Veterinary technologists and technicians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,710 | $17.17 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $47,380 | $22.78 |
| Mean (average) | $49,120 | $23.61 |
| 90th percentile | $63,180 | $30.38 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Veterinary technologists and technicians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $36,590 | $28,590 | $49,060 | 1,880 | 1.07 |
| Alaska | $46,480 | $37,010 | $75,820 | 380 | 1.42 |
| Arizona | $46,300 | $37,870 | $58,350 | 3,970 | 1.48 |
| Arkansas | $38,360 | $27,250 | $47,820 | 320 | 0.3 |
| California | $60,630 | $48,240 | $75,860 | 11,310 | 0.75 |
| Colorado | $49,650 | $37,820 | $60,380 | 3,720 | 1.56 |
| Connecticut | $50,950 | $41,480 | $75,090 | 1,690 | 1.2 |
| Delaware | $48,370 | $37,250 | $61,890 | 530 | 1.3 |
| District of Columbia | $61,270 | $50,390 | $81,990 | 120 | 0.21 |
| Florida | $46,380 | $36,600 | $57,870 | 11,380 | 1.38 |
| Georgia | $43,060 | $35,060 | $58,590 | 2,410 | 0.59 |
| Hawaii | $48,550 | $35,990 | $62,660 | 270 | 0.52 |
| Idaho | $42,120 | $31,900 | $48,660 | 790 | 1.12 |
| Illinois | $46,440 | $38,580 | $60,520 | 5,040 | 0.99 |
| Indiana | $48,720 | $37,820 | $59,490 | 1,820 | 0.68 |
| Iowa | $45,560 | $36,290 | $63,860 | 1,220 | 0.94 |
| Kansas | $45,810 | $36,780 | $58,250 | 1,270 | 1.06 |
| Kentucky | $39,590 | $28,490 | $50,530 | 1,670 | 1.01 |
| Louisiana | $35,530 | $28,490 | $47,690 | 2,220 | 1.38 |
| Maine | $50,810 | $47,340 | $57,690 | 910 | 1.71 |
| Maryland | $47,350 | $38,750 | $74,460 | 2,540 | 1.11 |
| Massachusetts | $49,540 | $37,500 | $64,470 | 3,990 | 1.32 |
| Michigan | $49,710 | $37,410 | $63,020 | 2,550 | 0.7 |
| Minnesota | $57,270 | $42,640 | $65,120 | 3,560 | 1.45 |
| Mississippi | $36,380 | $29,120 | $46,710 | 650 | 0.67 |
| Missouri | $43,520 | $31,940 | $49,260 | 2,040 | 0.84 |
| Montana | $41,170 | $35,420 | $57,660 | 480 | 1.12 |
| Nebraska | $43,680 | $37,770 | $57,310 | 690 | 0.81 |
| Nevada | $50,250 | $34,700 | $65,420 | 1,120 | 0.87 |
| New Hampshire | $48,780 | $37,450 | $60,840 | 870 | 1.53 |
| New Jersey | $49,050 | $37,870 | $75,310 | 2,910 | 0.82 |
| New Mexico | $44,790 | $31,350 | $56,870 | 890 | 1.23 |
| New York | $59,010 | $47,640 | $78,760 | 5,350 | 0.66 |
| North Carolina | $47,620 | $35,890 | $59,420 | 2,580 | 0.63 |
| North Dakota | $48,790 | $35,960 | $56,980 | 340 | 0.97 |
| Ohio | $47,990 | $34,760 | $61,360 | 4,790 | 1.04 |
| Oklahoma | $39,100 | $31,390 | $53,880 | 1,060 | 0.74 |
| Oregon | $55,810 | $39,920 | $77,710 | 1,120 | 0.69 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,430 | $36,480 | $60,280 | 6,620 | 1.31 |
| Puerto Rico | $27,970 | $22,730 | $54,600 | 480 | 0.62 |
| Rhode Island | $45,310 | $37,570 | $63,590 | 530 | 1.27 |
| South Carolina | $39,020 | $33,870 | $57,970 | 2,540 | 1.33 |
| South Dakota | $45,300 | $35,780 | $50,440 | 300 | 0.79 |
| Tennessee | $42,810 | $31,660 | $57,040 | 1,640 | 0.6 |
| Texas | $39,410 | $30,320 | $54,610 | 16,730 | 1.43 |
| Utah | $40,560 | $29,640 | $55,330 | 1,550 | 1.08 |
| Vermont | $49,490 | $48,050 | $58,430 | 390 | 1.53 |
| Virginia | $52,090 | $35,590 | $75,770 | 2,790 | 0.82 |
| Washington | $59,740 | $46,390 | $77,300 | 2,290 | 0.78 |
| West Virginia | $37,700 | $29,430 | $48,170 | 400 | 0.69 |
| Wisconsin | $47,020 | $37,900 | $59,110 | 2,590 | 1.06 |
| Wyoming | $38,650 | $28,630 | $49,260 | 310 | 1.33 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for veterinary technologists and technicians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 13,400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for veterinary technologists and technicians
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant CIP 01.8301
- Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians, Other CIP 01.8399
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Administer anesthesia to animals, under the direction of a veterinarian, and monitor animals' responses to anesthetics so that dosages can be adjusted.
- Care for and monitor the condition of animals recovering from surgery.
- Maintain controlled drug inventory and related log books.
- Perform laboratory tests on blood, urine, or feces, such as urinalyses or blood counts, to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of animal health problems.
- Prepare and administer medications, vaccines, serums, or treatments, as prescribed by veterinarians.
- Restrain animals during exams or procedures.
- Administer emergency first aid, such as performing emergency resuscitation or other life saving procedures.
- Clean and sterilize instruments, equipment, or materials.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Animal Intelligence Software Animal Intelligence
- FileMaker Pro
- McAllister Software Systems AVImark
- Practice management software PMS
- Veterinary practice management software PMS
- Web browser software
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management.
Common job titles: Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT), Emergency Veterinary Technician (Emergency Vet Tech), Internal Medicine Veterinary Technician (Internal Medicine Vet Tech), Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT), Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT), Veterinarian Technician (Vet Tech), Veterinary Laboratory Technician (Vet Lab Tech), Veterinary Nurse (Vet Nurse), Veterinary Technician (Vet Tech), Veterinary Technologist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do veterinary technologists and technicians make?
The national median annual wage for veterinary technologists and technicians was $47,380 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $35,710 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $63,180. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do veterinary technologists and technicians need?
BLS lists associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is veterinary technologists and technicians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of veterinary technologists and technicians to change +9.4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 13,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay veterinary technologists and technicians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($61,270), California ($60,630), Washington ($59,740). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.