Labor market characteristics of veterinary technician specialists in 2007.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine labor market characteristics of veterinary technician specialists (VTSs) during 2007 and identify characteristics significantly related to pay. DESIGN: Survey. SAMPLE POPULATION: 163 VTSs. PROCEDURES: A 21-question, multiple-choice survey was sent in early May 2008 to all individuals (n = 345) who had been certified as VTSs and for whom an e-mail address could be identified. RESULTS: Weighted mean pay rate for respondents was $23.48/h. Pay rate was significantly associated with practice type, whether the respondent had a supervisory or management position, duration of experience as a VTS, duration of experience as a veterinary technician, and duration of employment with the current employer. Pay rate was not significantly associated with age, gender, highest academic degree, geographic region, area of practice (ie, urban vs suburban vs rural), or academy of which the respondent was a member. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Traditional human capital variables such as work experience and job tenure were significantly related to pay rate for VTSs.