Being a veterinary office manager in Montana is more about running an office than animal care.
It may help to have a basic knowledge of what the veterinarian does, but it is more important to be able to run a business.
Having some experience of running an office is more important than any degree you might have.
There are no licensing requirements; just having the skills is what matters.
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Vet Office Manager Duties in Montana
A vet office manager in Montana does a lot of different things.
The person keeps things running smoothly so the vet can focus on animal care.
In some small operations, this could include being the receptionist.
The most essential task is financial oversight.
This would include paying bills, sending out bills, and collections.
Payroll and taxes might also be part of the package.
The office manager would keep the books in order and notify the vet of any issues.
Record keeping is another aspect of the job.
Keeping tabs on the budget is part of that, but it would also include keeping records of all the animals that are treated.
The office manager would also be in charge of the staff, sort of the human relations department.
This could include hiring, firing, training employees, and performance reviews.
Part of running the business also involves facility management.
This would mean arranging for cleaning and lawn services if needed.
Making sure the operation has all the supplies it needs would be another aspect.
Client retention and public relations could also come under the office manager’s umbrella.
Licensing Requirements in Montana
There are no licensing requirements for office managers in Montana since they are not directly involved in animal care.
What matters is being able to keep the ship sailing smoothly.
It would help to have some academic background in business administration or finance, but even that is not required.
Having experience running an office would matter more than any education or certification.
In a small operation, if the office manager did get involved in direct animal care it could get complicated.
Vet Office Manager Programs
Since there are no licensing requirements for vet office managers.
However, there are some formal programs to take in Montana.
Helena College
If an office manager did get involved in direct care for animals, a vet-tech license would be required.
That includes a two-year program and passing a state exam, but this is rarely done.
The office manager needs to know how to run a business and how to use some software applications.
Bitterroot College
Computer knowledge would also be essential.
Those skills can be obtained through business classes, but if you already have that knowledge, you could do well in the job without the formal education.
Top 2 Schools in Montana
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Helena College | 1115 N Roberts St #117, Helena, MT 59601, USA |
| Bitterroot College | 103 S 9th St, Hamilton, MT 59840, United States |
Salary
Veterinary office manager pay in Montana can vary by location.
In Billings, the median is $87,000, ranging from $68,000 to $106,000.
In Missoula, the median salary is $75,000, ranging from $56,000 to $93,000.
This is very close to the national average, which is $88,000, ranging from $70,000 to $109.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Vet Office Managers in Montana
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Belgrade | $75,188 |
| Kalispell | $80,458 |
| Billings | $85,175 |
| Missoula | $75,188 |
| Bozeman | $75,188 |
| Butte | $75,188 |
| Great Falls | $78,496 |
| Helena | $76,508 |
| Angela | $83,855 |
| Clinton | $75,188 |
Regional Salary in Montana
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 40 | $117,820 | $56.65 | $202,180 | $62,060 |
| Missoula, MT | 40 | $104,540 | $50.26 | $181,360 | $58,060 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What would an office manager need to know specifically about Montana?
The cold weather and how that impacts animals would be essential to running an office in Montana.
This would help the office manager answer questions about keeping animals warm.
The cold and snow could have an impact on scheduling, and workers may have a hard time getting to work.
Montana also has specific guidelines on vaccinations and tick control, which an office manager needs to understand.
What effect would Montana's being primarily rural have on an office manager?
There are often long distances to cover, so getting supplies might be more difficult, so more planning would be needed.
The longer distances would also mean that scheduling would be even more important.
Longer distances to travel could cause some hiccups at times.
In rural areas, there would be more focus on larger farm animals, and veterinarians may go to farms more often.
In cities, there would be more emphasis on house pets and small animals.
How much medical knowledge does an office manager need?
No medical knowledge is needed to do the job because the office manager is running the business, and not taking care of animals.
The actual administration of a business is not all that different in any business.
Even so, some knowledge would be helpful, but that could be obtained by just being in the facility.
A basic understanding would allow the office manager to answer general questions from the public and help staff with general directions.
Some knowledge of vaccinations, for instance, would be helpful to answer basic questions from customers.
What personality type would fit a good office manager in Montana?
A perfectionist-type personality might do well as an office manager in Montana.
The person needs to be able to do a wide variety of tasks, and great attention to detail is needed.
Record keeping, both financial and medical records, has to be kept with precision, and often, there is a lot to keep up with.
The person would need to be detail-oriented but also flexible to handle the wide variety of tasks involved.
