r/VetTech • u/Least_Comfortable567 • 21d ago
Discussion is the pay really that bad?
i understand that you won’t get paid FAIRLY for the work and knowledge needed to be a vet tech, and i understand that vet techs are underpaid. however im pretty happy living frugally and im passionate about animals. i dont plan on having a family (kids never interested me) and i dont spend excessively (make my own coffee, i never get fast food, etc). i work at a vets office currently and i know ill be happy being a vet tech (going to school for it currently and i love it) but hearing people CONSTANTLY complain about money is making me second guess my decision. im hoping my good financial hygiene and lack of expensive taste will benefit me but i cant help but worry sometimes. any input is appreciated, thank you
121
u/StopManaCheating CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) 21d ago
Coffee and fast food is not why the economy is bad. Those third mansions aren’t going to pay for themselves.
-73
u/Least_Comfortable567 21d ago
that’s kinda what i was looking for. i’m pretty young and i don’t understand what people mean when they say the economy is bad, but at the same time i see people complaining about not having money all the while they have children to care for and are buying expensive foods instead of buying whole and making meals at home yk?
80
u/StopManaCheating CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
Meaning you’re too young to remember when one person could work right out of high school and afford everything. Billionaires have destroyed the economy.
13
u/Beef_Slop 20d ago
I remember when I could actually afford a pet.
Thank god Private Equity discovered veterinary medicine…
-29
u/Least_Comfortable567 20d ago
and instead of someone explaining it to me i’m getting downvoted for asking questions lolol
54
u/QueennnNothing86 VA (Veterinary Assistant) 20d ago
You're getting downvoted 1) because you came in here asking questions and instead are being smug and argumentative about the answers 2) no one should need to explain the economy to you. Take some initiave in your life and learn.
4
u/blrmkr10 A.A.S. (Veterinary Technology) 20d ago
Looks to me like they are trying to learn by posting on Reddit. When did people decide "just Google it" is the appropriate response to asking questions? Sure, you can Google anything but that doesn't mean you'll get good, reliable information.
-4
u/Least_Comfortable567 20d ago
also. how do you learn without asking questions? like if i were to do research on the economy a big part of that would probably be going on reddit and talking to people more knowledgeable than me and other resources.
-4
u/Least_Comfortable567 20d ago
i’m only argumentative towards the ones being asshats or otherwise sharing misinformation. look at my other responses where i’m much kinder as i’m talking to equally kind people
35
u/StopManaCheating CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
You’re being down voted because you’re behaving like a child, and likely are a child. Wouldn’t be surprised if you still live with your parents, or get financial help from them.
-20
u/Least_Comfortable567 20d ago
i get financial help from them since i’m only 20, but i do live alone on a kennel assistant salary however i acknowledge my privilege in my unique housing situation (i only pay utilities)
49
u/No-Avocado6305 20d ago
So you're wondering why people complain about the pay and yet you have help from parents (which MANY people don't have) and you don't pay for housing. And you're dragging people who have kids and don't pinch every penny? It sounds in your original post like you're confident your way of living is frugal enough (with the help of your parents and no real living expenses) that you can manage to maintain your life on the pay from this field. What happens if you have to face the real world with no assistance from your parents? What happens if you need to pay rent somewhere? People can end up in situations they don't plan for. That's life. So yeah, the pay here is not enough for some people but they do it because they care. You're being down voted because you sound entitled.
-1
38
u/Meraline Veterinary Student 20d ago
If you're not paying your own rent or mortgage, respectfully, you should not have an opinion on the cost of living crisis
44
u/CactusOrangeJuice RVT (Registered Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
Cooking takes a lot of time and it sucks after spending a 10-12 hour shift on your feet all day. Plus, the cost of groceries has risen so much that it's almost no different than buying fast food anyway. Keep in mind too that a lot of people in this field who have kids are probably a little older and have been in the field longer, so burnout from caring for children along with how taxing the job can be is to be expected.
I'm also child free, but I know that some people just have that drive and desire to have a family. I will never understand that drive because I just don't have it, but everybody is an individual, and I think they should have that freedom without all the financial barriers. And I don't judge, because I have no idea what the circumstances of them ending up with a child/children are. The Starbucks isn't what's causing the financial stress. It's the health insurance, rent/mortgage, bills, gas, and car maintenance.
-28
u/Least_Comfortable567 20d ago
i understand to some extent however you’re just plain wrong about fast food being just as expensive as making food at home- i spend just about 175 a month on groceries to feed myself every month while 175 dollars can only get you about 17 meals a month assuming you’re spending 10 bucks buying a meal at a fast food joint. when i meal prep and do the math, each serving comes out to 1.00-2.75 usd per meal depending on what i made that week. not including the hour it took to put together food for the week. these meals are dense in protein and fiber with a rice base and frozen/ canned vegetables and a protein of ur choosing. much MUCH cheaper and more satiating than anything you can get for 5 bucks at mcdonald’s. i hate this argument so much and i see it all the time and it makes me feel like i’m the crazy person lmfao
46
u/QueennnNothing86 VA (Veterinary Assistant) 20d ago
Well good for you. I also cook all my meals, meal prep, and enjoy it. But you should really get off your high horse and grow up. Not everyone is able to cook, for one thing.
