Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$47,380
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$22.78
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$63,180
entry level starts ~$35,710
Pay Grade
C+
modest pay · 129,000 employed

How much do Veterinary Technologists and Technicians make?

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians earn a median annual salary of $47,380 in the United States, which works out to roughly $22.78 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $35,710 at the entry level and $63,180 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $38,910 and $57,650 a year.

That is $14,010 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians salary range by percentile

Half of all Veterinary Technologists and Technicians earn between $38,910 and $57,650 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$35,710$17.17
25th percentile (early career)$38,910$18.71
50th percentile (median)$47,380$22.78
75th percentile (experienced)$57,650$27.72
90th percentile (top earners)$63,180$30.38

Highest-paying states for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. District of Columbia leads the country for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians pay at $61,270 a year, followed by California ($60,630) and Washington ($59,740). At the other end, Louisiana posts the lowest median at $35,530 — a gap of $25,740 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1District of Columbia$61,270$29.46+29%
2California$60,630$29.15+28%
3Washington$59,740$28.72+26%
4New York$59,010$28.37+25%
5Minnesota$57,270$27.53+21%

Workforce and education

About 129,000 people work as Veterinary Technologists and Technicians in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $49,120 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Veterinary Technologists and Technicians make in the United States?
The median Veterinary Technologists and Technicians salary in the United States is $47,380 per year, or about $22.78 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $35,710, while the top 10% of earners make $63,180 or more.
How does Veterinary Technologists and Technicians pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C+ (modest pay), the Veterinary Technologists and Technicians median of $47,380 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Veterinary Technologists and Technicians the most?
District of Columbia is the highest-paying state for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians, with a median salary of $61,270 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Veterinary Technologists and Technicians need?
For most positions, a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Veterinary Technologists and Technicians work in the United States?
About 129,000 people were employed as Veterinary Technologists and Technicians in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

Related salaries

Other healthcare roles with similar pay.

Emergency Medical Technician

$44,470
median pay · 181,000 employed

Psychiatric Aide

$44,910
median pay · 36,000 employed

Paramedic

$60,600
median pay · 101,000 employed

Occupational Therapy Aide

$39,160
median pay · 4,000 employed

Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

$38,150
median pay · 127,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.