Vet tech salary, all 50 states ranked.
BLS May 2024 OEWS state means for veterinary technologists and technicians (SOC 29-2056). California leads at $55,740; Mississippi trails at $34,820. The COL index column normalises to BEA Regional Price Parities so a $50K paycheck in Texas can be compared with $55K in California honestly.
| # | State | Annual Salary↓ | Hourly | Employed | COL Index | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $55,740 | $26.80 | 14,030 | 113.4 | $49,153 |
| 2 | New York | $55,540 | $26.70 | 7,280 | 115.7 | $48,003 |
| 3 | Washington | $54,460 | $26.18 | 3,420 | 106.8 | $50,993 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $50,760 | $24.40 | 1,600 | 107.5 | $47,219 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $50,240 | $24.15 | 3,180 | 108.6 | $46,262 |
| 6 | Hawaii | $49,860 | $23.97 | 470 | 119.3 | $41,794 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $48,920 | $23.52 | 3,210 | 112.8 | $43,369 |
| 8 | Oregon | $47,860 | $23.01 | 1,810 | 101.8 | $47,014 |
| 9 | Alaska | $47,280 | $22.73 | 370 | 105.4 | $44,858 |
| 10 | Colorado | $47,120 | $22.65 | 3,220 | 105.1 | $44,833 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $46,280 | $22.25 | 590 | 104.2 | $44,415 |
| 12 | Maryland | $45,660 | $21.95 | 2,470 | 108.1 | $42,239 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $45,280 | $21.77 | 2,430 | 98.1 | $46,157 |
| 14 | Nevada | $44,760 | $21.52 | 1,020 | 100.3 | $44,626 |
| 15 | Virginia | $44,580 | $21.43 | 3,640 | 103.6 | $43,031 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $44,120 | $21.21 | 380 | 101.1 | $43,640 |
| 17 | Illinois | $43,820 | $21.07 | 4,590 | 98.2 | $44,623 |
| 18 | Delaware | $43,620 | $20.97 | 420 | 102.2 | $42,681 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $43,280 | $20.81 | 5,060 | 97.3 | $44,481 |
| 20 | Vermont | $43,140 | $20.74 | 320 | 101.9 | $42,336 |
| 21 | Maine | $42,780 | $20.57 | 650 | 99.4 | $43,038 |
| 22 | Michigan | $42,560 | $20.46 | 3,940 | 93.1 | $45,714 |
| 23 | Texas | $42,360 | $20.37 | 9,680 | 96.4 | $43,942 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $42,180 | $20.28 | 2,490 | 93.4 | $45,161 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $41,860 | $20.13 | 4,320 | 94.0 | $44,532 |
| 26 | Utah | $41,860 | $20.13 | 1,260 | 100.3 | $41,735 |
| 27 | Arizona | $41,580 | $19.99 | 2,870 | 100.5 | $41,373 |
| 28 | Ohio | $41,240 | $19.83 | 4,610 | 91.5 | $45,071 |
| 29 | Florida | $40,720 | $19.58 | 8,100 | 100.9 | $40,357 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $40,640 | $19.54 | 340 | 92.4 | $43,983 |
| 31 | Georgia | $40,280 | $19.37 | 3,910 | 93.2 | $43,219 |
| 32 | Montana | $40,160 | $19.31 | 500 | 96.2 | $41,746 |
| 33 | Indiana | $40,120 | $19.29 | 2,510 | 91.3 | $43,943 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $39,780 | $19.13 | 240 | 94.1 | $42,274 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $39,540 | $19.01 | 870 | 91.3 | $43,308 |
| 36 | Idaho | $39,480 | $18.98 | 850 | 95.8 | $41,211 |
| 37 | Iowa | $39,260 | $18.87 | 1,340 | 90.4 | $43,429 |
| 38 | Missouri | $39,080 | $18.79 | 2,360 | 90.0 | $43,422 |
| 39 | Kansas | $38,920 | $18.71 | 1,120 | 90.8 | $42,863 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $38,740 | $18.63 | 1,840 | 91.9 | $42,155 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $38,480 | $18.50 | 2,510 | 91.4 | $42,101 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $38,460 | $18.49 | 700 | 94.6 | $40,655 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $38,360 | $18.44 | 380 | 90.2 | $42,528 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $37,640 | $18.10 | 1,410 | 89.2 | $42,197 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $36,840 | $17.71 | 1,310 | 89.1 | $41,347 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $36,560 | $17.58 | 1,300 | 90.5 | $40,398 |
| 47 | Alabama | $36,240 | $17.42 | 1,410 | 87.1 | $41,607 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $35,820 | $17.22 | 480 | 86.4 | $41,458 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $35,440 | $17.04 | 890 | 86.9 | $40,783 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $34,820 | $16.74 | 630 | 85.7 | $40,630 |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2023. COL-adjusted = annual ÷ COL × 100.
States with the highest BLS means
- 1CaliforniaWest$55,740
- 2New YorkNortheast$55,540
- 3WashingtonWest$54,460
- 4ConnecticutNortheast$50,760
- 5MassachusettsNortheast$50,240
Best real purchasing power
- 1WashingtonCOL 106.8$50,993
- 2CaliforniaCOL 113.4$49,153
- 3New YorkCOL 115.7$48,003
- 4ConnecticutCOL 107.5$47,219
- 5OregonCOL 101.8$47,014
Adjusted = raw salary ÷ BEA RPP × 100. See full COL ranking.
Average state mean by region
Northeast
$46,758
West
$46,215
Midwest
$40,917
Southwest
$39,810
Southeast
$38,432
State-specific pay deep dives
Bespoke pages for the 10 largest vet tech employment states, covering credential type (CVT/LVT/RVT), metro pay distribution, academic medical centers, research employment, and cost-of-living adjusted pay.
Use the homepage salary estimator to combine state with specialty, credential, experience, and setting.