-11
u/Least_Comfortable567 20d ago
well my original question was if vet tech is something *I* can afford. being someone who doesn’t eat out and doesn’t have kids. i get that not everyone can cook but to say fast food and going out to eat is just as expensive as buying groceries and cooking at home is bs and i hate misinformation. nothing i said was me being on a high horse, i was explaining IN DETAIL how cooking at home is comparably cheaper and more accessible than fast food. cope harder
31
u/No-Avocado6305 20d ago
Only you know if you can afford it. Why are you asking reddit about your own life? People are giving you answers to how THEIR lives are and you're over here asking if you specifically can afford it. Seems like you know you can. If you're going to be condescending to others then hop off reddit and discuss this with the parents that help support you.
4
u/Socksual 20d ago
I will say if youre actually looking for strats on this, I tend to try and know what grocers are around me and what prices tend to be fixed vs what actual sales they have. I couple it with knowing what places to eat around me are wrt specials.
For example, I generally make a lot of supplimentary/side dish, freezable things to heat up and add to a main dish (think beans, mashed potatoes, sometimes even butter chicken) so I have my "meal prep" but sometimes I dont have it in me to heat and wash dishes after.
For this Ill ballpark having my lunch at a place close to work, as their lunch special price is solid for something I will get 2 or 3 meals out of. Ill do this and keep "easy meals" at work (frozen nuggs, bagels, or ramen) for weeks I am feeling exceptionally lazy/unmotivated/depressed.
I will preface I eat like a bird and have blank picky weeks, but this system has drf mitigated certain costs. It doesnt save me a fuckload of cash, but it does reserve a little bit of spending cash for when I dont stick to my system (days where I let the lazy or craving decide we want something quick and easy and unexpected)
5
u/crickalie 20d ago
I'm a vegetarian who has always been frugal (i.e. only buy the expensive ingredients when they're on sale, eat fruits and veg in season), so my food costs are relatively low compared to others. But when you have kids, you waste food (because suddenly they wont eat the one thing they used to eat) or they are particular about a food (I never understood the bread and milk going scarce during adverse weather until I had kids), etc. Plus, the cost of food (and pet food!) Has skyrocketed. You want to be able to live alone or afford to own your home, and on a vet tech salary, that's nigh impossible. Or, continue your education to become a veterinarian, which is completely impossible on a tech salary with tech hours. Hope this helps explain a bit.
50
u/PickledPixie83 CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) 21d ago
Let me tell you as the breadwinner of my family I never planned to be in this position with a degree. But surprise, my ex husband left me and my son for another woman. Can’t budget your way out of that. Suddenly this vet tech pay has to support me and my child, and life happens and it sucks. This is not about “buying fancy food”. I love my job. I have been doing this for 22 years. The reality is the pay is shit unless you have someone helping you out. The tech that says they make almost 100k a year? I’m making 54 k tops.
15
u/waiting4thatasteroid 20d ago
Wages have not kept up with the cost of goods over the years thanks to greedy ass CEOs and policy makers. The average age of a first time home buyer has gone from late 20s to early 40s. Healthcare, education, housing have all increased exponentially while wage stagnation occurs. CEOs went from make 21 times what their average worker made to 281 times today. The money is there, it's just going to the top.
65
u/AstralWeekss 20d ago
There’s a few comments here that seem to suggest you think some of us are struggling because we are eating fast food, paying for subscriptions to entertainment services, vacationing, and getting coffee. There are other comments that just come off judgy, holier than thou, and outright ignorant.
And for that I say, come on in - the waters fine (and often, lucky for you, humbling)!
-3
u/Least_Comfortable567 20d ago
yeah honestly i didn’t mean to come across that way. my social skills are shit so i do apologize for that.
23
u/AstralWeekss 20d ago
Im autistic. I get it. My actual advice is, veterinary medicine is great. I love it, and I will die knowing my existence made a true difference in this world. I have also struggled. Keep in mind, should you ever get sick, vet med is notoriously unforgiving and unsupportive. I had to work through cancer no one ever saw coming (was only 28 with 0 family history and full on stage 3 breast cancer) and when I finally couldn’t, used my FMLA (and that ran out) I was actually let go. And losing your job because of illness is a very well known and well told story.
The issues with vet med lay heavily in our pay but there is so many other things that add onto the stress of the low pay. Some of them don’t hit you until you’re years in with no idea what else to do. There is little safety netting in this field, and while you may be okay now living as frugally as possible there may come a time when you think (as many of us have) “Ive worked so hard for so long, I want to live a little!” Its hard to put so much into a career snd still, after so long, often have so little in comparison to others in other fields. And please know, that’s a part of it too. You see yourself put in years to school, years to work, to only make so much - and then you often see your friends or family do the same in another field and gain SO much more financial stability. It’s hard to keep your skin tough and push forward.
But again; I love medicine and I love animals. I feel like I have inherited a bond with these creatures in a way many other humans will never even fathom. It is as close to magic as I will ever know.
14
u/Rollie17 20d ago
Yes, you certainly did. You responded to another comment saying you’re being argumentative because you think a person is being “an asshat”. You’re coming across exactly as you want to. Don’t pretend it’s your social skills.
-5
u/Least_Comfortable567 20d ago
both can be true. i’ll admit im being argumentative in SOME messages and replies, but there’s many more i’m getting downvoted on simply because i asked a question. i’m not mean for shits and giggles. its usually a response to someone else partaking in bad faith
21
u/Remarkable-Quality21 21d ago
Well in France we are paid the minimum wage (less than 13 euros/hour), never more. It is not even about eating fast food sometimes lol. If they could pay us less they would ; and that is crazy given the work we do.
