Most Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians programs take two years to complete. Graduates start earning $36,814 right after finishing, climbing to $44,115 four years out.
About Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians
This page covers Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Agriculture and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians is a focused area of study within Agriculture. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $44,115 four years out, a modest return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 292 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 8,257 students complete it each year, most walking away with a associate's. Training is practical and skills-based, with a fast path from classroom to job site.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$36,814
Median Earnings · 4yr
$44,115
Colleges Offering
292
Graduates / Year
8,257
Avg Net Price / yr
$18,627
How Much Do Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians, a typical graduate earns $44,115, significantly below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $34,938 and $57,581, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Source: College Scorecard.
Earnings in this field tend to be stable early on. Expect the four-year median to closely reflect your long-term starting point.
$44,115
4-Year National Median
Significantly below average. Graduate credentials or high-demand roles can raise this considerably.
$41,690
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Region and union membership drive the gap more than any other factor. Union jobs in high-cost metros pay significantly more than non-union positions elsewhere.
$34,93825th pct.
$44,115Median
$57,58175th pct.
Understanding the Cost vs. Return
At median 4-year earnings of $44,115 and an estimated $74,508 four-year net cost, earnings breakeven against a baseline wage takes approximately 5.3 years. Compare specific programs before committing to a high-cost option.
Based on outcomes from 30 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 8,257 students who complete Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians programs each year, the majority (71%) earn a associate's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
22%71%
Associate's71%
Certificate22%
Bachelor's7%
What Can You Do With a Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians graduates show up in 2 different occupations, and Health Specialties Teachers pay the most at $107,310/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Active ListeningCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionSpeakingWriting
Day-to-day responsibilities
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.
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.
Top Colleges for Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians
Not sure where to study Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Agriculture Programs
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians is not the only path through Agriculture: 18 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
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Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians Degree: Pros & Cons
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians carries financial trade-offs prospective students should weigh carefully. The 2 strengths and 3 concerns below are drawn from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts.
PROS
Fast-growing fieldRelated careers are projected to grow up to +17.9% over the next decade, with Health Specialties Teachers among the fastest-growing roles.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 38,300 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
CONS
Below-average earningsFour-year median of $44,115 falls below the national median for bachelor's degree holders.
Licensure often requiredMany positions in this field require trade licenses, certifications, or apprenticeship completion. These add time and cost beyond the academic credential.
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians graduates earn?
$44,115 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $34,938 and $57,581, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians degree?
$36,814 in the first year out. That grows to $44,115 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians degree?
Health Specialties Teachers are one path, and it pays a median of $107,310 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians program take?
Two years full-time at a community college for a Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians associate degree. Many students use it as a stepping stone, transferring to a four-year school afterward to finish a bachelor's.
How many colleges offer Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians?
292 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians degree worth it?
$44,115 median earnings four years out against $18,627 a year in average net price. That is a slow payback, so cost matters more than usual here: a cheaper school changes the answer. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians and Agriculture?
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians is the narrower of the two: Agriculture covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians graduates consistently look for technical proficiency, safety compliance, and hands-on problem-solving. Certifications, apprenticeships, and demonstrated practical experience typically carry as much weight as academic credentials in this field. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
What is the job outlook for Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians graduates?
Outlook is strong overall: related occupations average +13.7% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Health Specialties Teachers are among the strongest-growth roles at +17.9%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
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