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2-step progression from Veterinary Technician to Veterinarian. Potential salary increase of 173% from entry to advanced level.
Entry Salary
$45,980
Veterinary Technician
Top Salary
$125,510
Veterinarian
Total Steps
2
licenses
Median Salary
$45,980
Associate degree in vet tech + VTNE
Avg. Licensing Cost
$488
Avg. Timeline
2.2 years – 4.3 years
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Median Salary
$125,510
DVM degree (4 years) + NAVLE
Avg. Licensing Cost
$1,941
Avg. Timeline
4.1 years – 4.5 years
The veterinary career ladder is a professional progression from Veterinary Technician to Veterinarian. It includes 2 licensing levels, each with increasing education, responsibility, and earning potential.
Advancing from Veterinary Technician ($45,980 median) to Veterinarian ($125,510 median) represents a 173% salary increase based on BLS national median data.
Each step requires additional education and licensing. Veterinary Technician: Associate degree in vet tech + VTNE. Veterinarian: DVM degree (4 years) + NAVLE. The total time depends on the pace of your education and state-specific processing times.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 national medians. Licensing costs and timelines are averages across all US states derived from verified state licensing board data. Individual state requirements vary — see state-specific pages for details.