29 Series · SOC 29-2056

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$47,380
Median / year
+3%
2024→2025
$63,180
Top 10% earn
+9.1%
Growth '24–'34
129,140
Estimated US jobs

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians earn a median of $47,380 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $47,380, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $35,710 (10th percentile) to $63,180 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 129,140 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is District of Columbia ($61,270).

29 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians earn a median of $47,380, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 26% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Healthcare Practitioners and Technical, it ranks #65 of 71 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 9.1% by 2034.

$47,380
Median annual wage
Top 74%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#65 of 71
in Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
1.8×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: District of Columbia at $61,270. Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.

Observed pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025

May 2019 → May 2025
  • The published national median for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians moved from $35,320 in May 2019 to $47,380 in May 2025 (+34.1%).
  • Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
  • Veterinary Technologists and Technicians sits +9.7 pp ahead of that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians (SOC 29-2056) has a national median of $47,380 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $35,710 to $63,180, and the published mean is $49,120. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 129,140 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 52 state or territory areas and 433 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $45,980 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $47,380 in May 2025, a rise of $1,400 (+3%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +9.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as much faster than average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 14,300 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns Associate's degree as typical education needed for entry. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. District of Columbia pays the highest state median at $61,270, which is +29% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $71,090. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.

BLS OEWS May 2025 129,140 jobs Median $47,380/yr

Median Salary

$47,380

per year

Median Hourly

$22.78/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$49,120

average

Employment

129,140

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Veterinary Technologists and Technicians pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$47,380 Bottom 26% higher than 26% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000 and above: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $180,000+ every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$20,000 0 US occupations 0%
$20,000–$40,000 98 US occupations 12%
$40,000–$60,000 (this entry) 298 US occupations 36%
$60,000–$80,000 209 US occupations 25%
$80,000–$100,000 82 US occupations 10%
$100,000–$120,000 58 US occupations 7%
$120,000–$140,000 32 US occupations 4%
$140,000–$160,000 14 US occupations 2%
$160,000–$180,000 9 US occupations 1%
$180,000 and above 25 US occupations 3%

