SOC 29-2056 · BLS occupation: Veterinary Technologist & Technician · May 2025
Vet Tech Salary
Veterinary Technologist & Technicians in the US earn a median of $47,380 a year ($23.61 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Veterinary Technologist & Technician pay climbed from $36,670 in 2019 to $49,120 in 2025, a +34.0% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$47,380
Half of all Veterinary Technologist & Technicians in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+34.0% since 2019 · +6.1% YoY
Hourly
$23.61
Job growth 2025-35
+9.4%
US workers
129,140
BLS series
Annual median wage for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Veterinary Technologist & Technicians is $35,710 – $63,180.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$35,710
25th
$38,910
Median
$47,380
75th
$57,650
90th
$63,180
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Veterinary Technologist & Technicians. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $35,710 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $38,910 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $47,380 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $57,650 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $63,180 |
Geography
Veterinary Technologist & Technician pay by state
Veterinary Technologist & Technicians earn the most in D.C. ($61,270, +29% against the national median) and the least in Louisiana ($35,530). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$47,380
Highest-paying states for veterinary technologist & technicians
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| D.C. | $61,270 | +29% | 120 |
| California | $60,630 | +28% | 11,310 |
| Washington | $59,740 | +26% | 2,290 |
| New York | $59,010 | +25% | 5,350 |
| Minnesota | $57,270 | +21% | 3,560 |
| Oregon | $55,810 | +18% | 1,120 |
| Virginia | $52,090 | +10% | 2,790 |
| Connecticut | $50,950 | +8% | 1,690 |
| Maine | $50,810 | +7% | 910 |
| Nevada | $50,250 | +6% | 1,120 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| D.C. | $61,270 | 120 |
| California | $60,630 | 11,310 |
| Washington | $59,740 | 2,290 |
| New York | $59,010 | 5,350 |
| Minnesota | $57,270 | 3,560 |
| Oregon | $55,810 | 1,120 |
| Virginia | $52,090 | 2,790 |
| Connecticut | $50,950 | 1,690 |
| Maine | $50,810 | 910 |
| Nevada | $50,250 | 1,120 |
| Michigan | $49,710 | 2,550 |
| Colorado | $49,650 | 3,720 |
| Massachusetts | $49,540 | 3,990 |
| Vermont | $49,490 | 390 |
| New Jersey | $49,050 | 2,910 |
| North Dakota | $48,790 | 340 |
| New Hampshire | $48,780 | 870 |
| Indiana | $48,720 | 1,820 |
| Hawaii | $48,550 | 270 |
| Delaware | $48,370 | 530 |
| Ohio | $47,990 | 4,790 |
| North Carolina | $47,620 | 2,580 |
| Maryland | $47,350 | 2,540 |
| Wisconsin | $47,020 | 2,590 |
| Alaska | $46,480 | 380 |
| Illinois | $46,440 | 5,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,430 | 6,620 |
| Florida | $46,380 | 11,380 |
| Arizona | $46,300 | 3,970 |
| Kansas | $45,810 | 1,270 |
| Iowa | $45,560 | 1,220 |
| Rhode Island | $45,310 | 530 |
| South Dakota | $45,300 | 300 |
| New Mexico | $44,790 | 890 |
| Nebraska | $43,680 | 690 |
| Missouri | $43,520 | 2,040 |
| Georgia | $43,060 | 2,410 |
| Tennessee | $42,810 | 1,640 |
| Idaho | $42,120 | 790 |
| Montana | $41,170 | 480 |
| Utah | $40,560 | 1,550 |
| Kentucky | $39,590 | 1,670 |
| Texas | $39,410 | 16,730 |
| Oklahoma | $39,100 | 1,060 |
| South Carolina | $39,020 | 2,540 |
| Wyoming | $38,650 | 310 |
| Arkansas | $38,360 | 320 |
| West Virginia | $37,700 | 400 |
| Alabama | $36,590 | 1,880 |
| Mississippi | $36,380 | 650 |
| Louisiana | $35,530 | 2,220 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Veterinary Technologist & Technicians
Veterinary technicians assist veterinarians with animal care, running lab tests, taking X-rays, preparing animals for surgery, and educating pet owners. Most complete a 2-year accredited program and pass the VTNE national exam to become credentialed.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $35,710 – $63,180. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are D.C., California and Washington. Pay in D.C. runs 1.7 times the level in Louisiana, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as associate's degree, and projects about 13,400 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 9.4% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Veterinary Technologist & Technician salary in the US?
How much does a Veterinary Technologist & Technician make an hour?
How much do Veterinary Technologist & Technicians make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Veterinary Technologist & Technicians the most?
Is the average Veterinary Technologist & Technician salary higher than the median?
Is Veterinary Technologist & Technician a growing career?
Open positions
Open Veterinary Technologist & Technician roles hiring now
Browse current Veterinary Technologist & Technician listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 29-2056. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.