am I know I want to go to college. I love learning, love animals, should I bite the bullet and put the rest of my life on hold and become a vet? That's over 10 years of schooling all tolled up...Or do I sell out and become a nurse. I guess my point is the economy sucks and we're left with the question do I hate my job and pay the bills? Or do I love what I do?

—allykay84

Career changes might nicely surprise you

No, salaries are not representative training and responsibility. Look at salaries/benefits of L/RVTs across the industry. That was a lecture in tech school I never forgot, illustrated impactfully with a simple grid--salary & benefits were 2 columns; PP, Univ & Industry were the rows. The info filled in told the story--PP bottom of salary AND benefits, then Univ, then Indust on the top. Young me swore I'd never be in Univ or Indust, but being a self-supporting single and living paycheck to paycheck got to me. A post-grad professor inspired me to apply for a RVT industry position and I've had a long successful career there, much to my initial surprise. I no longer do RVT work there, but moved to another position there where my science background, technical and critical thinking skills are reapplied--it's been a wonderful growth experience...& a great salary/benefits. YES, I miss full-time PP but still work in PP enough to compensate for that loss. --RVT, Ohio

—Guest KaBooM

Bi-polar vet + no money= Hating Job

I always wanted to be a Veterinary sine I've been very little, but never thought I could do it because I come from a middle class family. I'am eighteen years old and been working as a Vet Tech for a year and going to school. I love working with Animals but I can't stand my boss (who has a big ego and bi-polar). If this is how it's going to be and make no money. I might just go to another profession.

—Guest WhatdoIdo

Sad the pay is so minimal

As a volunteer at an animal shelter I would very much like to become a vet tech. However, seeing that the salary for a college educated medical assistant is barely more than what someone earns running the cash register at the local mini-mart it hardly seems worth it.

—Guest ScooterGirl

What u love vs. how much money u need

My perspective is... a RVT who has been licensed for about two years. In the last five years I have worked at 3 different practices. I find that it is hard for clinics to keep RVTs b/c of the balance between love and money. Personally I love to learn new things, I like to get the opportunity to place IV catheters because I am capable and it makes things run smoother if the doctor is with a client. I put learning in the love category, the more I get to learn on the job that happier I am. Money is...well important as well and there has to be a balance between how much I love working at a particular clinic. Things that effect RVT decisions to work at a clinic are not only salary but; benefits, like CE allowances and health insurance. I also find that sometimes my questions and aren't taken seriously by doctors and other office staff b/c I am a "newbie" and they kind of think of me as just an RVT...like a veterinary technology degree and passing the VTNE are not my credentials.

—lcrvt

this is the big question

I'm at a crossroads and need to decide what to do. Do I follow my passion and get registered and spend all that money I dont have only to make nothing? Or do I go to human medicine and try for RT and make a lot more in a profession I know nothing about? uhg And what if I get my registration here in OH then move? I have to do it all over again?humf

—Guest cat

No way!

When compared to the human medical field, both DVM's & Techs (registered, licensed, or certified) are certainly not financially compensated with respect to the amount of education acquired and work that is performed on a daily basis. I know that with my bachelor degree (that I still pay for) I can make a higher salary if I "sell out" and work in another industry, even medicine, but I do not have the compassion and patience for people as I do with animals. I love working as a vet tech even though the salary is not what it should be. When I feel frustrated about the inadequate income, I remind myself that I am not doing it for the money and I would not enjoy a desk job! Of course, working with awesome doctors that value your hard work and dedication makes a hugh difference. My advice: follow your heart, it's never too late to make a career change for a dream job that you would be happy with and proud of. Just don't expect to get rich doing it.

—Guest Frustrated RVT

Love and Money Can Exist

If you are married to a person who makes a better living, you can be happy in this field. That does not state you will not be frustrated by the lack of compensation received for the job you love, it just gives you another insight. I would be living in a tent with the amount of money I earn per month if my husband was not the bread winner in the family. In fact, I am still paying on my college education that was completed in 1993. Graduating and taking on a position in a large animal facilty;, then having to pay rent, utilities, car, car insurance, gas, food, student loans, clothing, medical and any other incidental that would pop up...was a huge slap of reality in my face back in 1993. Unmarried, debt mounting...credit cards became the temp. fix. Over the years, the salary has not improved on my end; however, getting married and learning to consolidate and doing without(a lot) got me to where I am today. Still in the field, still love the field...but still living hand to mouth.

