10/21/2026
October is RVT month! 🥳 To celebrate how amazing your pets Registered Veterinary Technicians are, let’s learn more about all they do and how they’re compensated💰!
In human medicine, one patient might have a phlebotomist, anesthesiologist, radiology tech, lab tech, and a nurse for various roles but in veterinary medicine, the RVT wears all those hats! They draw blood, take X-rays, run lab work, prepare patients for surgery, place intravenous catheters, run fluids, administer and monitor anesthesia, assist in surgery, educate clients, comfort patients, and advocate for every animal in their care! 👩🏻⚕️
Did you know RVTs on average only make $25-28/hr in comparison to Registered Nurses (RNs) in Ontario typically earn an average of $41-$62/hr?! Many RVTs work for privately owned small hospitals where additional employee benefits are minimal. In the 2025 OAVT wage survey, RVTs reported that only 35% received additional retirement/ saving contributions and less at 20% received pension plan contributions. RVTs also reported only 26% and 33% of employers provide short & long-term disability respectively. In fact, while we see a healthy increase from 63.3% in 2024 to 74% in 2025 of Ontario’s RVTs who receive extended health benefits including dental, many have benefits that only offer 50% coverage or exclude dental care. While these standards have been improved over the past few years (yay for progress!) there is still a large living wage gap and many with minimal employee benefits. Most RVTs still struggle financially and require a second job to make ends meet. This year’s survey reported 30% of Ontarios RVTs have a supplemental income and of those reported a whopping 83% say that the second job is a necessity just to make ends meet.
Financial constraints are one struggle most RVTs can attest to, and while it is not the only factor, it is a large reason both RVTs and Vets have one of the highest professional su***de rates. In veterinary medicine, mental health is essential; long hours, emotional stress, finances, and compassion fatigue are just a few of the challenges facing veterinary professionals. These challenges in turn create staff shortages from those leaving the field due to burnout or financial struggles but sadly also by death by su***de. In fact, Not One More Vet (NOMV) report 1 in 6 consider su***de at some point in their career—this is a much higher rate than that of the general population.
Veterinary professionals give so much of themselves, emotionally, physically, and mentally to care for our pets and RVTs are the heartbeat of every veterinary team. This month & every month, don’t forget to thank your RVTs!
For more information about veterinary mental health, the non-profit organization Not One More Vet and how you can support veterinary professionals, please visit: nomv.org/about/pet-parents/
For more information and insights from previous years visit: https://oavt.org/for-members/member-resources/oavt-wage-survey/
