According to the 2016 National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America demographic survey, 55% of veterinary technicians have an associate's degree. However, 30% reportedly have a bachelor's degree and 5.6% a graduate degree.1 Of the 204 AVMA-accredited veterinary technology institutions, only 22 programs offer a 4-year degree program.2
A known shortage of credentialed veterinary technicians exists in the United States. Of those that responded to the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America survey, 78.8% of credentialed veterinary technicians are currently employed in general practice. Of those who are not currently employed in general practice, approximately 45% indicated leaving the veterinary profession. Many reasons were provided for exiting their profession; however, 38% reported insufficient pay as a main reason.1
A study3 on the labor market of VTSs in 2013 looked at VTS salary. Reasons for a higher pay rate as a VTS included male gender, having attended graduate school, > 4 years of experience, supervisory or management roles, employment at an academic or a referral practice, and work location in the northeast region of the United States or outside the United States.
Although information is available for labor market characteristics of a VTS, no information exists regarding salary comparisons of credentialed veterinary technicians with 2-year, 4-year, or graduate degrees. With the rising number of veterinary technicians with 4-year or graduate degrees, the purpose of the study reported here was to compare the salaries of veterinary technicians who have an associate's degree with those of veterinary technicians who have bachelor's or master's degrees.
Materials and Methods
Study design
This research was performed under appropriate institutional review board oversight. In October 2018, credentialed veterinary technicians in the United States were sent a link to participate in a cross-sectional online questionnaire consisting of 14 closed-ended questions (Supplementary Appendix S1, available at: avmajournals.avma.org/doi/suppl/10.2460/javma.257.3.328). The link was sent to veterinary technician associations with instructions on distributing to their membership and state associations, St. Petersburg College veterinary technology students, and the Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians email list. Additional links to the survey were published on various social media sources. Recipients were informed that the study was being conducted by the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. Recipients were instructed that their participation was voluntary, responses were kept confidential, and no identifying information was collected. Survey access was from October to November 2018.
Statistical analysis
Skip logic was used in the survey; therefore, each question had a varying number of responses. Frequency distributions were calculated for all survey questions. The mean pay rate was calculated for each educational degree type (ie, associate's, bachelor's, and master's) by use of the Tukey-Kramer method. A 1-way ANOVA was used to identify significant differences between the salaries of each degree type. To identify whether pay rate was also associated with being a VTS, an F test was performed. Responses from those with certification as a VTS were excluded to determine a difference in mean salary between degree types of those without a VTS certification by use of 1-way ANOVA. A 1-way ANOVA was performed to determine a mean salary difference on the basis of years worked for current employer and a difference between the time spans worked for current employer. A generalized linear model was used to determine the most significant factor affecting wage. All analyses were performed with standard software.a Values of P < 0.05 were considered significant.
Results
A total of 1,289 surveys were completed. As some respondents did not answer every question, the number of respondents varied between questions. Of the respondents, 96% (1,237/1,289) identified themselves as female and 4% (51/1,289) as male. Respondents were from 49 states; only Vermont was not represented. The population base of 1,286 respondents included 14% (179/1,286) metropolitan (population ≥ 1,000,000), 69% (893/1,286) city (population < 1,000,000 but ≥ 10,000), and 17% (214/1,286) rural (population < 10,000). Of all respondents, 8% (99/1,289) were from 20 to 24 years old, 42% (547/1,289) from 25 to 34 years old, 32% (413/1,289) from 35 to 44 years old, 11% (147/1,289) from 45 to 54 years old, and 7% (83/1,289) ≥ 55 years old. Years of reported work experience as a licensed veterinary technician was as follows: 37% (476/1,283) ≤ 5 years, 24% (310/1,283) from 6 to 10 years, 16% (203/1,283) from 11 to 15 years, 8% (97/1,283) from 16 to 19 years, and 15% (197/1,283) ≥ 20 years. Of the respondents, 64% (821/1,286) had been at their current place of employment ≤ 5 years, 17% (224/1,286) from 6 to 10 years, 10% (125/1,286) from 11 to 15 years, 4% (54/1,286) from 16 to 19 years, and 5% (62/1,286) ≥ 20 years.
