Resumen de Characteristics of the labor market for veterinary technician specialists in 2013

Christopher L. Norkus, Linda S. Leighton, David J. Liss

• OBJECTIVE To determine characteristics of the labor market for veterinary technician specialists (VTSs) during 2013 and identify characteristics significantly associated with pay rate for VTSs.

  DESIGN Survey.

  SAMPLE POPULATION 351 VTSs.

  PROCEDURES A 29-question, multiple-choice survey was sent in early 2014 to all individuals (n = 786) who had been certified as VTSs and for whom an email address could be identified.

  RESULTS Weighted mean pay rate for respondents was $23.50/h; 51.3% (180/351) of respondents received a raise after obtaining VTS certification. Being male, having attended graduate school, having > 4 years of VTS experience, holding a supervisory or management position, being employed by an academic employer or referral practice, and working in the Northeast or outside the United States increased the overall odds of receiving a higher pay rate as a VTS, once other variables were controlled.

  CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that gender, work experience, and job characteristics were significantly associated with pay rate for VTSs.