Veterinary Technician / Vet Tech Salary Canada

See table for salaries.

Average Veterinary & Animal Health Technologist & Technician Salary in Canada

The table below details the hourly wages for Veterinary and Animal Health Technologists and Technicians.

The Canadian national occupation classification code (NOC) for this role is 3213.

Job titles and exact duties vary in this occupation and examples of some job titles are: veterinary technician, veterinary technologist, veterinary assistant and animal care technician.

According to the latest figures, the highest hourly average (median) wages are earned in Alberta at $22.78 per hour and the lowest average (median) wages are earned in Vancouver / Lower Mainland – British Columbia at $16.00 per hour.

A typical full-time annual salary for this occupation is in the region of $32,000 – $45,000.

Employment prospects for veterinary and animal health technologists and technicians are fair in Canada. The government forecasts that the arrival of new medical technologies and techniques, as well as the introduction of more advanced equipment, will require more technologists. However This occupational grouping is extremely popular among school leavers, creating a surplus of workers.

Average Hourly (Median) Wages for Veterinary & Animal Health Technologists & Technicians in Canada

Location Low Wage
$ per hr
Average Wage
$ per hr
High Wage
$ per hr
Year
Calgary – Alberta*(1) 15.19 22.78 25.00 2019
Edmonton – Alberta*(1) 15.19 22.78 25.00 2019
Vancouver / Lower Mainland – British Columbia 14.00 16.00 20.89 2018
Winnipeg – Manitoba(1) 13.00 18.50 35.90 2018
Fredericton / Oromocto – New Brunswick(3) 13.70 18.00 25.30 2018
Halifax – Nova Scotia 12.69 16.15 49.23 2018
Toronto – Ontario 14.00 19.00 20.00 2018
Ottawa – Ontario 14.00 16.75 22.00 2018
Kitchener / Waterloo / Barrie – Ontario 14.00 17.50 25.96 2018
London – Ontario 14.00 17.50 25.96 2018
Prince Edward Island 15.00 18.50 25.64 2018
Montreal – Quebec 12.50 16.40 23.08 2018
Saskatoon / Biggar – Saskatchewan 14.50 18.00 23.48 2018

Methodology

Examples of veterinary and animal health technologists’ and technicians’ duties:
›› Providing nursing care for animals
›› Handling, restraining and caring for animals undergoing treatment
›› Taking and developing x-rays, collecting blood samples
›› Assisting during surgical operations including monitoring the anaesthetic
Comparison with employment group

The 2020 full-time average hourly wage rate for technical occupations in health, which includes veterinary and animal health technologists and technicians, is $29.87. The 2020 corresponding median weekly wage rate is $1,094 giving an approximate full-time annual salary for this employment sector of $57,000.

Licensing

Registration with provincial animal health technologists’ or veterinary technicians’/technologists’ associations is mandatory in some provinces.

Number In Employment

There are over 20,000 animal health technologists and veterinary technicians / technologists working in Canada.

These occupations may also be of interest:

Dental Assistants
Dental Technologists
Medical Laboratory Technicians
Medical Laboratory Technologists
Nurse Aides/Orderlies
Veterinarians

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