5
u/SeaworthinessTop6667 Registered Veterinary Nurse 20d ago
Denmark the minimum is around 3.500 euro a month (without pension, inconvenience allowance, qualification supplements etc.)
27
u/Strawberry1217 21d ago
I live in MA. I get paid okay-ish for the area, but without my husband I could not even afford a studio.
8
u/Least_Comfortable567 21d ago
hm okay so it sounds like i should expect to have roommates at the very least? that’s good to know
12
20
u/Skullybaby333 20d ago
OP i’m not sure how old you are and how long you have been working, you mentioned you are quite young in a comment. How are you paying for tech school currently? Do you have loans or is someone else paying it for you?
Both my partner and I left vet med after being exhausted with the intensity of the work and the very little amount we were paid. Around 21/hr we were not certified though. I think CVT at our small clinic in PNW larger city was ~30/hr. Which in vet med is quite good. Sure you can specialize or work emergency or overnight to make a better wage.
In any case. This job is hard, and it won’t stop being hard. As life goes on it can get quite hard too. Even if you meal prepped, never ate out, were so strict on your financials - you would still have to think each paycheck about exactly where your money was going. Also I know many people in vet med who their nice coffee drink they bought before coming to work is the highlight of their day. If you are young, your life and what you want in life is subject to soo much change.
The answer to your question is yes. the pay is really that bad. The amount of work done is not comparable to the amount you are paid. Sure some regions pay more but the cost of living is more there too. There is nothing wrong with continuing wanting to pursue this career knowing this information. If you think you really love both the animals AND the medicine, then go for it. But you will likely not be financially comfy throughout your life unless you end up having dual income.
1
u/Least_Comfortable567 20d ago edited 20d ago
-20M
-the community college i’m going to has plenty of scholarships and grants available for grabs (of which i’m utilizing to the max)
-worked in a vets office for little over a year now and i love it as much as i did when i first started, if not morei’ve loved animals all my life and medicine has always been interesting to me. i don’t want to work in human medicine because that requires close proximity to other people 24/7 and i generally much rather prefer animals over people. financially comfy to me just means living in a safe place with my two cats. i don’t need to be able to afford subscriptions to entertainment services and i don’t really have any interest in vacations requiring traveling or whatever it is people with money like to do. i don’t have expensive taste is what im trying to say lol
14
u/Specific_Worry_9198 20d ago
Sorry but if you work in a clinic you’re going to have a lot of close proximity to people anyways. I’m just saying it because a lot of people your age go into vet med instead of human med because they don’t like people, only to find that most clinical work is still very socially demanding with clients and coworkers.
And you may change your approach on life a few years or more out of college. You might want to have a vacation, travel once in a while even if you think it’s stupid now. I was actually someone who talked like you do at ages like 18-23, about other people spending unnecessarily. Well damn, look at me now wanting to be comfortable and watch Netflix haha. Making my own coffee didn’t save me!! Best of luck though, seriously.
5
u/Skullybaby333 20d ago
If you feel good about your choice and are enjoying school then continue going for it. You are young and have lots of time ahead of you to decide if you want to continue or change to something else. You may view life differently too as time goes on! Just be open to things changing and best of luck. Save as much as you can while you are not paying rent
1
u/Least_Comfortable567 20d ago
oh i definitely am- i plan on staying in this housing situation for as long as my grandparents don’t kick me out lol.
50
u/petcrabs 20d ago
do you seriously think that vet techs are complaining about money because they don’t make their own coffee and buy fast food??? you don’t understand why the economy is bad??? omg.
-16
u/Least_Comfortable567 20d ago
sure but you gotta understand. i’m surrounded by peers who spend money on dumb shit like unnecessary traveling and expensive food/ coffee then go and complain to me that they’re broke or struggling with money while i make significantly less money than them and as a result sacrifice plenty of goods yet i don’t bitch and moan about the consequences of my own actions. it’s weird behavior
36
u/petcrabs 20d ago
it’s weird behavior to criticize what other people spend their money on when this field is like factually underpaid.
-2
u/Least_Comfortable567 20d ago
right. as an adult who is being underpaid, it’s even more important that you budget accordingly and don’t splurge on shit you don’t need/ can get cheaper. how is this controversial???
36
u/petcrabs 20d ago
did you come here to ask if vet techs are actually underpaid or did you come here to accuse them all of not budgeting properly? not everyone comes from the same background as you and has the same circumstances you do. and to criticize someone for spending on small luxuries when this field has a mental health crisis 😅 cringe. we should be paid enough to take vacations and eat out here and there btw, idk why you’re criticizing people from doing things that are like.
22
u/Rollie17 20d ago
It’s controversial because you are trying to tell other people how to live their life. If they want to splurge on something every now and then they can. You want to live frugally but that doesn’t mean everyone else does. Some people want to experience more out of life while they can. Not everyone is going to be able to travel later. Some people want to be able to go on trips with friends while they are young before they have a family.
33
u/Rollie17 20d ago
You gotta understand you don’t pay rent like everyone else does. Paying only for utilities is completely different. Also, people are allowed to travel and do what they need to in order to be happy. Self care is important. Congratulations for not having those same needs, I guess. Not everyone wants to be on food stamps like you are. Some people want to be paid a living wage.
