Your Vet Techs Are Probably Not Working at the Top of Their License. That’s Costing You.
The Turnover Gap Nobody Talks About
Veterinary technician turnover is one of the most expensive recurring costs in the average practice, and most of it is preventable.
In 2025, the average hospital saw tech turnover of 23.6%. Top hospitals? 14.2%. That’s not a small difference. It’s a fundamentally different operating environment.
The question is why. And the answer isn’t pay.
The Utilization Problem
Average tech wages increased from $25.52 to $26.55/hr in 2025, above the market average of $25.23/hr. Practices are paying their technicians well. And they’re still losing them.
Top hospitals aren’t just paying more. They’re using their technicians differently. They ensure techs work at the full scope of their license: patient assessment, anesthesia management, diagnostics, all the clinical tasks they’re trained and legally permitted to perform. That leaves DVMs free to focus on the work only they can do.
The result is a practice where technicians feel valued for their clinical skills rather than used as restraint and cleanup labor. That’s the retention driver wages alone can’t buy.
Everyone Wins When Utilization Is Right
DVMs gain bandwidth for higher-value work. Practices increase throughput without adding headcount. Technicians stay engaged and invested in their roles.
What does top-of-license utilization actually look like at your practice? Is it defined? Is it scheduled around? Is it protected from being used as a stopgap when other roles are understaffed?
If the answer is no, that’s where the turnover gap starts.