Although Korean veterinary technicians (VTs) received legal recognition through the national licensing examination introduced in 2021, empirical research on their salary levels and determinants has been lacking. This study surveyed 115 veterinarians (hospital directors) in two phases—Phase 1 (May 2025, Chungnam region, N=46) and Phase 2 (September 2025, nationwide, N=69)—to analyze the effects of certification status, career stage, region, and hospital size on VT salaries. Three key findings emerged. First, certified VTs earned significantly more than non-certified counterparts across all career stages (+1.67 to +2.40 million KRW/year; paired t-test, p<0.001; Cohen's d=0.705-0.744; Cohen, 1988), with the premium expanding with career stage (+43.7%). Second, salary increased significantly with career stage (F=33.595, p<0.001, η²=0.209), but the total increase (22.7%) was far narrower than in the US (64.2%), UK (38.8%), and Japan (58.5%). Third, regional salary differences were not statistically significant (F=0.35-0.49, p=0.62-0.71), confirmed after controlling for sampling bias (F=0.094, p=0.963). An integrated multiple regression model (N=520, R²=0.247) identified certification status (β=+203 ten-thousand KRW) and career length (β=+70 ten-thousand KRW/year) as significant predictors; however, 75.3% of variance remained unexplained, consistent with dual labor market theory. The employer-reported all-career average salary of 25.95 million KRW represents 53.1% of Korean nurses (48.85 million KRW) and 42.4% of US VTs (61.15 million KRW). Institutional improvements—including certification-based employment incentives, standardized salary guidelines, and clarified scope of practice—are urgently required.

Abstract
서 론
    연구 배경
    연구의 필요성
    연구 목적
재료 및 방법
    문헌 고찰
        동물보건사 제도의 현황
        임금 결정 이론과 본 연구에의 적용
    연구 방법
        연구 설계 및 대상
        측정 도구 및 분석 방법
결 과
    연구 결과
        경력별 임금 수준 및 자격증 프리미엄
        지역별 임금 차이
        병원 규모별 임금 차이
        간호사와의 임금 비교
        국제 비교 및 경력 상승폭 분석
        통합 다중 회귀분석
    논의
        자격증 프리미엄과 인적자본이론의 부분적 지지
        이중노동시장이론의 지지: 비체계적 임금 결정 구조
        전문성 인식과 처우의 괴리
        경력 상승폭의 구조적 협소함과 국제 비교
        국가별 업무범위 비교 및 전문성 확보 경로
        영국: Schedule 3에 기반한 자율적 업무 수행
        미국: 수의테크니션 스페셜리스트(VTS) 제도
        일본: 독립 법률에 기반한 ‘팀 수의료’ 실현
        한국 동물보건사 제도의 기형적 협소성과 임금 구조의상관성
        정책적 제언: 전문성 확보를 위한 3단계 입법 로드맵
        정책적 함의
고 찰
REFERENCES

• Goun Park(Department of Animal Health and Welfare, Hoseo University, Asan 31499, Korea)
• Seeun Park(Department of Animal Health and Welfare, Hoseo University, Asan 31499, Korea)
• Taeung Jung(Department of Animal Health and Welfare, Hoseo University, Asan 31499, Korea)
• Sujin Park(Department of Animal Health and Welfare, Hoseo University, Asan 31499, Korea) Corresponding author
• Chunghyun Kim(Department of Animal Health and Welfare, Hoseo University, Asan 31499, Korea) Corresponding author
• Sooyeon Kim(Korea Veterinary Technologist Association, Seoul 05356, Korea)
• Jisoo Kim(Korea Veterinary Technologist Association, Seoul 05356, Korea)