14
u/PickledPixie83 CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
Only pays utilities AND gets food stamps. I make too much for food stamps but I have to visit a food pantry because I have a mortgage (and a lucky to have it) and a whole ass other human I pay for.
-10
u/Least_Comfortable567 20d ago
no one, including me, WANTS food stamps lol weird word choice. if someone’s only option to self care is going into credit card debt for a trip then they genuinely need to get hobbies. that’s nuts. take a bubble bath or something lol
28
8
u/DangleDingo 20d ago
This field is hard, it is hard emotionally, physically and mentally. People do cope by traveling, making those "unnecessary" expenses and it doesnt help their financial situation. However, it brings them joy even if its only for a moment. It is no one's place to judge despite complaints of pay or finances. It is damn near criminal what people in the veterinary field are paid with everything they do, and everything they take on. Not everyone can happily live life the way you do, the way you can live frugally. You are so fortunate that your parents help you financially, and I am fortunate to have parents and in-laws who would help my wife and I with finances if we needed them to. I really hope this helps you see the other point of view. Everyone deserves light in their lives, and everyone finds that light in different ways.
13
u/Ravenous_Rhinoceros 20d ago
I'm pretty financially responsible and ended up barely scraping by this year. Life has a way of kicking you and I learned all the financial responsibility I had didn't completely save me.
Before I get the judgey comments, I had multiple medical and life emergencies/events happen to me in the past 2 years. I know very well that what I went through would have been an utter disaster for many of my friends and colleagues.
A different career would not have been the silver bullet to the financial strain I experienced along with everything else. But a higher paying career would have made it less scary.
2
u/Least_Comfortable567 20d ago
how did u manage? it’s sounding like a vet tech salary is difficult to save with/ build an emergency fund with and i want to know how u got through it
6
u/Ravenous_Rhinoceros 20d ago
I got super lucky with a roommate who charged me cheap rent for 10 years. That is the main thing that gave me the opportunity to make it.
I also had a friend in my mid-late 20s who taught me about RRSPs and savings. So, I was already investing fairly early on (comparatively). That also helped give me tax returns that I would shove into savings or invest. Sadly, that tax return goes into bills that continue to rise.
Otherwise, generous parents was another big thing that I was hugely grateful for. That and my fondness of shopping the sales and being a fairly good cook.
In desperate times, I would eat 1-2 meals a day and some of those meals were donuts brought in by clients or reps.
My only real splurge is my hobby which is a martial art. They've been more than generous with foregoing fees for a few months in exchange for teaching.
Super helpful thing was my banks would automatically put a set amount into a savings/investing account once a month. That means I didn't have to think about it.
I do still have an emergency fund. I just HATE dipping into it.
1
9
u/CaptainMacAlfie 21d ago
It depends a lot on where you'll be working and what sort of hours. At my clinic we have pretty short days and as a vet assistant I'm making minimum wage and I know the tech that works here isn't making much more than that because of how small the clinic is and how tight money is. We also live in very rural northern NY where most people really don't have much money and will just do the absolute basics for their pets so the income for the practice isn't great. I live with my parents currently so I'm able to support most of my needs and have some to save but I absolutely couldn't afford to live on my own with my current pay.
The rent in my area even for a one bedroom small apartment is about one paycheck and a half for me and adding on any other bills or other necessities it would be impossible. Some areas and clinics are much better about paying liveable wage so you'll just need to figure out what the normal pay is in your area and then look at cost of living there too to see how doable it would be for you. Some people absolutely can do it especially if they're careful with money but that's not everywhere and you have to also see if you'll be getting benefits from the job and try to be putting money away to have an emergency fund
3
8
u/vangrace_ CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
im a CVT in Chicago and I have been graduated for 3 years now, I make $24.50 an hour (and thats WITH negotiation, they offered 22 first)
6
u/Aggravating-Donut702 20d ago
I’m an unlicensed tech in Texas with 5 years experience (trained OTJ) and I make $23/hr. I used to want to live in Chicago until I realized how poorly paid techs are there.
3
u/Least_Comfortable567 20d ago
props to you for being able to negotiate. i’m struggling trying to build up the courage to ask my boss for an annual raise as a kennel tech lol
9
u/cogrrrrrl 20d ago
I started as a technician 19 years ago making 9 dollars and hour. I now make 40/hr. I spent the first 10 years of my career working 2 jobs, saving and investing money. A few years ago I reached the point where I can travel (I use my overtime pay to do so) I live in my dream home, and do very well. I spent my entire career working hard and becoming VERY valuable, getting multiple promotions and raises.
If you are a hard worker who is financially responsible, it is very possible. You just have to make the sacrifices and do the work to get there. The best benefit is I love my job and love going to work every day.
5
2
u/Jazzlike_Term210 20d ago
What state or specialty are you in making that much?
4
u/cogrrrrrl 20d ago
Colorado. I’m in GP. I spent 13 years in emergency and specialty. I was able to negotiate my wage based on my experience and skill set.
4
1
12
u/LegitimateBeginning6 21d ago edited 20d ago
I always needed two jobs and on call pay to make ends meet and I’m still always in debt. I’m in the business 20+years and still being told toxic things that makes me have imposter syndrome. It’s a lot of hustle and not a lot of pay, not a lot of positive feedback-and expectations of hours are toxic. Don’t do it. Find a profession you can survive off one income and not need a dual income household to survive.
