Marine biologist does sound fun. I do wonder about the practicality of it though. I think it would be difficult to get a job as a marine biologist. Lot’s of competition, so you would need to have good internship experiences before you graduated. Otherwise, you might end up having to continue your education so you could teach marine biology at a college. I guess then there would be the opportunity to conduct your own research. You know, instead of driving around in a boat taking samples for someone else all the time. LOL

With a vet tech degree, I think it would be a bit easier to find a job. I don’t know about the program where you live, but a lot of schools will have you do an externship at a vet’s office. Or they will have a vet clinic on site. Either way, you would have the appropriate hands-on experience before you got your degree. Working at a vet’s office as a assistant or even a receptionist would be a good idea if the school didn’t provide any hands-on experience for you.

You’re right about vet tech’s topping out at a certain income level. There isn’t really room to advance unless you continued schooling to become a veterinarian. Hmm, that is a really tough call.

I guess you should ask yourself what you would be happiest doing. Also think about whether or not you can handle being a vet tech. You might be the person who has to put animals down. That is something that would be very hard to do.

My best friend is a vet tech and it is an extremely emotionally taxing job. She loves animals, and that is why she went into it to begin with, but she is currently getting set up to go back to school to be a (human) nurse. There are no advancement options as a vet tech. Now that she has a child, it is dawning on her that she will not be able to adequately support herself on a vet tech income. I know it’s not “all about the money”, but this needs to be taken into consideration. The only next step beyond vet tech (that I’m aware of) is vet… which is quickly becoming one of the most saturated professions, incredibly competitive to get into, and one with the highest cost of education and subsequent debt.

Can you satisfy your love of animals by volunteering with a rescue, but go to school for something more lucrative in your area?

I am actually a veterinary technician, so I am going to chime in with my two cents…

You are absolutely correct in saying that vet techs do not make a lot of money…we don’t.  HOWEVER…there are a few things to consider.  If you can get a job as a veterinary assistant, there are online veterinary technician programs (AHA comes to mind) that you can go to as long as you are working in a clinic.  You do all of your labs and such at work…you just have to find a veterinarian who is willing to work with you…and most are. 

In my opinion, being a veterinary technician is a very emotionally satisfying career.  It is very difficult at times but to me, the good outweighs the bad…a LOT!  If it is important to you that you love your job…this path could be a great one for you.

Lastly…and then I swear, I am done…you can make more money as a vet tech if you can get into a specialty clinic OR a large emergency clinic. By specialty clinic, I mean a clinic that deals exclusively in say orthopedics or oncology.  There are veterinary specialists just like there are human specialists. In order to do this, you are probably going to have to be in a large metropolitan area…so relocation is a possibility.  If you are willing to do the extra work and/or relocate, this option is a great one!  Also, I do not know what vet techs who work with exotics make…but if you can get into a zoo or a large clinic specializing in exotics, you might be able to make a bit more money as well.

Good Luck!!

Stickybun, I know it will vary depending on location, but do you know what the average rate is for a vet tech specialist? My girlfriend works in a large ER practice, and she has completed additional education to be a surgical technician, and is still topping out at about $18 an hour. It’s a fair amount of money, but still less than what a sole breadwinner with dependents needs to get by comfortably in our area.

@Beka27

I don’t know what the average is for a veterinary technician specialist.  I do think you are right though, it would vary depending on area due to cost of living, etc.  Unfortunately, I am in central Illinois and there are no larger metropolitan areas here; closest would be at least 2 hours away.  I can tell you that I have been a veterinary technician for almost 8 years (I am not a specialist, too far away from any specialty clinics for it to be of any value to me) and I can tell you that I make around $13.75 hourly.  The cost of living is not high around here. 

I can also tell you that veterinary assistants (many who have YEARS of experience) will be paid the same as I am.  Being a licensed tech here is not all that common…you don’t neccessarily get paid more, so to most people there is no reason to go to school.

I will do further research into vet tech specialists…now I am curious!  Perhaps it would be worth my while but the closest teaching vet school is about an hour away…hmmmm.

I dont think they even make 30,000 here in Missouri, cause that would be considered pretty good pay!! I only get around 22,000 a year and live comfortable here in Joplin.