See table for salaries.
Average Veterinary & Animal Health Technologist & Technician Salary in Canada
The table below details the hourly wages for Veterinary and Animal Health Technologists and Technicians.
The Canadian national occupation classification code (NOC) for this role is 3213.
Job titles and exact duties vary in this occupation and examples of some job titles are: veterinary technician, veterinary technologist, veterinary assistant and animal care technician.
According to the latest figures, the highest hourly average (median) wages are earned in Alberta at $22.78 per hour and the lowest average (median) wages are earned in Vancouver / Lower Mainland – British Columbia at $16.00 per hour.
A typical full-time annual salary for this occupation is in the region of $32,000 – $45,000.
Employment prospects for veterinary and animal health technologists and technicians are fair in Canada. The government forecasts that the arrival of new medical technologies and techniques, as well as the introduction of more advanced equipment, will require more technologists. However This occupational grouping is extremely popular among school leavers, creating a surplus of workers.
Average Hourly (Median) Wages for Veterinary & Animal Health Technologists & Technicians in Canada
| Calgary – Alberta*(1) | 15.19 | 22.78 | 25.00 | 2019 |
| Edmonton – Alberta*(1) | 15.19 | 22.78 | 25.00 | 2019 |
| Vancouver / Lower Mainland – British Columbia | 14.00 | 16.00 | 20.89 | 2018 |
| Winnipeg – Manitoba(1) | 13.00 | 18.50 | 35.90 | 2018 |
| Fredericton / Oromocto – New Brunswick(3) | 13.70 | 18.00 | 25.30 | 2018 |
| Halifax – Nova Scotia | 12.69 | 16.15 | 49.23 | 2018 |
| Toronto – Ontario | 14.00 | 19.00 | 20.00 | 2018 |
| Ottawa – Ontario | 14.00 | 16.75 | 22.00 | 2018 |
| Kitchener / Waterloo / Barrie – Ontario | 14.00 | 17.50 | 25.96 | 2018 |
| London – Ontario | 14.00 | 17.50 | 25.96 | 2018 |
| Prince Edward Island | 15.00 | 18.50 | 25.64 | 2018 |
| Montreal – Quebec | 12.50 | 16.40 | 23.08 | 2018 |
| Saskatoon / Biggar – Saskatchewan | 14.50 | 18.00 | 23.48 | 2018 |
Methodology
Examples of veterinary and animal health technologists’ and technicians’ duties:
›› Providing nursing care for animals
›› Handling, restraining and caring for animals undergoing treatment
›› Taking and developing x-rays, collecting blood samples
›› Assisting during surgical operations including monitoring the anaesthetic
Comparison with employment group
The 2020 full-time average hourly wage rate for technical occupations in health, which includes veterinary and animal health technologists and technicians, is $29.87. The 2020 corresponding median weekly wage rate is $1,094 giving an approximate full-time annual salary for this employment sector of $57,000.
Licensing
Registration with provincial animal health technologists’ or veterinary technicians’/technologists’ associations is mandatory in some provinces.
Number In Employment
There are over 20,000 animal health technologists and veterinary technicians / technologists working in Canada.
These occupations may also be of interest:
Dental Assistants
Dental Technologists
Medical Laboratory Technicians
Medical Laboratory Technologists
Nurse Aides/Orderlies
Veterinarians
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
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Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021
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.
National estimates for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
Industry profile for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
Geographic profile for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
National estimates for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians:
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians:
| 118,670 | 1.4 % | $ 18.39 | $ 38,250 | 0.4 % |
Percentile wage estimates for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians:
| Hourly Wage | $ 13.64 | $ 14.33 | $ 17.72 | $ 21.99 | $ 23.13 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $ 28,370 | $ 29,810 | $ 36,850 | $ 45,750 | $ 48,100 |
Industry profile for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians:
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Veterinary Technologists and Technicians, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in Veterinary Technologists and Technicians:
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 109,620 | 14.38 | $ 18.14 | $ 37,720 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 2,990 | 0.10 | $ 21.79 | $ 45,310 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | 1,850 | 0.83 | $ 17.50 | $ 36,390 |
| Other Personal Services | 1,020 | 0.34 | $ 18.49 | $ 38,470 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 1,010 | 0.13 | $ 27.14 | $ 56,450 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Veterinary Technologists and Technicians:
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 109,620 | 14.38 | $ 18.14 | $ 37,720 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | 1,850 | 0.83 | $ 17.50 | $ 36,390 |
| Other Personal Services | 1,020 | 0.34 | $ 18.49 | $ 38,470 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 1,010 | 0.13 | $ 27.14 | $ 56,450 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | 170 | 0.13 | $ 21.61 | $ 44,950 |
Top paying industries for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians:
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 140 | 0.04 | $ 31.11 | $ 64,720 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 1,010 | 0.13 | $ 27.14 | $ 56,450 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | 510 | 0.02 | $ 26.92 | $ 55,990 |
| Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) | 610 | 0.01 | $ 21.86 | $ 45,470 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 2,990 | 0.10 | $ 21.79 | $ 45,310 |
Geographic profile for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians:
