Veterinary Surgery Technician Jobs
Veterinary Surgery Technician jobs are open across specialty animal hospitals, emergency veterinary clinics, and university teaching hospitals, from entry-level to senior surgical tech, with specializations in orthopedic surgery, soft tissue procedures, and anesthesia monitoring. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 145+ Veterinary Surgery Technician jobs
VSx Veterinary Surgery of Indianapolis is an independent specialty veterinary surgical center opened in February 2026 and locally-owned and lead by Dr. Brian Martin, DACVS-SA. We are adding to our team in preparation for a surgeon joining us in the New Year! VSx's goal is to be the #1 most trusted provider of specialty surgical care for referring veterinarians and their patients in the area. Learn more at www.vsxvet.com/indy.
Description & Responsibilities:
In addition to consults and clinic responsibilities, the RVT will lead and manage the nursing and anesthetic aspect of their surgical cases and select appropriate anesthetic protocols, collaborating with surgeons, fellow Veterinary Technicians and Veterinary Assistants. This role requires a commitment to exceptional patient care, client service, and team collaboration.
Key Responsibilities:
Coordinating and executing surgical treatment plans for patients during appointments based on veterinarian recommendations. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Canine and feline patient restraint, phlebotomy and husbandry.
- Assisting in physical exams
- Performing diagnostic tasks (venipuncture for lab work, cytologies, BP monitoring, etc.)
- CT and x-ray imaging
- Effective and enthusiastic client education regarding rationale of surgical and post operative treatment protocols.
- Accurately updating all EMRs to reflect the most up to date information from their appointments or pertinent recent medical history as provided by the owner or other clinics.
- Prepping patients for their procedure following proper sterile protocols and IV catheter placement.
- Determining appropriate anesthetic protocols, intubation, inducing, and anesthetic monitoring.
- Thorough patient surgical prep such as clipping, scrubbing and sterile draping
- Assisting in surgeries as a circulating nurse and scrubbed-in surgical assistant
- Maintaining surgical equipment by following proper sterilizing techniques and overall weekly/monthly care instructions.
- Participate in facility maintenance by completing daily, weekly, and monthly checklists to aid in the clinic’s overall facility and equipment upkeep.
- Follow all current safety guidelines outlined by OSHA and implemented upon training.
- Attending all required staff meetings.
Protocol Development:
- Administer and refine surgical protocols in collaboration with the Managing Surgeon Partner.
- Develop and refine anesthetic protocols in collaboration with the Managing Surgeon Partner, in cooperation with consulting Veterinary Anesthesiologists
- Adhere to all clinical and operations-related Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Prerequisites:
- Registered Veterinary Technician license
- Minimum 3 years of Veterinary Technician experience
- Minimum 1 year experience in surgical or anesthetic specialty preferred
- Extensive experience with Surgery and Anesthetic protocols
Preferred Qualifications:
- NAVTA/CVTS VTS or VSA credentials
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $28.00 - $32.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Continuing education credits
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Uniform allowance
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
VSx Veterinary Surgery of Indianapolis is an independent specialty veterinary surgical center opened in February 2026 and locally-owned and lead by Dr. Brian Martin, DACVS-SA. We are adding to our team in preparation for a surgeon joining us in the New Year! VSx's goal is to be the #1 most trusted provider of specialty surgical care for referring veterinarians and their patients in the area. Learn more at www.vsxvet.com/indy.
Description & Responsibilities:
In addition to consults and clinic responsibilities, the RVT will lead and manage the nursing and anesthetic aspect of their surgical cases and select appropriate anesthetic protocols, collaborating with surgeons, fellow Veterinary Technicians and Veterinary Assistants. This role requires a commitment to exceptional patient care, client service, and team collaboration.
Key Responsibilities:
Coordinating and executing surgical treatment plans for patients during appointments based on veterinarian recommendations. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Canine and feline patient restraint, phlebotomy and husbandry.
- Assisting in physical exams
- Performing diagnostic tasks (venipuncture for lab work, cytologies, BP monitoring, etc.)
- CT and x-ray imaging
- Effective and enthusiastic client education regarding rationale of surgical and post operative treatment protocols.
- Accurately updating all EMRs to reflect the most up to date information from their appointments or pertinent recent medical history as provided by the owner or other clinics.
- Prepping patients for their procedure following proper sterile protocols and IV catheter placement.
- Determining appropriate anesthetic protocols, intubation, inducing, and anesthetic monitoring.
- Thorough patient surgical prep such as clipping, scrubbing and sterile draping
- Assisting in surgeries as a circulating nurse and scrubbed-in surgical assistant
- Maintaining surgical equipment by following proper sterilizing techniques and overall weekly/monthly care instructions.
- Participate in facility maintenance by completing daily, weekly, and monthly checklists to aid in the clinic’s overall facility and equipment upkeep.
- Follow all current safety guidelines outlined by OSHA and implemented upon training.
