by our College Data Analytics TeamLearn the essential details every veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians programs.
Nationwide, veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians draws strong interest, with 9,051 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians Schools ranking analyzes these 274 schools to determine the best overall colleges for veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians programs later in this article.
Coursework for Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1,600 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 4,341 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 514 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,563 |
People currently working in careers related to veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 44.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 15.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 11.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 7.3% |
| Master’s degree | 6.1% |
| Some college courses | 5.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 4.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 3.2% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians opens doors to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | 1,855,145 | -4.7% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | 1,136,691 | 13.0% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $30,096 |
| 4 years | $32,594 |
| 5 years | $36,273 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $48,340 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $47,148 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 274 different veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians school rankings to help you.
Those considering veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant | 9,026 |
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians, Other | 25 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Business and Management | 8,612 |
| Animal Sciences | 8,295 |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | 4,164 |
| Veterinary Medicine | 3,756 |
| Agricultural Production Operations | 3,608 |
| Agriculture, General | 3,276 |
| Plant Sciences | 3,261 |
| Food Science and Technology | 2,269 |
| Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services | 1,424 |
| Agricultural Mechanization | 1,378 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