$47,380 · 26th percentile of 825 US occupations

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 29-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Veterinary Technologists and Technicians; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 24 29-series occupations with growth data, Veterinary Technologists and Technicians sits on the faster-growing side at +9.1% growth and $47,380 median pay. Scatter plot of 24 data points. $0$50000$100000$150000$200000$250000$300000 0%10%20%30%40%50% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage Registered Nurses - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.9% · Median annual wage: $97550Licensed Practical a… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.6% · Median annual wage: $64400Pharmacy Technicians - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 6.4% · Median annual wage: $45750Physicians, All Other - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.5% · Median annual wage: $265930Clinical Laboratory … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.7% · Median annual wage: $62930Nurse Practitioners - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 40.1% · Median annual wage: $132300Pharmacists - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.6% · Median annual wage: $140910Physical Therapists - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 10.9% · Median annual wage: $102760Radiologic Technolog… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.3% · Median annual wage: $80110Dental Hygienists - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 7% · Median annual wage: $98100Medical Records Spec… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 7.1% · Median annual wage: $51140Speech-Language Path… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 15% · Median annual wage: $97870Health Technologists… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.2% · Median annual wage: $50290Emergency Medical Te… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.1% · Median annual wage: $44470Occupational Therapi… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 13.8% · Median annual wage: $100330Physician Assistants - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 20.4% · Median annual wage: $135880Psychiatric Technici… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 20% · Median annual wage: $45130Respiratory Therapists - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 12.1% · Median annual wage: $82280Veterinary Technolog… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 9.1% · Median annual wage: $47380Dentists, General - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.1% · Median annual wage: $170950Surgical Technologists - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.5% · Median annual wage: $64650Family Medicine Phys… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.7% · Median annual wage: $244180Paramedics - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5% · Median annual wage: $60600Diagnostic Medical S… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 13% · Median annual wage: $96590
Among 24 29-series occupations with growth data, Veterinary Technologists and Technicians sits on the faster-growing side at +9.1% growth and $47,380 median pay.
Read the chart as text
  • Registered Nurses: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.9%, Median annual wage $97550
  • Licensed Practical a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.6%, Median annual wage $64400
  • Pharmacy Technicians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.4%, Median annual wage $45750
  • Physicians, All Other: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.5%, Median annual wage $265930
  • Clinical Laboratory …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.7%, Median annual wage $62930
  • Nurse Practitioners: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 40.1%, Median annual wage $132300
  • Pharmacists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.6%, Median annual wage $140910
  • Physical Therapists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 10.9%, Median annual wage $102760
  • Radiologic Technolog…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.3%, Median annual wage $80110
  • Dental Hygienists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7%, Median annual wage $98100
  • Medical Records Spec…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7.1%, Median annual wage $51140
  • Speech-Language Path…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 15%, Median annual wage $97870
  • Health Technologists…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.2%, Median annual wage $50290
  • Emergency Medical Te…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.1%, Median annual wage $44470
  • Occupational Therapi…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 13.8%, Median annual wage $100330
  • Physician Assistants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 20.4%, Median annual wage $135880
  • Psychiatric Technici…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 20%, Median annual wage $45130
  • Respiratory Therapists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 12.1%, Median annual wage $82280
  • Veterinary Technolog…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 9.1%, Median annual wage $47380
  • Dentists, General: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.1%, Median annual wage $170950
  • Surgical Technologists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $64650
  • Family Medicine Phys…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.7%, Median annual wage $244180
  • Paramedics: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5%, Median annual wage $60600
  • Diagnostic Medical S…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 13%, Median annual wage $96590

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+9.1%

Much faster than average

Annual Openings

14,300

per year (projected)

Employment Change

+12,200

134,200 (2024) → 146,400 (2034)

Typical Education

Associate's degree

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
Group

Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations context

Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade

Fatality Rate

0.7/100K

Injury Rate

1.5/100

Danger Index

6.4/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Active Listening 3.8
Critical Thinking 3.8
Reading Comprehension 3.6
Speaking 3.6
Writing 3.3
Monitoring 3.3
Complex Problem Solving 3.3
Active Learning 3.1
Social Perceptiveness 3.1
Coordination 3.1

Knowledge Areas

Medicine and Dentistry 4.1
Customer and Personal Service 4.1
Biology 4.0
English Language 4.0
Mathematics 3.5
Chemistry 3.3
Computers and Electronics 3.0
Administrative 2.9
Education and Training 2.9
Sales and Marketing 2.7

Key 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.
  • Provide veterinarians with the correct equipment or instruments, as needed.
  • Perform dental work, such as cleaning, polishing, or extracting teeth.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$35,710
25th$38,910
Median$47,380
75th$57,650
90th$63,180

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th$17.17
25th$18.71
Median$22.78
75th$27.72
90th$30.38

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians pay history, 2015–2025

Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.

$30,000$35,000$40,000$45,000$50,000 20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 National median - 2015: $31,800National median - 2016: $32,490National median - 2017: $33,400National median - 2018: $34,420National median - 2019: $35,320National median - 2020: $36,260National median - 2021: $36,850National median - 2022: $38,240National median - 2023: $43,740National median - 2024: $45,980National median - 2025: $47,380$47,380
National median annual wage for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians, May 2015 to May 2025 OEWS releases
Read the chart as text
Period National median
2015 $31,800
2016 $32,490
2017 $33,400
2018 $34,420
2019 $35,320
2020 $36,260
2021 $36,850
2022 $38,240
2023 $43,740
2024 $45,980
2025 $47,380

2015 median

$31,800

2025 median

$47,380

2019–2025 change (same SOC)

+$12,060 (+34.1%)

Avg/year (same SOC)

