Text Size: A | A | A
Print

Salaries for New Associates...too high or too low?

5 Comments | Add Yours
Thu, 07/30/2009 - 09:09 — Guest

I know that salary is a big issue at my clinic and it's created a lot of problems among the various people who work there. I'm an "older" doctor who started out making a fairly modest salary as a young associate, which I thought was fair given my lack of real world experience and clients at the time. As I got older and my experience broadened, I began earning more money.

Because two of our more experienced doctors have left, we've had to interview and hire some new associates and while some of them are more "realistic" about the salary we can offer, others expect a ton of perks and way more money than they are worth---before they've even had a few years of experience. On the other hand, we have vet techs who have worked with us for years who are worth their weight in gold....and they make close to nothing. Our practice owner is of the mindset that (even inexperienced) vets are better than techs.

I understand that the young associates should be paid at a higher rate since they went to vet school after all, but I think there should be some reward for years of continued service and how much value you really add to a clinic. It's like some of these young kids want it all without having to work for it.

Does anyone else out there have the same issue?

Ridiculous?

I am one of those seasoned techs who has spent more than a 15 years onboarding and training not only first year associates, but experienced veterinarians as well. My role is not subordinate to the doctors I assist. It is complimentary, similar to a marriage.Often times I function as a nurse practionioner seeing patients with common ailments and injuries with out any need for a doctor's input. I realize that a technician's wage will never supercede a veterinarians salary, however its bothersome when I spend my entire shift humbly pointing out missed diagnoses, reccomending diagnostic and therapeutic plans (So I dont have wait for the vet to look it up on VIN or 5 Minute Consult), fixing CRI miscalculations, taking over when the vet can't pass a tomcat or foley and stabilizing agonal patients on top my own technical duties. Then when the shift is over I go to the bus stop while the vet hops in his audi.I go to my two bedroom apartment while he goes to his 5 bedroom house. Techs like me have spent just as much time and energy on education as any vet in order to possess the knowlege base to function at the level that we do. And I know for a fact that I generate more hospital revenue than some vets. I highly respect every role in the clinic setting from kennel staff to medical director.We are all interdependent. Therefore,despite how unrealistic, it is my opinion that individuals should be paid based on their value to the company and not on the cost of their education.
Tue, 02/02/2010 - 23:20 — Guest (not verified)

Wow...you probably think more

Wow...you probably think more highly of yourself than those incompetent veterinarians you work for. When you put in the time, energy and dedication it takes to get through vet school, then you can say you earn the money they are paid. Until you are ready to pay that price, be quiet!
Thu, 02/11/2010 - 17:21 — Guest (not verified)

I'm not a veterinarian, but

I'm not a veterinarian, but an office manager so I see this point from a different perspective. From a business standpoint, and keeping long term employees content and happy you do need to reward those that have put in the years at your business. These well seasoned employees save you money in the long run by saving the training of new hires, and their production is usually greater. Veterinarians will always have the potential to make a larger salary, but comparing a new graduate veterinarian to a tech that has been working in a practice for 15 years is like comparing apples and oranges in my mind. Every employee can have value to a clinic, but having a veterinary license doesn't always mean an employee is worth their salt in the real world. This is why a lower salary with production commission sometimes can work when working out wages for a newer graduate.
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 15:29 — Guest

Ridiculous

I'm a first year associate with mountains of debt & there's no way that I should be making less than a tech. I went to veterinary school and therefore, because of my skill level, deserve a higher salary. I understand that there are some "real world" things I may not know yet but I'm sure that when you first started that was the case too! And I'm so tired of older vets thinking that just because they may have started off at a low salary that all of us should start off at that same rate...that was years and years ago...what about inflation!? I don't want to have it all without having to work for it, but I also expect to be paid a fair wage for my talent and years of training.
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 12:23 — Guest

I don't think anyone was

I don't think anyone was implying that a new associate should be paid less than a seasoned technician, only that even high paid technicians barely make more than poverty level pay and some new graduates expect to make more than they can possibly contribute to the practice the first few years after their hire. For every new associate I hire, I assume I will also have to add 1 - 2 support staff, unless I am replacing a veterinarian. So a new graduate's production has to offset the graduates salary, benefits, and the salary and benefits of 1 1/2 technicians. Debt is a huge issue for any new graduate, and those educational debts should be addressed by salary. Where I get aggravated with new graduates is when they want my practice to also pay for a brand new car, and a new home, and only want to work 9-5 mon thru fri. My first year out, my salary was $1000 less than my last years tuition, because I CHOSE to go to a school that was one of the more expensive in the country, because it was closer to home. Because of that choice, I drove a beater for 3 years, and waited until my loans were almost paid off before even thinking about buying a home.
Sun, 01/31/2010 - 15:33 — Guest (not verified)

Add your comments...

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
CAPTCHA
This question verifies that you are a real human, and not a spam-loving robot.
5 + 6 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.