Vet Tech Salary by State

Compare veterinary technician salaries across all 50 states. Click any column header to sort. California, Alaska, and Washington top the list; Mississippi, West Virginia, and Arkansas pay the least.

RankStateAnnual SalaryHourly Rate
#1California$55,020$26.45/hr
#2Alaska$52,140$25.07/hr
#3Connecticut$50,180$24.13/hr
#4Washington$50,640$24.35/hr
#5Massachusetts$49,710$23.90/hr
#6New Jersey$49,230$23.67/hr
#7Hawaii$48,900$23.51/hr
#8Oregon$48,120$23.13/hr
#9Maryland$47,850$23.00/hr
#10New York$47,540$22.86/hr
#11Colorado$47,230$22.71/hr
#16Minnesota$45,670$21.96/hr
#17Virginia$45,140$21.70/hr
#19Arizona$44,910$21.59/hr
#20New Hampshire$44,560$21.42/hr
#20Rhode Island$44,380$21.34/hr
#21Illinois$44,120$21.21/hr
#22Nevada$43,890$21.10/hr
#23Delaware$43,560$20.94/hr
#24Vermont$43,670$20.99/hr
#25Utah$43,240$20.79/hr
#26Wyoming$43,090$20.72/hr
#27Pennsylvania$42,780$20.57/hr
#28Wisconsin$42,390$20.38/hr
#29Texas$41,560$19.98/hr
#30Maine$41,780$20.09/hr
#31North Carolina$41,230$19.82/hr
#32Michigan$40,880$19.65/hr
#33North Dakota$40,650$19.54/hr
#34Georgia$40,310$19.38/hr
#35Montana$39,120$18.81/hr
#35Ohio$40,120$19.29/hr
#36Florida$39,470$18.98/hr
#37Indiana$38,920$18.71/hr
#38Idaho$38,650$18.58/hr
#38Tennessee$38,430$18.48/hr
#39Missouri$37,890$18.22/hr
#39Nebraska$38,310$18.42/hr
#40Iowa$37,540$18.05/hr
#40South Carolina$38,170$18.35/hr
#41Kansas$37,290$17.93/hr
#42Alabama$37,180$17.88/hr
#43New Mexico$36,890$17.74/hr
#43South Dakota$36,790$17.69/hr
#44Kentucky$36,440$17.52/hr
#45Oklahoma$36,220$17.41/hr
#46Louisiana$36,110$17.36/hr
#47Arkansas$35,680$17.15/hr
#48West Virginia$35,280$16.96/hr
#50Mississippi$34,820$16.74/hr

Key State Salary Insights

  • California leads at $55,020/year, driven by high cost of living and strong demand from large urban veterinary practices.
  • Washington and Connecticut round out the top three, both exceeding $50,000/year.
  • Mississippi has the lowest average at $34,820/year, but cost of living is also significantly lower.
  • States with major veterinary schools (UC Davis in CA, Cornell in NY) tend to offer higher salaries due to competitive research and academic positions.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Updated 27 March 2026.