+5%

Published national median annual wage and estimated employment for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians by OEWS release year
Release Median Change Estimated jobs
May 2015 $31,800 First banked release 95,790
May 2016 $32,490 +2.2% 99,390
May 2017 $33,400 +2.8% 103,430
May 2018 $34,420 +3.1% 106,680
May 2019 $35,320 Classification break 110,650
May 2020 $36,260 +2.7% 109,490
May 2021 $36,850 +1.6% 118,670
May 2022 $38,240 +3.8% 118,750
May 2023 $43,740 +14.4% 122,000
May 2024 $45,980 +5.1% 131,320
May 2025 $47,380 +3.0% 129,140

Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $31,800 in May 2015 to $47,380 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +5% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 110,650 in May 2019 to 129,140 in May 2025.

Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.

Salary by State

View all 52 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 District of Columbia $61,270 +29% above national
2 California $60,630 +28% above national
3 Washington $59,740 +26% above national
4 New York $59,010 +25% above national
5 Minnesota $57,270 +21% above national
6 Oregon $55,810 +18% above national
7 Virginia $52,090 +10% above national
8 Connecticut $50,950 +8% above national
9 Maine $50,810 +7% above national
10 Nevada $50,250 +6% above national
11 Michigan $49,710 +5% above national
12 Colorado $49,650 +5% above national
13 Massachusetts $49,540 +5% above national
14 Vermont $49,490 +4% above national
15 New Jersey $49,050 +4% above national
16 North Dakota $48,790 +3% above national
17 New Hampshire $48,780 +3% above national
18 Indiana $48,720 +3% above national
19 Hawaii $48,550 +2% above national
20 Delaware $48,370 +2% above national
21 Ohio $47,990 +1% above national
22 North Carolina $47,620 +1% above national
23 Maryland $47,350 same as national
24 Wisconsin $47,020 1% below national
25 Alaska $46,480 2% below national
26 Illinois $46,440 2% below national
27 Pennsylvania $46,430 2% below national
28 Florida $46,380 2% below national
29 Arizona $46,300 2% below national
30 Kansas $45,810 3% below national
31 Iowa $45,560 4% below national
32 Rhode Island $45,310 4% below national
33 South Dakota $45,300 4% below national
34 New Mexico $44,790 5% below national
35 Nebraska $43,680 8% below national
36 Missouri $43,520 8% below national
37 Georgia $43,060 9% below national
38 Tennessee $42,810 10% below national
39 Idaho $42,120 11% below national
40 Montana $41,170 13% below national
41 Utah $40,560 14% below national
42 Kentucky $39,590 16% below national
43 Texas $39,410 17% below national
44 Oklahoma $39,100 17% below national
45 South Carolina $39,020 18% below national
46 Wyoming $38,650 18% below national
47 Arkansas $38,360 19% below national
48 West Virginia $37,700 20% below national
49 Alabama $36,590 23% below national
50 Mississippi $36,380 23% below national
51 Louisiana $35,530 25% below national
52 Puerto Rico $27,970 41% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 312 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $71,090 +50% above national
2 Corvallis, OR $67,960 +43% above national
3 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $67,280 +42% above national
4 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $62,810 +33% above national
5 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $61,940 +31% above national
6 Salinas, CA $61,330 +29% above national
7 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $61,260 +29% above national
8 Vallejo, CA $61,230 +29% above national
9 Kennewick-Richland, WA $61,070 +29% above national
10 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $60,970 +29% above national
11 Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $60,830 +28% above national
12 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $60,670 +28% above national
13 Napa, CA $60,410 +28% above national
14 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $60,410 +28% above national
15 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $60,280 +27% above national
16 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $59,680 +26% above national
17 Bellingham, WA $59,360 +25% above national
18 Modesto, CA $59,360 +25% above national
19 Chico, CA $59,300 +25% above national
20 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $59,260 +25% above national
21 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $59,090 +25% above national
22 Kingston, NY $59,060 +25% above national
23 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $58,750 +24% above national
24 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $58,690 +24% above national
25 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $58,510 +23% above national
26 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $58,490 +23% above national
27 Yuba City, CA $58,310 +23% above national
28 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $58,300 +23% above national
29 Reno, NV $58,160 +23% above national
30 Fresno, CA $58,080 +23% above national
31 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $57,720 +22% above national
32 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $57,630 +22% above national
33 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $57,100 +21% above national
