How to hire veterinary technologists and technicians
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Administer anesthesia to animals, under the direction of a veterinarian, and monitor animals' responses to anesthetics so that dosages can be adjusted. • Administer emergency first aid, such as performing emergency resuscitation or other life saving procedures. • Care for and monitor the condition of animals recovering from surgery. • Clean and sterilize instruments, equipment, or materials. • 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. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: Associate's degree] • Strong active listening, critical thinking, reading comprehension, speaking, monitoring and writing skills • Working knowledge of medicine and dentistry, customer and personal service, biology and English Language • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $22.78 an hour ($47,380 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for veterinary technologists and technicians
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to administer anesthesia to animals, under the direction of a veterinarian, and monitor animals' responses to anesthetics so that dosages can be adjusted. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to administer emergency first aid, such as performing emergency resuscitation or other life saving procedures. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to care for and monitor the condition of animals recovering from surgery. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to clean and sterilize instruments, equipment, or materials. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Describe a decision at work where the obvious answer was wrong. How did you work out the better choice?
- Tell me about written instructions, a policy or a manual you had to follow closely. How did you make sure you followed it correctly?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What veterinary technologists and technicians do
- Administer anesthesia to animals, under the direction of a veterinarian, and monitor animals' responses to anesthetics so that dosages can be adjusted.
- Administer emergency first aid, such as performing emergency resuscitation or other life saving procedures.
- Care for and monitor the condition of animals recovering from surgery.
- Clean and sterilize instruments, equipment, or materials.
- 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.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for veterinary technologists and technicians
- Typical education to start: Associate's degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 6 months to 1 year (O*NET)
- Job outlook: +9.4% over ten years, much faster than average · about 13,400 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay veterinary technologists and technicians
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| California | $60,630 |
| Washington | $59,740 |
| New York | $59,010 |
| Minnesota | $57,270 |
| Oregon | $55,810 |
| Alabama | $36,590 |
| Mississippi | $36,380 |
| Louisiana | $35,530 |
See veterinary technologists and technicians pay in every state
Related hiring guides
- Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
- Surgical Assistants
- Medical Assistants
- Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
- Surgical Technologists
- Emergency Medical Technicians
- Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
- Phlebotomists
- Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.