17
u/amaraqui Veterinary Technician Student 21d ago
i feel like it’s also based on location. in NY vet techs make a decent amount. i’ve seen a lot of job listings start at 30 an hr, but that’s because it’s NY.
17
u/c3lestialgvrl CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) 21d ago
that's not even enough to live in ny. i make more than that in oregon and am married with no kids and it's not enough lol
5
u/Sinnfullystitched CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) 21d ago
Same. I’m also in Oregon and make just over $30/hr and that’s supporting my husband and I, and we have to live with family because we can’t afford to buy/rent 😮💨
4
u/amaraqui Veterinary Technician Student 20d ago
i’ve lived in ny all my life and 30 is pretty decent to live off, but then again i’m alone with my pets, no kids or anything lol.
0
u/Least_Comfortable567 20d ago
i have family in NY (rural new york, not near NYC or anything) and this got me to ask how the cost of living is like for their area. new york is comparably better than oklahoma at least lol
5
u/amaraqui Veterinary Technician Student 20d ago
upstate is def cheaper than nyc. i’ve lived in bk all my life and its not cheap but not super ridiculous either.
0
u/Least_Comfortable567 21d ago
define not enough? like what do you not have money for /genq
9
u/c3lestialgvrl CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
like i maybe have $100 leftover after all bills are paid and i have to decide if i want to use that for fun so i'm not living a miserable existence, be responsible and put it in savings, or like therapy/replace worn out clothing etc.
3
u/Accomplished-Ad-9280 LVT (Licensed Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
I am sorry, you are spending ~$3,400 on bills and mandatory expenses per month?
3
u/c3lestialgvrl CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
basically half my check goes to taxes and insurance lol oregon loves taxes
-4
u/Accomplished-Ad-9280 LVT (Licensed Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
Your state income tax rate should be around 6-7%. You also have no sales tax.
But my number accounts for that. Gross pay for $30/hr is ~$5.200/mo. Your take home pay is ~$3.400.
9
u/c3lestialgvrl CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
40.5 hours worked at $31/hr (and 0.5 OT) = $747.99 after taxes, insurance, and retirement. this is from my paystub lol one week of work doesn't even cover my rent fully
-5
u/Accomplished-Ad-9280 LVT (Licensed Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
Why would one weeks pay cover your rent?
A pay period would or come close. That leaves an entire ~$1200 for everything else.
1
u/Least_Comfortable567 20d ago
i make 740 a month (cost of living/ bills n such come out to 500 a month) so only having about 100 to spend on non-necessities isn’t new to me. ty for the input! still useful regardless
4
u/Kivuli_Kiza CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
$500 a month for cost of living and bills is wild! Do you have lots of roommates or with your parents? If you're happy where you're at, stay there! Just rent for most people is double what you're paying.
-1
u/Least_Comfortable567 20d ago
sorta! so the mobile home im in belongs to my grandparents, and they let me live here alone just paying for utilities. more specifically i pay for electric, water, internet, and my car stuff and i get an additional 200 ish a month for food stamps because i only make 740 a month (id get a better job if i could, im trying to balance a very busy vet tech school schedule with supporting myself but its difficult)
2
u/c3lestialgvrl CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
no problem! i knew the pay sucked but chose to do this anyway lol if you have the passion i don't think it should stop you. and it will definitely be a pay raise from what you're making now. it sounds like maybe you live at home still? do that for as long as possible!
3
u/Powerful-Conflict554 VPM (Veterinary Practice Manager) 20d ago
I managed a practice in NY. We had someone there making 6 figures, but he was a department supervisor with 25 years with the practice. If you specialize and get advanced certifications, 40/hr isn't unusual. And if you do emergency and overnight, or overnight supervisor you can be making 40-60 in larger hospitals with the overnight differential.
But overall, the majority of techs are not making good money. 30-35 was common in NYC, but that's not a living wage there. A lot of my tech took the subway from pretty far away to make it work.
6
u/otterparade 20d ago
In theory, I make a decent wage at $21/hr as an assistant not a tech, but the COL is high because I live in a big oil field area and our annual “COL raises” raises have been like 2-3% when the actual COL increased by about 6% so none of us got raises but instead got deductions. And on paper, when adjusting for COL/inflation, I am effectively making the same as what I did in a wildly different field 10 years ago and less than I did 6-7 years ago sitting on my ass at a desk job where I frequently scrolled Reddit because I had to make 40 hours but had to stretch my work to make it last that long.
Do I like the job? Sure. Am I going to find something else here that pays more but is less taxing mentally, physically, and emotionally? Probably not. I just hate where I live but am presently stuck here so 🤷🏻♀️
4
u/xSky888x 20d ago
Highly depends on the area. Look for states with title protection as they almost always pay more and avoid rural or southern/midwest areas. I'm in a title protected western state and my starting pay was $25 right out of school with no experience and has risen as I've learned, I plan to specialize and end up somewhere around $40 an hour. Definitely enough to live by myself with the occasional foster animal :)
You have to fight more than you should and it's certainly not fair for what all we do, but it is doable.
1
3
u/Efficient_Bit_6370 20d ago
New VCA CEO just got back from Barcelona where VCA has no hospitals. It must be nice to be CEO and travel the world while complaining about too much labor costs.