34 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $56,580 +19% above national
35 Ithaca, NY $56,420 +19% above national
36 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $56,410 +19% above national
37 Stockton-Lodi, CA $56,010 +18% above national
38 Rochester, MN $55,750 +18% above national
39 Bakersfield-Delano, CA $55,730 +18% above national
40 Kahului-Wailuku, HI $54,950 +16% above national
41 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $54,730 +16% above national
42 Bend, OR $54,110 +14% above national
43 Midland, MI $53,830 +14% above national
44 Lansing-East Lansing, MI $53,450 +13% above national
45 Richmond, VA $53,220 +12% above national
46 Champaign-Urbana, IL $53,110 +12% above national
47 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $53,100 +12% above national
48 Charlottesville, VA $53,060 +12% above national
49 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $52,420 +11% above national
50 Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN $52,160 +10% above national
51 Eau Claire, WI $52,140 +10% above national
52 Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA $51,960 +10% above national
53 Medford, OR $51,900 +10% above national
54 Manhattan, KS $51,610 +9% above national
55 Glens Falls, NY $51,450 +9% above national
56 Redding, CA $51,410 +9% above national
57 Bismarck, ND $51,390 +8% above national
58 Boulder, CO $51,350 +8% above national
59 Syracuse, NY $51,180 +8% above national
60 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $51,160 +8% above national
61 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $50,970 +8% above national
62 Portland-South Portland, ME $50,890 +7% above national
63 Ames, IA $50,730 +7% above national
64 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI $50,720 +7% above national
65 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $50,660 +7% above national
66 Utica-Rome, NY $50,440 +6% above national
67 Merced, CA $50,420 +6% above national
68 Raleigh-Cary, NC $50,240 +6% above national
69 Eugene-Springfield, OR $50,140 +6% above national
70 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $50,100 +6% above national
71 Burlington-South Burlington, VT $50,060 +6% above national
72 Knoxville, TN $50,010 +6% above national
73 Barnstable Town, MA $49,940 +5% above national
74 Ann Arbor, MI $49,900 +5% above national
75 Anchorage, AK $49,850 +5% above national
76 Rochester, NY $49,810 +5% above national
77 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $49,710 +5% above national
78 Fargo, ND-MN $49,310 +4% above national
79 Salem, OR $49,310 +4% above national
80 Lewiston-Auburn, ME $49,270 +4% above national
81 Columbus, OH $49,260 +4% above national
82 Waterbury-Shelton, CT $49,200 +4% above national
83 Monroe, MI $49,160 +4% above national
84 Greensboro-High Point, NC $49,090 +4% above national
85 Flint, MI $49,060 +4% above national
86 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $49,030 +3% above national
87 Binghamton, NY $49,000 +3% above national
88 Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $48,900 +3% above national
89 Manchester-Nashua, NH $48,830 +3% above national
90 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $48,730 +3% above national
91 Cleveland, OH $48,620 +3% above national
92 Bangor, ME $48,510 +2% above national
93 Amherst Town-Northampton, MA $48,490 +2% above national
94 Mankato, MN $48,470 +2% above national
95 Fort Wayne, IN $48,430 +2% above national
96 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $48,380 +2% above national
97 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $48,370 +2% above national
98 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $48,340 +2% above national
99 Duluth, MN-WI $48,270 +2% above national
100 Traverse City, MI $48,250 +2% above national
101 Madison, WI $48,240 +2% above national
102 Evansville, IN $48,220 +2% above national
103 Worcester, MA $48,180 +2% above national
104 Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL $48,070 +1% above national
105 Urban Honolulu, HI $48,070 +1% above national
106 Toledo, OH $47,860 +1% above national
107 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $47,820 +1% above national
108 Trenton-Princeton, NJ $47,820 +1% above national
109 Saginaw, MI $47,790 +1% above national
110 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $47,780 +1% above national
111 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $47,770 +1% above national
112 Springfield, MA $47,770 +1% above national
113 Iowa City, IA $47,720 +1% above national
114 Battle Creek, MI $47,680 +1% above national
115 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $47,620 +1% above national
116 Wilmington, NC $47,620 +1% above national
117 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $47,610 same as national
118 Bozeman, MT $47,500 same as national
119 Jackson, MI $47,470 same as national
120 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI $47,440 same as national
121 St. Cloud, MN $47,390 same as national
122 Visalia, CA $47,350 same as national
123 Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI $47,250 same as national
124 Michigan City-La Porte, IN $47,230 same as national
125 Harrisonburg, VA $47,120 1% below national
