Vet tech salary

Vet techs in the U.S. earn a median $47,380 a year.

Median pay
$47,380
Median hourly
$22.78
Typical range
$35,710–$63,180
Jobs
129,140

Pay range

Annual pay percentiles for vet teches in the U.S.
PercentileAnnual pay
10th (entry level)$35,710
25th$38,910
Median$47,380
75th$57,650
90th (top earners)$63,180

Pay in the biggest metro areas

Median pay by metro area
Metro areaMedian payJobs
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$59,6804,850
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$44,3604,570
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$60,6703,640
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$44,1103,570
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$48,3403,370
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$47,8203,250
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$50,9702,970
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ$46,3902,760
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL$47,6202,640
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$59,0902,520

Vet tech salary by state

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

Start training

See what the work is like and how long training takes, then compare schools.

Vet tech schoolsHow to become a vet tech

Frequently asked questions

How much do vet teches make?

The median pay for vet teches in the U.S. is $47,380 a year ($22.78 an hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $35,710, and the top 10% earn over $63,180.

Which states pay vet teches the most?

The top-paying states are California ($60,630), Washington ($59,740), New York ($59,010), Minnesota ($57,270), Oregon ($55,810).

How can a vet tech earn more?

Pay rises with experience, certifications, specialized skills, overtime and willingness to travel. Union jobs and employers in high-cost metro areas often pay more. Our guide on how to become a vet tech covers the certifications that matter most.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (Veterinary Technologists and Technicians, SOC 29-2056). Figures exclude self-employed workers.