Career Opportunities

Veterinary technicians are in huge demand across the United States. Some studies have shown that there are 6-8 jobs for every 1 technician graduating from an accredited program.

The traditional career of a veterinary technician usually involves going to work in a small animal, large animal or mixed animal veterinary practice. With the emergence of specialties there are many more options to choose from. There are clinics specializing in ophthalmics, orthopedics, equines, exotics and emergency medicine, to name a few, and all of them are hiring both two-year and four-year graduate veterinary technicians.

A Bachelors Degree in Veterinary Technology opens many different opportunities for the veterinary technician. Positions in teaching, industry, research, government, zoos and private business can be obtained. Our students have found rewarding careers in pharmaceutical sales, dog day care ownership, USDA, and teaching in veterinary and veterinary technology programs. These jobs are usually looking for someone with a BS or higher degree.

The Veterinary Technology program at NDSU maintains a "Job Book" in which all announcements are kept and can be viewed by visiting Robinson Hall. There are also a number of web sites dedicated to helping veterinary technicians find jobs. Those sites can be viewed on the NAVTA web site, under Career Development. Click on the navigation button below to go the NAVTA web site.

Salaries are not the best in veterinary medicine. This is true for both the veterinarian and the veterinary technician. The average hourly wage for most new veterinary technology graduates is between $10 and $15 per hour. Depending on the area of the country you plan on living the salaries can be higher or lower. We encourage our students to fill out a comprehensive budget plan, which is provided to them, in order to determine what they need for a salary to make a living. With the shortage of graduate technicians there is enough competition to drive salaries higher and to have some bargaining power if more than one employer is seeking to hire you.