by our College Data Analytics TeamFind out the key facts every veterinary/animal health technology/technician and veterinary assistant. major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering veterinary/animal health technology/technician and veterinary assistant. programs.
Across the country, veterinary/animal health technology/technician and veterinary assistant. is a widely-pursued major, with 9,026 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant. Schools ranking analyzes these 273 schools to determine the best overall colleges for veterinary/animal health technology/technician and veterinary assistant. students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of veterinary/animal health technology/technician and veterinary assistant. programs later in this article.
Coursework for Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant. emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations veterinary/animal health technology/technician and veterinary assistant. graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a veterinary/animal health technology/technician and veterinary assistant. program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a veterinary/animal health technology/technician and veterinary assistant. major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several veterinary/animal health technology/technician and veterinary assistant. 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 | 4,317 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 513 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,563 |
People currently working in careers related to veterinary/animal health technology/technician and veterinary assistant. tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 38.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 13.8% |
| Master’s degree | 10.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 10.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 9.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 5.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.6% |
| Some college courses | 4.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in veterinary/animal health technology/technician and veterinary assistant. careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying veterinary/animal health technology/technician and veterinary assistant. opens doors to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to veterinary/animal health technology/technician and veterinary assistant..
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to veterinary/animal health technology/technician and veterinary assistant..
| 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% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of veterinary/animal health technology/technician and veterinary assistant. graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 technology/technician and veterinary assistant. graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers veterinary/animal health technology/technician and veterinary assistant. 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 273 different veterinary/animal health technology/technician and veterinary assistant. programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased veterinary/animal health technology/technician and veterinary assistant. school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in veterinary/animal health technology/technician and veterinary assistant., you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians, Other | 25 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
