Digging Deeper into the Veterinary Medicine

Everyone who owns a pet will at some point need to go to a vet clinic for something. The veterinary industry is a $50.2 billion industry in the United States. With how large the industry is, there are many things you probably didn’t know about the industry. Here are several statistics about the veterinary industry that might surprise you.

1. 67% of Households in the U.S. Have a Pet

This means that as a veterinarian technician, you will likely have the opportunity to interact with over half of the people in your area, or at least all the practices in your area will. This is actually not too far away from two-thirds of America.

Most people with a pet will have to bring it in for care at some point, depending on the situation. This shows another benefit of becoming a veterinarian technician, namely that you will interact with a rather large cross-section of the country.

2. The Pet Industry Makes Around $99 Billion Annually

This means that it’s a highly important industry to be a part of in general. The industry is also set to continue to grow in the coming years. When it comes to just expenses related to veterinarians, this was at $29 billion just last year.

3. Job Opportunities for Veterinary Technicians are at 112,000 and Rising

This statistic was actually from 2019, and it was predicted to go up by 16 percent in just over 10 years. This means that there’s no shortage of opportunities out there. This growth is well above average. In other words, there is fast job growth with 18,000 more jobs expected by the end of the decade.

4. The Average Pay for Veterinary Technicians is $35,000

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average per hour salary for vets is $16.98. Plus, it’s important to remember that this is only the average. Those who go high enough in training and get certifications can make more. You can obtain certifications in things like oncology, nutrition, neurology, cardiology, and more!

So, not only does it pay decent to start on average, but there’s also plenty of room to grow if you continue to learn.

5. Men used to Dominate Vet Schools but Now Women Do

In the year 1970, men wore 90 percent of classes. Over the last 40 years, this has flipped and now women make up about 80 percent instead, although this number is always in flux with it sometimes being more around 60%.

In the old days, vets tended to specialize mostly in large animals like horses, cows, and other animals located on farms. However, this has also changed so that now the focus is mostly on cats and dogs.

6. Many States Require Continuing Education Every 2 Years

Just like in human medicine, many states require you to keep learning as you go since vet medicine is always changing and updating. The requirement is often 30 hours of training every two years in order to stay current with a certification.

7. There are at least 500 U.S Counties that Need Veterinary Workers

According to Successful Farming, there’s a real lack of vets that are highly needed in many rural areas. The upshot of this is that if you’re a vet that’s interested in different animals besides cats and dogs, there are many areas that need people like you to help with the medical care of farm animals like cattle. These jobs may pay a little less due to being in poorer areas, but the job satisfaction may be even higher considering how much farmers need vets to help keep cows and other animals from dying considering how important they might be to the local economy and to the farmers and locals personally.

8. Dental Problems are Among the Most Expensive for Dogs

It can cost up to $400 for just one dental treatment for dogs. It’s different for other animals, however. Cats with diabetes wrack up significant costs as well. These facts just go to show how important it is to have vets with different specialties.

Getting Started in the Veterinary Industry

If you are interested in a veterinary technician or assistant training, consider Milwaukee Career College. Our programs will have you trained and starting your new career within a year. We offer financial aid to students and job placement assistance upon graduation.

For more information about how you can get started on your career path of becoming a veterinary technician or assistant, contact us today or call us at 1-800-645-5157.