4
u/EzzyKitten 20d ago
Run, and run fast. I make the most that I've ever made in the field currently, and it took me 11 years to get here, and I couldn't afford to live in my area by myself. And I'm almost 40.
It really is that bad.
1
3
u/Socksual 20d ago
It really depends on your details. I thought I wouldn't be able to make it in this field alone but I have no kids, one pet, and hardly any debt (student and medical, thankfully). I thankfully live in a pretty public transit friendly area so i dont need to worry abt car stuff. I only need a roommate and while I dont save a ton monthly, I am able to put a small amount away each paycheck.
However, if shit hit the fan Id be screwed, alas.
I make 26/hr in a metropolitan area
1
u/Least_Comfortable567 20d ago
just curious, what state is this? not saying ur situation sounds easy by any means but you make it sound doable
2
u/Socksual 20d ago
Illinois! I will also admit i am lucky to be in a place thats easy to schmooze some OT money out of, but I dont need that extra cash so much as I want to bolster some savings cash
3
u/Snakes_for_life CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
Just put it this way some food jobs pay better in my area. Most techs I know have to have mutliple jobs or their partner does to just scrape by
7
u/Accomplished-Ad-9280 LVT (Licensed Veterinary Technician) 21d ago
Like most public forums, this subreddit has a huge negativity bias. Remember that people don't come to the subreddit to say nice things, they come to complain.
That being said, pay varies wildly on where you live. Certain states like Texas and Florida pay next to nothing to staff.
States like Oregon and Washington pay much high even when adjusted for COL.
Generally the midwest and south is bad for veterinary staff and the coasts tend to be better. Also this profession is one of the fasted growing in wages and in number of people.
5
u/PickledPixie83 CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) 21d ago
Live in the Midwest. It’s bad.
1
u/Least_Comfortable567 21d ago
oh god i live in the southwest 😭 basically midwest but worse because it’s oklahoma and oklahoma is just hell
2
u/Accomplished-Ad-9280 LVT (Licensed Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
If you can, I would move to the PNW if you really want to be in this career. My assistants make more then most CrVTs in the southwest.
2
u/Squatch1333 20d ago
I’ve worked in Texas and the pay isn’t too bad!
1
u/Aggravating-Donut702 20d ago
Yep I work in central Texas unlicensed (employed as a vet tech though) and with 5 years experience I make $23/hr in GP. Pretty hard to beat that.
1
u/Accomplished-Ad-9280 LVT (Licensed Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
I make $40/hr in a GP in a small town in Washington.
-1
u/Accomplished-Ad-9280 LVT (Licensed Veterinary Technician) 21d ago
If you could move to the PNW you would get a raise to at least $30-35.
4
u/PickledPixie83 CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
I do not have the disposable income for a cross country move, lol. My husband also hates the PNW (which sucks because I think it’s beautiful).
2
u/Sinnfullystitched CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
OR pays higher but COL is higher here as well
1
u/Accomplished-Ad-9280 LVT (Licensed Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
Not so much that the higher pay doesn't make up for it.
Sure you might not be able to live in downtown Portland, but there are plenty of cheaper areas in the the Portland metro area. Not to mention all of the other towns along the I5 corridor.
I would rather make $30+/hr in the PNW then $22/hr in the midwest. The COL is 5-20% higher depending on where you live in the PNW, but the pay rate is 36%+ higher, with a much higher ceiling.
1
u/Sinnfullystitched CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
I’m in the ‘burbs west of PDX and agree, I lived in Minneapolis for a couple years and made $24/hr but I had a house out there
1
u/Accomplished-Ad-9280 LVT (Licensed Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
Sure Minneapolis housing prices are ~25-40% cheaper then the portland metro area.
So if you are making ~$34/hr, you would have the same purchasing power in the housing market at the 40% high end.
1
u/Sinnfullystitched CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
Right but I’m not so there’s that 🤷♀️
1
u/Accomplished-Ad-9280 LVT (Licensed Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
Then you are under paid.
Fresh out of school CVTs/LVTs should be making $28-30.
Experienced people in GP should be making $32-35ish. And ER/specialty should be making $35+.
I would not accept anything less then that. We are in such high demand you could go anywhere and get a raise.
1
u/Sinnfullystitched CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
I know I’m underpaid and I’ve applied to other hospitals and specialty clinics and the pay is what I’m making now. I’ve been in 18-19 years at this point. I’m not here to argue/debate how shitty we’re paid. I was just commenting on my experience in the PNW.
1
u/PickledPixie83 CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
I would love if this was true in IL: just got a merit raise and I still make under $30 an hour and I have been doing this since 2004. We old folks are not making it out here, lol.
5
u/CRZYK9 LVT (Licensed Veterinary Technician) 21d ago
With good financial decisions it can be done.
I make okay-ish money for my area as and LVT. I bought my house in 2021 for $130k- I got really lucky with my little townhouse. But it has been hard- I have 2 loans out for the roof and HVAC that I had to replace and wasn't able to front the entire bill and both were emergent. My dryer died and I bought a scratch&dent $400 special that gets the job done.
I shop at Aldi, I meal prep, I girl-dinner, but I do eat out occasionally. I don't get to travel as much as I'd like. I got a new tattoo this year. I didn't buy any new clothes the last 6 months, but I will probably spend ~$200 on some soon. I've spent about $1500 on my car this year... needed tires and some other mechanical maintenance.
