Significance

• The overall salary for veterinary technicians varies widely. Factors influencing salary include type and length of education, hands-on experience, location, the type of practice you wish to work in, any merits or honors accorded to you and prior work or volunteer experience. The United States Bureau of Labor statistics quotes the average annual salary of veterinary technicians at $28,900 as of May 2008. The top 10 percent earn more than $41,490, while the bottom 10 percent earn less than $19,770.
  
  

Training

• There are 80 institutions of higher learning accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) for veterinary technology. Of those 80 schools, only 12 offer 4-year degrees earning students a Bachelor of Science degree (BS). The rest offer an Associate of Applied Science degree (AAS). Students earning a 4-year degree often secure higher wages immediately after graduation and the passing of the credentialing exams set forth by their state, according to the AVMA. Those with a 4-year degree can expect to see starting wages around $30,000 a year, according to "The Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians."
  
  

Factors

• Other factors influencing the starting pay of a veterinary technician include prior hands-on experience, geographic location and place of employment. Veterinary technicians working in research or laboratory environments make slightly more, on average, than those working in small animal practices. Recently graduated veterinary technicians living in urban areas and working with research animals can expect to see rates around $23,000 annually, according to the National Association of Veterinary Technicians of America (NAVTA) as of 2008. Those living in more rural areas or working in companion animal practices can expect a starting pay around $20,000 yearly.
  
  

Considerations

• The rate of employment for veterinary technicians is relatively stable, even in times of economic depression, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Owing to the fact that animals always need care, job security is relatively stable in the field of veterinary technology. Salaries may rise and fall with the number of available veterinary technicians in the country. As more vet techs leave the workplace in favor of more lucrative opportunities in other fields, the demand for veterinary technicians rises, as does the starting pay.
  
  

Potential

• It is possible to earn a high starting salary without changing your intended field of work and geographic location. Consider earning a specialty from one of the schools credentialed by NAVTA. Specialties qualify veterinary technicians as experts within a certain field of veterinary medicine, such as surgical assisting or equine care. Increased knowledge means an increased salary, according to the "Veterinary Receptionist's Handbook." Earn any hands-on experience you can via volunteer work with a humane society, shelter or other animal care facility. Like knowledge, an increase in experience means a higher starting salary and shows potential employers your dedication to your job.