126 Akron, OH $47,110 1% below national
127 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $47,100 1% below national
128 Naples-Marco Island, FL $47,090 1% below national
129 Winston-Salem, NC $47,050 1% below national
130 Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL $47,020 1% below national
131 Asheville, NC $46,990 1% below national
132 Roanoke, VA $46,970 1% below national
133 Bloomington, IL $46,940 1% below national
134 Wausau, WI $46,890 1% below national
135 Appleton, WI $46,880 1% below national
136 Green Bay, WI $46,820 1% below national
137 Rockford, IL $46,760 1% below national
138 Springfield, IL $46,740 1% below national
139 Greeley, CO $46,720 1% below national
140 Lawrence, KS $46,700 1% below national
141 Albuquerque, NM $46,650 2% below national
142 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $46,650 2% below national
143 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $46,650 2% below national
144 Colorado Springs, CO $46,630 2% below national
145 Jacksonville, FL $46,570 2% below national
146 Canton-Massillon, OH $46,540 2% below national
147 Sioux Falls, SD-MN $46,490 2% below national
148 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $46,390 2% below national
149 Springfield, OH $46,350 2% below national
150 Pittsfield, MA $46,330 2% below national
151 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $46,310 2% below national
152 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY $46,300 2% below national
153 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $46,290 2% below national
154 Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA $46,280 2% below national
155 Kansas City, MO-KS $46,260 2% below national
156 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $46,160 3% below national
157 Santa Fe, NM $46,160 3% below national
158 Grand Junction, CO $46,060 3% below national
159 Lynchburg, VA $46,030 3% below national
160 Lancaster, PA $46,020 3% below national
161 Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $46,010 3% below national
162 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN $45,930 3% below national
163 Kenosha, WI $45,880 3% below national
164 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $45,860 3% below national
165 Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL $45,820 3% below national
166 Chambersburg, PA $45,800 3% below national
167 Elkhart-Goshen, IN $45,790 3% below national
168 Lincoln, NE $45,750 3% below national
169 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $45,740 3% below national
170 Reading, PA $45,570 4% below national
171 Salisbury, MD $45,530 4% below national
172 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $45,510 4% below national
173 Youngstown-Warren, OH $45,430 4% below national
174 Pittsburgh, PA $45,420 4% below national
175 Topeka, KS $45,390 4% below national
176 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $45,350 4% below national
177 Punta Gorda, FL $45,250 4% below national
178 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $45,240 5% below national
179 Rapid City, SD $45,210 5% below national
180 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA $45,210 5% below national
181 Bloomington, IN $45,190 5% below national
182 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $45,140 5% below national
183 York-Hanover, PA $45,120 5% below national
184 Tulsa, OK $45,110 5% below national
185 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $45,100 5% below national
186 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $45,090 5% below national
187 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $45,070 5% below national
188 Lexington Park, MD $45,070 5% below national
189 Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ $44,980 5% below national
190 Janesville-Beloit, WI $44,970 5% below national
191 Omaha, NE-IA $44,970 5% below national
192 State College, PA $44,940 5% below national
193 Dover, DE $44,920 5% below national
194 Gettysburg, PA $44,860 5% below national
195 St. Louis, MO-IL $44,860 5% below national
196 College Station-Bryan, TX $44,850 5% below national
197 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL $44,830 5% below national
198 Columbia, MO $44,810 5% below national
199 Morgantown, WV $44,780 5% below national
200 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $44,740 6% below national
201 Coeur d'Alene, ID $44,740 6% below national
202 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $44,710 6% below national
203 Fayetteville, NC $44,700 6% below national
204 Port St. Lucie, FL $44,700 6% below national
205 Cedar Rapids, IA $44,650 6% below national
206 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $44,640 6% below national
207 Wichita, KS $44,640 6% below national
208 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $44,620 6% below national
209 St. George, UT $44,440 6% below national
210 Boise City, ID $44,410 6% below national
211 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $44,360 6% below national
212 Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ $44,330 6% below national
213 Tucson, AZ $44,260 7% below national
214 Peoria, IL $44,140 7% below national
215 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $44,110 7% below national