One-way ANOVA revealed a significant (P < 0.001) difference between each time span at current employer and salary. Mean ± SD hourly wage of those employed ≤ 5 years was $18.86 ± 5.74, from 6 to 10 years was $21.16 ± 5.90, from 11 to 15 years was $23.15 ± 6.48, from 16 to 19 years was $24.70 ± 7.27, and ≥ 20 years was $25.15 ± 7.06.
Approximately half of the respondents were employed in a general veterinary practice (52% [669/1,281]), whereas 30% (379/1,281) were employed in a specialty hospital, 13% (162/1,281) in academia, 2% (35/1,281) in industry, and 3% (36/1,281) in research.
Of the respondents, 88% (1,135/1,287) reported that they graduated from an AVMA-accredited school of veterinary technology, whereas 12% (152/1,287) did not. The highest academic degrees earned by respondents included an associate's degree (57.7% [715/1,240]), bachelor's degree (37.6% [466/1,240]), master's degree (4.6% [57/1,240]), and doctoral degree (0.2% [2/1,240]). Most respondents (85% [1,079/1,275]) reported an academic degree in veterinary technology or an animal-related field. Certification as a VTS included 13% (164/1,283) of respondents. Most respondents were employed full-time (89% [1,138/1,283]), whereas 11% (145/1,283) were employed part-time.
Mean ± SD hourly wage of all respondents was $20.24 ± 6.33. The weighted mean hourly wage of respondents with an associate's degree was $1993, whereas that of those with a bachelor's degree was $22.37 and of those with a master's degree was $27.55. A significant difference (P < 0.001) was shown between and among each of the types of academic degrees.
Respondents with VTS certification included 10% (73/715) of those with an associate degree, 15% (70/466) of those with a bachelor's degree, and 19% (11/57) of those with a master's degree.
The mean ± SD hourly wage for respondents without VTS certification that had an associate's degree was $1910 ± 5.23, a bachelor's degree was $20.20 ± 6.18, and a master's degree was $21.86 ± 8.17 A significant difference in hourly wage was shown between respondents without VTS certification and with an associate's degree or master's degree (95% CI, 0.68 to 4.84) and between respondents without VTS certification and with an associate's degree or with a bachelor's degree (95% CI, 0.23 to 1.96). No significant difference was shown between respondents without VTS certification and with a bachelor's degree or with a master's degree (95% CI, −379 to 0.45).
According to a generalized linear model, factors affecting technician wage were as follows: years of experience as a licensed veterinary technician (F = 40.98; P < 0.001), level of education (F = 16.02; P < 0.001), gender (F = 15.93; P < 0.001), VTS certification (F = 12.66; P < 0.001), and years worked for current employer (F = 2.51; P = 0.041).
Discussion
Results of the present study suggested that factors positively influencing veterinary technician salary include years of experience as a licensed veterinary technician, level of education, gender, VTS certification, and years worked at current employer. From our regression model, a male veterinary technician who has > 16 years of experience with a master's degree and VTS certification would have the greatest chance of being in the highest pay rate category.
In 2016, when veterinary technicians were asked what 3 factors would most likely have a positive effect on their job within the next 5 years, 76% indicated a national standardization of veterinary technology credentials and education, 54% indicated a competitive salary and benefits, and 34% indicated technology advancements.1 When asked what 3 factors would most likely have a negative effect on their job within the next 5 years, 54% indicated low salary and low level of benefits, 41% indicated compassion fatigue, and 39% indicated the economy.1
The academic opportunities for veterinary technicians are similar to those in the human nursing field. Both professions have the option for associate's degree, bachelor's degree, and master's degree programs. A study4 performed in 2018 looked at the salaries of nurses on the basis of highest academic degree and did show that those with higher academic degrees had higher salaries. To our knowledge, no current information exists regarding the benefits for a veterinary technician to pursue higher education. The number of technicians with a bachelor's degree in 2016 increased to 30% from a reported 11% in 2012.1 The number of technicians with an associate's degree in 2016 decreased to 55% from 75% in 2012.1 Because of the amount of work required and the cost of tuition, technicians may choose not to pursue higher education if there is no financial compensation. The purpose of the present study was to compare the impact of an associate's degree with that of a bachelor's or a master's degree on salary accrual of veterinary technicians.