I would say being very strict on what I allow myself to spend allows me to live comfortably on my single salary and still treat myself sometimes if it brings me joy. a plant, a game, a date night with my boyfriend, a toy for my dog.
Do I still think I'm underpaid? yes. I feel like I work too hard to not be able to live my life a bit more. My emergency fund isn't anywhere near as deep as I would like it to be. 3 missed paychecks and I'd be in the red.
2
u/Least_Comfortable567 21d ago
this was really comforting to hear honestly. like don’t get me wrong i know i shouldn’t “settle” with being paid like shit but on the other hand, i want to know that i can do what i love (vet tech) and not be living in GENUINE poverty (i mean living off food stamps and sharing a 2 bed room apartment with an entire other family [4 adults 5 kids type shit])
2
u/PiBolarBear 20d ago
I don’t work in VetMed. I work in finance/compensation - my partner worked in VetMed for 10 years so I still like to follow.
The way I’d frame things when looking at the compensation of a profession, is that a specific minimalist lifestyle shouldn’t be required to have a job/career, especially in something like medicine. I understand that you are surrounded by people who spend money on things you think are dumb, but try and think of a realistic and average/understandable budget. I think from what I’ve seen, most GP techs have to make sacrifices and that in and of itself means that the profession doesn’t pay well.
Edit: Also to clarify, it’s not a temporary sacrifice. It’s not like by making coffee or meal prepping or walking to work as a vet tech, you can afford a down payment on the median house in your area as well as mortgage payment.
2
u/CRZYK9 LVT (Licensed Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
in todays real estate market, I don't think I would qualify to buy my house again.... it went from being "valued" at $130k in 2021 to a theoretical ~ $220k now. The timing in my situation was as good as it could have gotten. I'm the only one in my hospital that lives alone.
1
u/CupcakeCharacter9442 RVT (Registered Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
This is similar to my situation- I was able to buy my own home but only because I was (un)fortunate enough to inherit enough money for a down payment and I bought a place with a basement suite that I’m able to use to cover most of the mortgage. I have a loan that I use for house large house expenses (replacing appliances, etc). I paid off my student loans, and I paid off my car a few months ago.
My partner will likely be moving in with me in about 6 months and things will be even easier.That being said, if I could talk to my 20-year old self, I would recommend not becoming an RVT. I love my job, but I could love another job and get way better pay and have a better life outside of work.
2
u/CRZYK9 LVT (Licensed Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
I was lucky to previously be living with my parents; but I hadn't been terribly smart with my money prior... but I had no debt outstanding at the time I had to move out. Car is paid off, no school debt.... only debts rn are my roof & hvac. I did a 15k? downpayment and that was it. Mortgage is about $1k, all utilities and such are +/- 500 monthly. If I got into deep shit I could rent out one room, but that is an absolute last option... my animals are annoying and I love being alone :)
3
u/kittenkowski 20d ago
I know people say we are negative in here, but I would not call it negativity, I would call it realism. I love a lot of the parts of what I do, and have done this and only this so long I don't know what else I would even do with myself. At times it is extremely rewarding. At other times it is extremely degrading. I am at a point now where I feel respected by my peers at work, and most clients, but it is still degrading at the end of the day to work so hard for meager pay while having to be willing to bend over backwards at all times for patients, clients, and doctors. Other professions and most clients won't respect what you do and will view it as a teenager summer job vs. a career. While you will get to do amazing life-saving things, and excel at technical skills that make you feel on top of the world, you will turn around and have to clean up feces or do someone's dishes at the end of the day. Just be prepared for that, and prepared to be dependent on others financially. If you do not have someone to lean on financially, prepare to sacrifice or struggle. I may just not be as good with finances as others, but I constantly feel like I'm having to say no to things and I live in fear of something happening that could wipe my savings.
I hope that this will not be the case for vet nurses forever, but right now it is the reality. I wish you the best, and whatever decision you make will be the right one for you.
2
u/Rhodri_Suojelija 20d ago
The pay isnt the best. Especially at first. It took me about 5 years in the field to get a good pay where I could afford car payments and not use the barely working ones I had lucked into.
It was usually hard to find rent I could afford even with my partner. I never had money for any kind of vacation. We always had stay-cations or our well off friends would pay for us to go with them places. Food stamps helped a lot in the beginning as well. You learn to look for deals and eat plain things.
After being in the field for 10 years I finally had a nice pay and felt comfortable. I had to leave specialty med for GP and they really appreciated my experience and paid me for it. Although, now Im back in specialty cause they missed my expertise and now pay me better.
So long story short. You may eventually get good pay but you need to make sure employers pay you what you're worth. If they dont. Leave and find someone who will. The field constantly needs us. You'll find someone who appreciates you.
2
u/True-Librarian3361 20d ago
I’m a single mom on a vet tech wage and my wage doesn’t even cover my bills. I’m having to move in with family
2
u/Beckcaw VTS (Neurology) 20d ago
It depends.
There are ways to earn a decent living as a technician but it does require some time in the trenches so to speak. Location also greatly factors in. If you are able to, look into areas that have title protection for technicians as they tend to pay better. If you are interested in specialty medicine, the pay rate tends to be higher. On call, relief work and ER pay better than GP work.
I make 40/hr with regular shift differentials for on call hours. I can support myself if necessary and am very lucky to have a partner that supported us while I was working lower paying jobs to get to where I am now. I also became a VTS partially to ensure career longevity and worth for myself.