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Veterinary Technologists and Technicians, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in Veterinary Technologists and Technicians:
| Texas | 13,910 | 1.14 | 1.35 | $ 15.88 | $ 33,040 |
| California | 9,350 | 0.57 | 0.67 | $ 21.70 | $ 45,140 |
| Florida | 8,580 | 1.00 | 1.18 | $ 17.23 | $ 35,840 |
| Pennsylvania | 5,370 | 0.96 | 1.14 | $ 18.11 | $ 37,670 |
| New York | 5,100 | 0.59 | 0.70 | $ 21.90 | $ 45,560 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Veterinary Technologists and Technicians:
| Colorado | 3,800 | 1.45 | 1.72 | $ 19.22 | $ 39,980 |
| New Hampshire | 900 | 1.41 | 1.68 | $ 19.90 | $ 41,390 |
| Montana | 620 | 1.32 | 1.56 | $ 15.86 | $ 32,980 |
| Maine | 770 | 1.30 | 1.54 | $ 18.74 | $ 38,990 |
| Minnesota | 3,450 | 1.26 | 1.50 | $ 19.11 | $ 39,740 |
Top paying states for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians:
| District of Columbia | 160 | 0.24 | 0.29 | $ 32.75 | $ 68,110 |
| Washington | 2,730 | 0.85 | 1.01 | $ 22.86 | $ 47,550 |
| New York | 5,100 | 0.59 | 0.70 | $ 21.90 | $ 45,560 |
| California | 9,350 | 0.57 | 0.67 | $ 21.70 | $ 45,140 |
| Connecticut | 1,790 | 1.14 | 1.35 | $ 21.34 | $ 44,380 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Veterinary Technologists and Technicians:
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 5,030 | 0.58 | 0.69 | $ 22.31 | $ 46,410 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 3,890 | 1.08 | 1.29 | $ 16.52 | $ 34,360 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 3,260 | 0.77 | 0.91 | $ 21.44 | $ 44,600 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 3,180 | 1.10 | 1.30 | $ 16.25 | $ 33,800 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,990 | 0.52 | 0.62 | $ 20.76 | $ 43,180 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 2,620 | 0.99 | 1.17 | $ 19.68 | $ 40,930 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | 2,510 | 0.97 | 1.15 | $ 21.31 | $ 44,320 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 2,460 | 1.35 | 1.60 | $ 19.82 | $ 41,220 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | 2,350 | 1.11 | 1.32 | $ 17.77 | $ 36,950 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 2,030 | 0.69 | 0.82 | $ 22.72 | $ 47,260 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Veterinary Technologists and Technicians:
| Ithaca, NY | 190 | 4.02 | 4.78 | (8) | (8) |
| Manhattan, KS | 130 | 3.37 | 4.00 | $ 19.90 | $ 41,390 |
| Fort Collins, CO | 440 | 2.75 | 3.26 | $ 19.17 | $ 39,880 |
| Corvallis, OR | 100 | 2.74 | 3.25 | $ 22.87 | $ 47,580 |
| Ames, IA | 120 | 2.59 | 3.08 | $ 18.95 | $ 39,420 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | 80 | 2.52 | 3.00 | $ 15.68 | $ 32,610 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | 120 | 2.52 | 2.99 | $ 17.29 | $ 35,970 |
| Prescott, AZ | 160 | 2.40 | 2.85 | $ 16.78 | $ 34,910 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | 210 | 2.31 | 2.74 | $ 19.20 | $ 39,940 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 590 | 2.30 | 2.73 | $ 16.19 | $ 33,680 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians:
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 470 | 0.44 | 0.52 | $ 27.88 | $ 57,990 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 1,230 | 0.55 | 0.65 | $ 25.11 | $ 52,220 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 140 | 1.52 | 1.80 | $ 24.68 | $ 51,340 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,590 | 0.83 | 0.98 | $ 24.00 | $ 49,920 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 250 | 1.31 | 1.56 | $ 23.23 | $ 48,320 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT | 440 | 1.17 | 1.39 | $ 22.89 | $ 47,600 |
| Corvallis, OR | 100 | 2.74 | 3.25 | $ 22.87 | $ 47,580 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 2,030 | 0.69 | 0.82 | $ 22.72 | $ 47,260 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 5,030 | 0.58 | 0.69 | $ 22.31 | $ 46,410 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 70 | 1.53 | 1.82 | $ 22.27 | $ 46,320 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Veterinary Technologists and Technicians:
| North Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 390 | 1.45 | 1.73 | $ 14.13 | $ 29,380 |
| Kansas nonmetropolitan area | 360 | 0.96 | 1.14 | $ 16.27 | $ 33,840 |
| Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 320 | 1.69 | 2.00 | $ 14.49 | $ 30,130 |
| North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | 310 | 0.97 | 1.16 | $ 16.79 | $ 34,920 |
| Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | 270 | 1.49 | 1.77 | $ 18.44 | $ 38,360 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Veterinary Technologists and Technicians:
| Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 2.24 | 2.65 | $ 20.26 | $ 42,130 |
| Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | 190 | 1.91 | 2.27 | $ 16.34 | $ 33,980 |
| West Montana nonmetropolitan area | 150 | 1.90 | 2.26 | $ 15.60 | $ 32,460 |
| Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 320 | 1.69 | 2.00 | $ 14.49 | $ 30,130 |
| Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | 120 | 1.65 | 1.96 | $ 16.71 | $ 34,760 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians:
| Nevada nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 0.57 | 0.68 | $ 22.56 | $ 46,930 |
| Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | 110 | 1.20 | 1.42 | $ 22.37 | $ 46,520 |
| Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.70 | 0.83 | $ 21.82 | $ 45,390 |
| Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | 100 | 0.82 | 0.97 | $ 20.89 | $ 43,460 |
| Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 1.20 | 1.42 | $ 20.87 | $ 43,410 |
About May 2021 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OEWS estimates and related information:
May 2021 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 Occupation Profiles
Technical Notes
Last Modified Date: March 31, 2022