216 Flagstaff, AZ $43,960 7% below national
217 Cheyenne, WY $43,780 8% below national
218 Missoula, MT $43,510 8% below national
219 Lexington-Fayette, KY $43,430 8% below national
220 Tallahassee, FL $43,360 8% below national
221 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $43,050 9% below national
222 Ocala, FL $42,890 9% below national
223 Burlington, NC $42,640 10% below national
224 Williamsport, PA $42,610 10% below national
225 Altoona, PA $42,070 11% below national
226 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $41,980 11% below national
227 Charleston, WV $41,710 12% below national
228 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $41,530 12% below national
229 Sioux City, IA-NE-SD $41,130 13% below national
230 Dubuque, IA $41,070 13% below national
231 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $40,770 14% below national
232 Greenville, NC $40,580 14% below national
233 Oklahoma City, OK $40,260 15% below national
234 Homosassa Springs, FL $40,210 15% below national
235 Cape Girardeau, MO-IL $40,160 15% below national
236 Jefferson City, MO $40,100 15% below national
237 Gainesville, FL $40,060 15% below national
238 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $39,710 16% below national
239 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $39,560 17% below national
240 Midland, TX $39,400 17% below national
241 Sebring, FL $39,240 17% below national
242 Erie, PA $39,110 17% below national
243 Joplin, MO-KS $39,080 18% below national
244 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $39,070 18% below national
245 Lebanon, PA $39,010 18% below national
246 Chattanooga, TN-GA $39,000 18% below national
247 Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL $38,720 18% below national
248 Idaho Falls, ID $38,600 19% below national
249 Wildwood-The Villages, FL $38,580 19% below national
250 Springfield, MO $38,530 19% below national
251 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $38,430 19% below national
252 Columbia, SC $38,390 19% below national
253 Gainesville, GA $38,230 19% below national
254 Clarksville, TN-KY $38,190 19% below national
255 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC $38,100 20% below national
256 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX $38,090 20% below national
257 Las Cruces, NM $38,070 20% below national
258 Savannah, GA $37,920 20% below national
259 Ogden, UT $37,870 20% below national
260 Killeen-Temple, TX $37,850 20% below national
261 Sherman-Denison, TX $37,760 20% below national
262 Twin Falls, ID $37,730 20% below national
263 Billings, MT $37,640 21% below national
264 Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $37,590 21% below national
265 Mobile, AL $37,590 21% below national
266 Waco, TX $37,560 21% below national
267 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $37,300 21% below national
268 Tuscaloosa, AL $37,270 21% below national
269 Huntsville, AL $37,140 22% below national
270 Longview, TX $37,130 22% below national
271 Birmingham, AL $37,100 22% below national
272 Auburn-Opelika, AL $37,080 22% below national
273 Warner Robins, GA $36,990 22% below national
274 Abilene, TX $36,980 22% below national
275 Pocatello, ID $36,980 22% below national
276 Corpus Christi, TX $36,850 22% below national
277 Johnson City, TN $36,830 22% below national
278 Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ $36,760 22% below national
279 Johnstown, PA $36,730 22% below national
280 Jackson, MS $36,680 23% below national
281 Macon-Bibb County, GA $36,680 23% below national
282 Athens-Clarke County, GA $36,670 23% below national
283 Florence, SC $36,660 23% below national
284 Spartanburg, SC $36,660 23% below national
285 San Angelo, TX $36,640 23% below national
286 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $36,620 23% below national
287 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC $36,600 23% below national
288 Columbus, GA-AL $36,410 23% below national
289 Victoria, TX $36,290 23% below national
290 El Paso, TX $36,240 24% below national
291 Wheeling, WV-OH $36,080 24% below national
292 Decatur, AL $35,980 24% below national
293 Bowling Green, KY $35,960 24% below national
294 Laredo, TX $35,940 24% below national
295 Baton Rouge, LA $35,760 25% below national
296 New Orleans-Metairie, LA $35,660 25% below national
297 Logan, UT-ID $35,520 25% below national
298 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX $35,460 25% below national
299 Lake Charles, LA $35,370 25% below national
300 Odessa, TX $35,360 25% below national
301 Alexandria, LA $35,270 26% below national
302 Shreveport-Bossier City, LA $35,200 26% below national
303 Hattiesburg, MS $35,040 26% below national
304 Lafayette, LA $34,800 27% below national
305 Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA $34,700 27% below national
306 Hammond, LA $34,500 27% below national
307 Monroe, LA $32,360 32% below national
308 Montgomery, AL $30,520 36% below national
309 Dothan, AL $30,210 36% below national
310 Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL $29,520 38% below national
311 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $28,150 41% below national
312 Arecibo, PR $24,810 48% below national