The limitations of the present study relate to it being a cross-sectional survey. Distribution of the survey proved to be difficult. A link to the survey was sent to every state association that had an email address that could be accessed online. Because one of the authors received a bachelor's degree from St. Petersburg College, an invitation link was emailed to those instructors for distribution on the college email list. The link was also posted on social media platforms and shared with many veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and veterinary technician associations. The Hawthorne effect should be considered when conducting a survey, as it has been shown that people may alter their responses to questions because of knowledge of survey participation. Survey respondents in the present study were kept confidential and no identifying information was obtained in attempts to minimize the potential Hawthorne effect.
Survey respondents in the present study appeared to be broadly representative of the veterinary technician population. Most were female, as are most graduates of veterinary technology programs. Most respondents were between the ages of 25 and 54 years old. Surveys were completed by technicians from all parts of the United States. Approximately 61% of respondents had from 0 to 10 years of experience as a veterinary technician, with approximately 80% of respondents being with their current employer from 0 to 10 years.
Of the respondents, 88.2% indicated that they graduated from an AVMA-accredited veterinary technology institute. It is probable that the roughly 12% who did not graduate from an AVMA-accredited veterinary technology institute received their credentials through on-the-job training or from an institution outside the United States. Although most respondents of the present study had an associate's degree (57.7%), many also had a bachelor's degree (37.6%), and few had a master's degree (4.6%). This suggests that the number of veterinary technicians in the United States with a bachelor's or master's degree is on the rise.
The present study did show that individuals with VTS certification often also have an advanced degree. Therefore, responses from technicians with VTS certification were excluded, and the mean salaries of respondents with each degree type were calculated. The mean salary levels of all 3 degree types was lower when respondents with VTS certification were excluded, indicating higher wages earned for those with VTS certification. Nonetheless, this study showed a significant difference in salaries for technicians without VTS certification between having an associate's degree and a bachelor's degree and also between having an associate's degree and a master's degree. This would indicate that obtaining a bachelor's degree as a veterinary technician may be a good financial investment, regardless of whether the veterinary technician has VTS certification.
A prior study3 evaluating the labor market for VTSs showed that having attended graduate school did increase the odds of being in a higher pay rate category. The results of our study support these findings and indicate that VTSs are likely to also have academic degrees beyond an associate's degree. Additionally, those with advanced academic degrees had higher salaries.
Results of the present study may encourage veterinary technicians to pursue an advanced degree and VTS certification. This study evaluated mainly the financial aspects of receiving a higher academic degree, but there are other advantages of having an advanced degree, such as increased job responsibilities and opportunities to educate others in the veterinary field. Online access to degree-granting institutions allows more opportunities for veterinary technicians to obtain advanced degrees. These opportunities increase the value of veterinary technicians in veterinary medicine.
Acknowledgments
No external funding was used in this study. The authors declare that there were no conflicts of interest.
The authors thank Dr. Suhwon Lee for assistance with statistical analysis and Mitchell Diepeveen for technical assistance.
ABBREVIATIONS
| VTS | Veterinary technician specialist |
Footnotes
SAS software, version 9.4, SAS Institute Inc, Cary, NC.
References
1. National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America. NAVTA 2016 demographic survey. Available at: cdn.ymaws.com/www.navta.net/resource/resmgr/docs/2016_demographic_results.pdf. Accessed Aug 15, 2018.
2. AVMA Veterinary technology programs accredited by the AVMA CVTEA. Available at: www.avma.org/ProfessionalDevelopment/Education/Accreditation/Programs/Pages/vettech-programs-all-programs-list.aspx. Accessed Jan 30, 2019.
3. Norkus CL, Liss DJ, Leighton LS. Characteristics of the labor market for veterinary technician specialists in 2013. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2016;248:105–109.
4. Editors of Nursing2018. Nursing2018 salary and benefits survey report. Nursing 2018;48:18–24.