- Attending all required staff meetings.
Protocol Development:
- Administer and refine surgical protocols in collaboration with the Managing Surgeon Partner.
- Develop and refine anesthetic protocols in collaboration with the Managing Surgeon Partner, in cooperation with consulting Veterinary Anesthesiologists
- Adhere to all clinical and operations-related Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Prerequisites:
- Registered Veterinary Technician license
- Minimum 3 years of Veterinary Technician experience
- Minimum 1 year experience in surgical or anesthetic specialty preferred
- Extensive experience with Surgery and Anesthetic protocols
Preferred Qualifications:
- NAVTA/CVTS VTS or VSA credentials
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $28.00 - $32.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Continuing education credits
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Uniform allowance
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
Veterinary Surgery Technician Jobs by Experience Level
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Find JobsVeterinary Surgery Technician Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Ethos Veterinary Health26
- BluePearl Pet Hospital18
- VCA Animal Hospitals11
- PetVet Care Centers7
- MedVet4
Top Industries Hiring
- Animal Care & Pet Services14
- Healthcare & Medical Services2
- Education1
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals1
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in veterinary surgery technician jobs.
- Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT, RVT, or LVT) state license required
- Demonstrated surgical assistance experience including scrubbing in and instrument handling
- Proficiency in small animal anesthesia monitoring and perioperative care
- Familiarity with surgical instrumentation, sterilization protocols, and pack preparation
- Experience with orthopedic, soft tissue, or emergency surgical procedures
- Strong aseptic technique and infection control compliance in the operating suite
Tips for Your Veterinary Surgery Technician Job Search
Highlight surgical assist experience precisely
Listing 'surgical support' is too vague. Name the exact procedures you've assisted with, such as orthopedic repairs, splenectomies, or intestinal resections, and specify whether you scrubbed in, circulated, or managed anesthesia. Hiring managers scan for those details fast.
List your CVT or VTS credential prominently
Your Certified Veterinary Technician credential or Veterinary Technician Specialist designation in surgery belongs in your resume header, not buried in a credentials section. Many applicant tracking systems filter for these terms before a human ever sees your file.
Target openings at specialty and emergency hospitals
General practice clinics rarely need a dedicated surgical technician. Focus your search on specialty referral hospitals, emergency and critical care facilities, and university veterinary teaching programs, where surgical caseloads justify a full surgical tech role.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists veterinary surgery technician openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Prepare a procedure-specific skills inventory
Before your interview, write out the ten surgical procedures you've performed most, your role in each, and any complications you helped manage. Interviewers at specialty practices ask for this level of detail, and having it memorized prevents vague answers that cost offers.
Negotiate continuing education support upfront
Surgical technician roles evolve as new equipment and techniques arrive. When you reach the offer stage, ask specifically about coverage for anesthesia certifications, wet labs, or VTS exam fees. Many practices budget for it but only offer it if asked.
Veterinary Surgery Technician Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most veterinary surgery technicians?
The companies hiring the most veterinary surgery technicians right now include Ethos Veterinary Health, BluePearl Pet Hospital, and VCA Animal Hospitals, with the largest share of openings in California, Texas, and Florida, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Specialty referral hospitals and emergency practices tend to post the highest volume of surgical technician roles.
How many veterinary surgery technician jobs are remote?
About 10% of veterinary surgery technician openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting that most surgical tech duties require hands-on presence in an operating suite. The small remote share tends to cover surgical scheduling coordination, instrument procurement, or telemedicine triage support roles rather than direct surgical assistance.
How do you become a veterinary surgery technician?
You start by earning a degree from an AVMA-accredited veterinary technology program and passing your state licensing exam to become a certified, registered, or licensed veterinary technician. From there, you build surgical experience in a general or emergency practice, then pursue advanced surgical training through continuing education, wet labs, or mentorship under a board-certified veterinary surgeon. Some technicians go on to sit for the Veterinary Technician Specialist examination in surgery.
Can you get hired as a veterinary surgery technician with limited experience?
You can break into a surgical tech role with limited direct surgical experience if you already hold your veterinary technician license and have strong anesthesia or emergency care skills, since many specialty practices will train a technically solid candidate. Volunteering for surgical rotations, shadowing a board-certified surgeon, or cross-training in a general practice's surgical suite all help you build a case for readiness before applying.
What does the veterinary surgery technician interview process look like?
Most hiring processes for this role involve a phone or video screen focused on your license status and surgical background, followed by an in-person interview where you can expect scenario questions about anesthesia complications, instrument handling, and sterile technique. Many specialty hospitals include a practical skills assessment or a paid working interview in the operating room so the surgical team can evaluate your hands-on technique before extending an offer.
Where can I find and apply to veterinary surgery technician jobs?
You can find and apply to veterinary surgery technician jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your credentials and experience, then apply directly to each one that fits.
See All 145+ Veterinary Surgery Technician Jobs
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