Same SOC major group

Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 29 (Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.

Showing 5 of 70 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.

Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale

Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($47,380 here) and reported employment (129,140 jobs here).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Veterinary Technologists and Technicians make?
The median annual salary for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians is $47,380 ($22.78/hour). The salary range spans from $35,710 at the 10th percentile to $63,180 at the 90th percentile.
Where does Veterinary Technologists and Technicians pay rank nationally?
At a published national median of $47,380, Veterinary Technologists and Technicians pay is higher than 26% of the 825 detailed occupations with a published BLS annual median in the May 2025 OEWS release. This compares occupation-level medians, not individual workers, job offers, or this occupation's own worker pay-percentile range.
What state pays Veterinary Technologists and Technicians the most?
District of Columbia pays the highest median salary for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians at $61,270/year, which is +29% above the national median.
What education do Veterinary Technologists and Technicians need?
BLS assigns Veterinary Technologists and Technicians to Associate's degree for typical education needed for entry.
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians?
BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians in this release. WageDex shows the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations SOC-group rate only as broad context and does not rank it as this occupation's measured rate.
Is Veterinary Technologists and Technicians a good career?
Employment for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians is projected to grow 9.1% from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than average. About 14,300 openings are projected each year.
How does Veterinary Technologists and Technicians pay vary by state?
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $61,270/year, while Puerto Rico pays the least at $27,970/year. BLS data covers 52 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians?
The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $71,090/year. BLS reports a median for 312 metropolitan areas for this occupation. The ranking does not establish why values differ.

What to do with this data

How to use Veterinary Technologists and Technicians pay figures in a real decision

  • The 75th-percentile wage is about $57,650/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: District of Columbia leads at $61,270/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.