—Guest Melanie, LVT

it seems so far out of reach

I'm planning on attending college to become a vet tech, but it all seems so far out of reach... and is the pay really good enough? Will I be able to live off of my income, or will I be struggling? I want a good paying job, but at the same time I want to love my job. I have a passion for animals... always have, always will. Maybe its something I'm going to have to do on the side to make ends meet. The way the economy is, it's extremely hard to find a good paying job let alone a job you actually like. I want to be a vet tech and work my way up to be a vet, but that's going to take many years of hard work. My question is, will it pay off in the long run?

—Guest jess sheley

High School student wanting to be a VT

I'm curently in high school and have decided I want to be a Vet Technician. I used to want to be a vet but changed my mind cuz I preferred the duties of the VT.The only reason I am still considering Vet IS because of the salary difference. I adore animals and they are everything to me, but if I can't live with a VT's salary, is it worth it? I think so but I'm still not sure. Its a very hard decision to make. And I agree that VT's are very important and should make a much better salary. Without them, where would we be????

—Guest Vanessa

If you ask for it, it will come

This is only occasionally stated on boards like this one, so I just wanted to remind everyone out there who is a little discouraged. IF YOU ASK FOR IT, YOU VERY WELL MAY GET IT! But too many techs, and when I say techs, I mean in Ohio a registered veterinary technician who has attended an AVMA accredited school and passed the board exam, think "the norm" is $13 dollars an hour here out of school. I started at $15. I was offered $13 initially but at two separate clinics I said I would take no less then $15/hr and both offered it to me benefits (401k, CE, uniforms, health ins., vacat., holiday pay, etc.) One clinic, on the otherhand, did not offer me more then $13 and their benefit package was dismal to say the least. The DVM's there were also underpaid, with new grads making less then the previous years new grad average. So, my point is, if you don't think you are worth more money and you don't ask for it, then who in their right mind is just going to give you more?

—Guest Adrienne RVT

From a Client's perspective

I hope my response is allowed, as a voice from 'the other side'. I've spent an inordinate amount of time at vet clinics, with several of my cats with severe illnesses including cancer (3 cats, 3 types, w/chemo, radiation, surgery), pancreatitis, severe IBD w/megacolon & severe allergy component, HCM progressing to RCM with CHF & danger of thromboembolism at any moment, liver disease w/strange progression of large, growing, fluid-filled cyst to fibrous, many-chambered, blood & tissue tumor, intramedullary lesion w/hind end paralysis, FIP, and severe asthma. 90% of the techs I've worked with at specialty clinics (that's all I can use now..) have been exceptional..the other 10% have been "merely" great. These nurses are highly skilled trauma nurses, and neither my cats nor I could've made it without them. I don't know their salaries, but they don't drive fancy cars or buy homes on their own, so IMO they're not making the amount of money they should be. They're gold, and I love them.

—Moizme

Not nearly enough

Veterinary Technicians are not just assistants anymore, we've attended college, we've earned degrees. In human medicine we would be requred degrees or at least separate training in many disciplines; medical and surgical nursing, surgical assistant, radiologist, nutritionist, dental hygienist, laboratory technician, anesthetist, phlebotomist, behaviorist, did I forget any? We work 12 hours a day, six days a week for $25,000 a year? That's barely enough to pay living expenses, lets don't even talk about $40,000 in student loans. Where's the respect I ask you? At least, my Vets never leave for the day without saying "thanks".

—mswilma

In Most Cases...No

In my point of view, most of the time VTs do NOT make the appropriate salaries for the amount of work they do. There ARE, of course, exceptions. But as a general rule, it's most likely not the case. Imagine a veterinary clinic with NO techs! What would that look like? I think that should be taken into consideration. VTs run the operation for the most part from daily care to prep and client education. At most of the clinics where I worked, VTs discharged patients unless the client ASKED for a vet. VTs did all prep and clean up day in and day out. Were we paid for THAT amount of work? Not really. I did it for experience while going to college but if I had to make a living being a VT, well, let's just say that's why I don't work as a VT anymore.

—Guest Sarah

i'm just a student

hello what a topic,huh? I'm not sure yet because I'm only a student, but if your love for animals is strong enough yea,i do believe that you could balance it,as long as you remember that your not doing it for the money. I'm doing it because I love cats and I hate to see them suffer. lori

—felinedoctobe