How much does a veterinary technologist and technician make?
The median veterinary technologist and technician in the United States earns $47,380 per year, about $22.78 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all veterinary technologists and technicians earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 29-2056.
Veterinary technologist and technician salary range
Pay for veterinary technologists and technicians spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $35,710 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $63,180. The average (mean) wage of $49,120 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,710 | $17.17 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $38,910 | $18.71 | |
| Median (50th) | $47,380 | $22.78 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $57,650 | $27.72 | |
| 90th percentile | $63,180 | $30.38 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for veterinary technologists and technicians (SOC 29-2056), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Veterinary technologist and technician salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Veterinary technologists and technicians earn the most in District of Columbia at $61,270 a year, and the least in Louisiana at $35,530. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $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 |
State median wages for veterinary technologists and technicians (SOC 29-2056), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for veterinary technologists and technicians
The BLS projects employment of veterinary technologists and technicians to grow 9.4% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 131,400 jobs in 2025 moving toward 143,800 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 13,400 openings a year for veterinary technologists and technicians. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a veterinary technologist and technician
The typical entry-level education for veterinary technologists and technicians is an associate's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a veterinary technologist and technician earns
Specialty, work setting, shift differentials, certifications, and region drive the numbers. Hospitals, surgical settings, and high cost metros pay above clinics and rural facilities.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (District of Columbia, $61,270) and the lowest (Louisiana, $35,530) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 129,140 people work as veterinary technologists and technicians in the United States. At $47,380 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Veterinary technologist and technician salary FAQ
How much does a veterinary technologist and technician make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a veterinary technologist and technician is $22.78. The middle half of veterinary technologists and technicians earn between $18.71 and $27.72 per hour.
What is the highest veterinary technologist and technician salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of veterinary technologists and technicians earn more than $63,180 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a veterinary technologist and technician make a year?
The median annual salary for a veterinary technologist and technician is $47,380. The average (mean) wage of $49,120 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a veterinary technologist and technician a well paid job?
At $47,380 a year, a veterinary technologist and technician earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 129,140 people work as veterinary technologists and technicians in the United States.
Which state pays veterinary technologists and technicians the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median salary for veterinary technologists and technicians at $61,270 a year. California ($60,630) and Washington ($59,740) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a veterinary technologist and technician a good career?
Employment of veterinary technologists and technicians is projected to grow 9.4% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 13,400 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a veterinary technologist and technician?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for veterinary technologists and technicians as an associate's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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