Animal Health Technologies at Gaston College

Dallas, NC · Public · Associate Degree · Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians

with a smaller student body of 3,359 in Dallas, NC.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $35,658 at Gaston College come in 10% above the national median of $32,474 for Animal Health Technologies programs.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 59.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Animal Health Technologies programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Animal Health Technologies's career paths, with 29% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 1% gap from the optimistic case.

At #26 of 169 nationally, this is a top-5% Animal Health Technologies program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Animal Health Technologies has a registered apprenticeship option through Veterinary/Lab Animal Tech (Alternate Title: Animal Care Specialist) with a median wage of $37,320/yr — worth exploring for students who prefer structured on-the-job training.

56 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
53
Low End
56
Score
56
High End
Earnings $35,658/yr (10% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (71% shielded)
Job Market Large (63,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$376K
1.2% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
59.0x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
3 of 3
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$6,372
Out-of-state: $18,660

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Animal Health Technologies graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620 +17.3% 52%
Veterinary technologists and technicians $45,980 +9.1% 84%
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers $37,320 +8.7% 78%
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
$105,620
+17.3% growth 52% AI-proof
Veterinary technologists and technicians
$45,980
+9.1% growth 84% AI-proof
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
$37,320
+8.7% growth 78% AI-proof

About Animal Health Technologies Careers

Your career begins on the front lines of animal care. You’ll be the one prepping a nervous dog for surgery, skillfully drawing blood for diagnostics, or running tests using lab equipment in a busy clinic or research facility. This is deeply hands-on work; you can’t comfort a frightened animal or assist in surgery from behind a computer screen. Your days are active, requiring both technical skill and compassion.

Read the full Animal Health Technologies career guide →

Compare & Explore

Animal Health Technologies Overview

Animal Health Technologies at Other Schools

Other Majors at Gaston College

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Animal Health Technologies at Gaston College?
A score of 56/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Animal Health Technologies field.
Why does Gaston College rank so high for Animal Health Technologies?
Among 169 Animal Health Technologies programs, Gaston College's #26 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
Is there demand for Animal Health Technologies workers?
The career paths mapped to Animal Health Technologies have roughly 63,900 combined annual openings nationally, making this a large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →