Veterinary technician salary in 2026.
The national median is $47,380 per year ($22.78/hr) for credentialed vet techs. Range: $35,710 at the 10th percentile to $63,180 at the 90th. Use the chart below to estimate your own pay across state, specialty, credential, experience, and setting.
National wage distribution / annual
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Five inputs. One personalised estimate.
Most calculators use only state. This one layers BLS state means with NAVTA-survey multipliers for experience, specialty, credential level, and setting, so the answer reflects the working life of a credentialed tech.
- All 50 states + national baseline
- Eight specialties, including all NAVTA VTS academies
- Credential lift for CVT / LVT / RVT and VTS
- Setting: private, ER, specialty, research, federal, zoo, academic
Estimate your vet tech pay
Built on BLS state means with multipliers from NAVTA wage surveys for credential, specialty, experience, and setting.
Estimated annual
$47,380
Hourly rate
$22.78/hr
Vs national median
+0.0%
Method: state mean × experience × specialty × credential × setting. Hourly = annual / 2,080. Multipliers are estimates; verify offers with current employer data.
Top-paying employers, by industry
BLS NAICS-level industry means for SOC 29-2056. Pharma and R&D pay best; veterinary services sets the floor.
| Industry | Annual mean | Hourly | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceutical & Medicine Manufacturing | $68,820 | $33.09 | 210 |
| Scientific Research & Development Services | $61,710 | $29.67 | 1,160 |
| Hospitals | $56,920 | $27.37 | 170 |
| Colleges, Universities & Professional Schools | $55,690 | $26.77 | 3,950 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | $48,980 | $23.55 | 1,560 |
| Veterinary Services | $48,480 | $23.31 | 116,050 |
| Other Personal Services | $45,490 | $21.87 | 1,960 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 / vet tech employment by industry.
SOC 31-9096
Veterinary Assistant
$38,150
Median / $18.34/hr
- Education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Time to credential
- On-the-job training (weeks to months)
- Job growth
- 9%
SOC 29-2056
Veterinary Technician
$47,380
Median / $22.78/hr
- Education
- 2-year AVMA-accredited associate degree
- Time to credential
- 2 years + VTNE exam
- Job growth
- 9%
SOC 29-1131
Veterinarian (DVM)
$130,100
Median / $62.55/hr
- Education
- 4-year undergraduate + 4-year DVM program
- Time to credential
- 8 years minimum
- Job growth
- 10%
Top 5 states for vet techs
- 1Alaska$63,720$30.63/hr
- 2California$61,400$29.52/hr
- 3New York$61,080$29.36/hr
- 4Washington$59,940$28.82/hr
- 5Oregon$56,570$27.20/hr
Bottom 5 states for vet techs
- 1Louisiana$35,980$17.30/hr
- 2Alabama$36,600$17.60/hr
- 3Mississippi$37,230$17.90/hr
- 4Arkansas$38,490$18.50/hr
- 5Wyoming$39,170$18.83/hr
Lowest-paying states also have the lowest cost of living. See the COL-adjusted ranking.
Eleven sub-pages, one definitive reference
Salary by state
All 50 states. CA leads large states at $61,400.
OPEN →VTS specialties
Anesthesia tops at +28% premium.
OPEN →CVT / LVT / RVT
Credential lift quantified.
OPEN →Experience tiers
Entry $38,910 → Expert $60,650.
OPEN →Vs assistant / DVM
$38,150 / $47,380 / $130,100.
OPEN →Work settings
ER pays $49,760 + differentials.
OPEN →Top 25 metros
San Jose tops at $68,370.
OPEN →COL-adjusted
Best real purchasing power.
OPEN →How to become
AAS + VTNE in 2 years.
OPEN →Job outlook
9% growth. 14,300 openings/yr.
OPEN →FAQ
30+ vet tech salary questions.
OPEN →Common questions about vet tech pay
What is the average veterinary technician salary in 2026?
The national median is $47,380 per year ($22.78 per hour) per BLS May 2025 OEWS for SOC 29-2056. The mean is $49,120. The 10th percentile earns $35,710 and the 90th percentile earns $63,180.
Which states pay vet techs the most?
Alaska tops the raw means at $63,720 on a small workforce; among large states California ($61,400), New York ($61,080), and Washington ($59,940) lead the BLS May 2025 state means, with Oregon ($56,570) and Minnesota ($55,470) rounding out the top five.
Does CVT, LVT, or RVT credentialing increase pay?
Yes. Credentialed technicians earn around 12 percent more than non-credentialed staff filling the same role. VTS specialty certification adds another 8 to 28 percent on top.
What is the highest-paying vet tech specialty?
Anesthesia (VTS-AA) averages $60,650, a 28 percent premium over general practice. Surgery (VTS-Surgery) is second at $59,230.
What is the job outlook for veterinary technicians?
The BLS projects 9 percent growth from 2024 to 2034, roughly three times the average for all occupations, with about 14,300 annual openings driven by growth and replacement demand.
Can vet techs make six figures?
Rarely in clinical practice (the BLS 90th percentile is $63,180). Practice managers, pharma sales reps, and VTS specialists in high-cost metros can approach $80K-$100K. The DVM bridge is the most reliable route past $100K.
More on the full FAQ page with 30+ questions.
Independent reference. VeterinaryTechnicianSalary.com is not affiliated with the BLS, AVMA, NAVTA, AAVSB, or any veterinary employer. Salary figures are estimates based on publicly available BLS data and may not reflect your specific situation. Always verify with current employer offers.