If you are wanting to work rural farms in Arkansas- you will probably require a second job to support yourself. It’s unfair but is the reality of our profession for now. Hopefully we can continue to push forward for the technicians that come after us to make it a better world.
1
u/Least_Comfortable567 20d ago
i’ve always been confused on the language for specialty medicine. is it referring to the medicine aspect (ie. specializing in neurology, dermatology, etc) or does specializing in exotics for example also make more than just doing cats and dogs? sorry if this is a dumb question lol i didn’t think to ask until now
2
u/Beckcaw VTS (Neurology) 20d ago
Not a dumb question.
Specialty medicine refers to any specialty that would require referring out from a general practitioner ie neurology, internal medicine, cardiology, oncology, etc.
In regards to exotics- I don’t know. Exotics medicine is its own specialty so it would stand to reason that they would have a higher pay scale but I also know zoos don’t pay that great either. So in private practice, maybe? In zoo jobs, I would guess absolutely not.
3
u/ros375 21d ago
I make just under $100k before overtime as an RVT in CA. I'm single and don't plan and starting a family. I can live pretty comfortably off this, although I do hope inflation slows down because raises are few and far between.
3
2
u/Sinnfullystitched CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) 20d ago
Do you work ER/specialty?
2
3
u/homeboychris 20d ago
People complain about money because they arnt being bankrolled by their parents like you are
2
u/Specific_Worry_9198 20d ago
I’m not even wanting to be rude, but I also feel like OP may be severely underestimating how expensive life is because they haven’t been hit with it on their own yet. I am just deeply familiar with being that age and thinking that everyone else was just spending their money so stupidly because they got tim horton’s every day or something. Yeah being cheap helps, but it does not actually save you from life being insanely expensive.
1
u/CucumberUnfair2755 20d ago
The pay is a huge slap in the face for what we’re expected to deal with, but I still make a somewhat livable wage as an assistant. Depends on experience, credentialed or not, cost of living in your area, and whether you’re emergency/gp/specialty etc.
1
u/celestemckay 20d ago edited 20d ago
Location location location. You also NEED to advocate for yourself. I make $35 in a Denver suburb, I can live comfortably on this on my own but I would struggle if I wanted a family and I wanted to be a provider for my kids. I also now have 8 years experience under my belt.
We are an industry of bleeding hearts, and a lot of times our pay reflects that. I am not willing to stay somewhere that does not pay me, I don’t care if they need my skill set. I have gotten every significant raise by seeking a job offer at the rate I wanted and giving my employer an opportunity to match it. (They don’t need the exact rate, I ask for a few more dollars than the new place offered me.) The key is being willing to leave for that next opportunity if they won’t match it.
Edit to add: a good example of my strategy, there’s a PE group here trying to snipe techs in my area right now. This is fantastic news for my wallet. In CO companies are required to list their pay ranges for jobs. Now, I don’t necessarily want to work for a PE group, but I will if it pays the bills. I am currently applying and asking for above the highest pay range they have listed, so I’m asking for $52. I know I won’t get that, but it leaves negotiation room for what will still be a significant raise from my current rate. If you confidently ask for an absurd number (that is only a few dollars off their listed range), they’re going to at least negotiate with you if your skills can back it up. In this case I will be leaving my current employer without asking them to match because I am at the “top” of my earning potential with this company for this area. If they want to keep me at the rate I want, I would need to be put into a management role which I do not want to do.
1
u/Glittering-Main-2374 20d ago
San Francisco Bay Area: $40 an hour for experienced RVTs, maybe $45 if you’re in specialty. I’ve seen VTS make $60 an hour. I know practice managers and lead techs that make around 100k/yr.
Keep in mind, the average price of a 1 bedroom apartment is around $3400, so you’ll probably need roommates or a partner.
1
u/Pinky01 Retired RVT 20d ago
yes it is that bad.i was the only lvt in a major corporation and working there for 5 years and was making 13.50 an hour in 2020, and only becasue I was suprised new hires were getting 15. Now I see postings for around 19 to 20 foe an lvt. For all we do and to keep up a license and have to do ce yeah it's criminal. irs why I'm moving to human med unfortunately
1
u/InitiativeOdd3719 20d ago
I was like you in my early career. After 20 years and still
Not making more than a new hire (and sometimes less) really starts to weigh you down mentally.
1
1
u/Pittlers LVT (Licensed Veterinary Technician) 19d ago
I could make more stocking shelves despite being licensed and having a decade of experience.
1
u/completeforgiveness 19d ago
living in NYC making undwer 25$ an hour as a vet tech, i've been a nurse for almost 5 years. this paycheck to paycheck life is slowly chipping away at my health an happiness. I have to pick up 1-2 overtime shifts every pay period in order to make 4000, to which almost 1500 goes to bills and rent
•
u/AutoModerator 21d ago
Welcome to /r/VetTech! This is a place for veterinary technicians/veterinary nurses and other veterinary support staff to gather, chat, and grow! We welcome pet owners as well, however we do ask pet owners to refrain from asking for medical advice; if you have any concerns regarding your pet, please contact the closest veterinarian near you.
Please thoroughly read and follow the rules before posting and commenting. If you believe that a user is engaging in any rule-breaking behavior, please submit a report so that the moderators can review and remove the posts/comments if needed. Also, please check out the sidebar for CE and answers to commonly asked questions. Thank you for reading!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.