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Veterinary Technologists and Technicians in Kentucky

Considering working as a Veterinary Technologists and Technicians in Kentucky? Below are the key facts. 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.

What do Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Make in Kentucky?

For a veterinary technologists and technicians working in Kentucky, wages run about $37,180 per year (or about $17.87/hour).Earnings range from $28,240 at the 10th percentile to $47,200 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$28,240	$13.58
25th percentile	$31,780	$15.28
Median (50th)	$37,180	$17.87
75th percentile	$41,910	$20.15
90th percentile	$47,200	$22.69

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Kentucky relative to the national average — is 1.17, suggesting that veterinary technologists and technicians are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, veterinary technologists and technicians earn a median of $47,148 per year ($22.67/hour), lower than the Kentucky median.

Employment Outlook

National employment for 1,946,495 veterinary technologists and technicians across the United States. In Kentucky alone, around 1,980 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 1,780 veterinary technologists and technicians.

Top Kentucky Metros for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

The largest metro-area employers of veterinary technologists and technicians in Kentucky.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Lexington-Fayette, KY	580	$38,250
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	580	$37,510
Bowling Green, KY	70	$31,500
Paducah, KY-IL	40	$35,560
Owensboro, KY	30	$36,150

Top States for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Employment

View the states that employ the most veterinary technologists and technicians work.

State	Number Employed
Texas	16,170
California	11,380
Florida	10,130
Pennsylvania	5,840
New York	5,480
Illinois	4,840
Ohio	4,720
Minnesota	4,320
Colorado	3,990
Massachusetts	3,900
North Carolina	3,650
New Jersey	3,500
Arizona	3,390
Georgia	3,280
Maryland	3,090
Michigan	2,880
Wisconsin	2,860
Virginia	2,800
Indiana	2,340
Tennessee	2,270

Highest-Paying States for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

These states pay the most for veterinary technologists and technicians.

State	Annual Median Salary
Washington	$59,080
New York	$58,830
District of Columbia	$55,900
Virginia	$55,790
California	$55,080
Minnesota	$49,480
Maine	$49,460
Oregon	$48,950
Connecticut	$48,880
New Jersey	$48,630

Skills

The most important veterinary technologists and technicians skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Key abilities for veterinary technologists and technicians, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

• 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.
• Perform laboratory tests on blood, urine, or feces, such as urinalyses or blood counts, to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of animal health problems.
• Prepare and administer medications, vaccines, serums, or treatments, as prescribed by veterinarians.
• Restrain animals during exams or procedures.
• Administer emergency first aid, such as performing emergency resuscitation or other life saving procedures.
• Clean and sterilize instruments, equipment, or materials.
• Provide veterinarians with the correct equipment or instruments, as needed.
• Perform dental work, such as cleaning, polishing, or extracting teeth.
• Observe the behavior and condition of animals and monitor their clinical symptoms.
• Give enemas and perform catheterizations, ear flushes, intravenous feedings, or gavages.

Work Activities

• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Assisting and Caring for Others
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Getting Information
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Handling and Moving Objects

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Access

Related Careers

Careers similar to veterinary technologists and technicians include:

• Physician Assistants
• Anesthesiologist Assistants
• Veterinarians
• Nurse Anesthetists
• Anesthesiologists
• Emergency Medicine Physicians

Also Known As

Animal Care Technician (Animal Care Tech), Animal Health Technician (Animal Health Tech), Animal Technician (Animal Tech), Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT), Emergency Veterinary Technician (Emergency Vet Tech), Internal Medicine Veterinary Technician (Internal Medicine Vet Tech), Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT), Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT), Swine Technician (Swine Tech), Veterinarian Lab Technician (Veterinary Lab Tech), Veterinarian Technician (Vet Tech), Veterinary Assistant (Vet Assistant), Veterinary Laboratory Technician (Vet Lab Tech), Veterinary Nurse (Vet Nurse), Veterinary Surgery Technician (Vet Surgery Tech).

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 29-2056.00