How much does a vet tech make? Vet Tech salary and hourly pay
A vet tech in the US earns a median of $47,380 a year, about $22.78 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $35,710 and the top 10% earn over $63,180. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, District of Columbia, has a median of $61,270.
Vet Tech pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does a vet tech make an hour?
The median vet tech earns $22.78 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $17.17 for the lowest-paid 10% to $30.38 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $35,710 | $17.17 |
| Lower 25% | $38,910 | $18.71 |
| Median (typical) | $47,380 | $22.78 |
| Upper 25% | $57,650 | $27.72 |
| Top 10% | $63,180 | $30.38 |
Vet Tech salary by state
Median annual pay for vet techs in every state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $36,590 | $17.59 |
| Alaska | $46,480 | $22.35 |
| Arizona | $46,300 | $22.26 |
| Arkansas | $38,360 | $18.44 |
| California | $60,630 | $29.15 |
| Colorado | $49,650 | $23.87 |
| Connecticut | $50,950 | $24.50 |
| Delaware | $48,370 | $23.25 |
| District of Columbia | $61,270 | $29.46 |
| Florida | $46,380 | $22.30 |
| Georgia | $43,060 | $20.70 |
| Hawaii | $48,550 | $23.34 |
| Idaho | $42,120 | $20.25 |
| Illinois | $46,440 | $22.33 |
| Indiana | $48,720 | $23.42 |
| Iowa | $45,560 | $21.90 |
| Kansas | $45,810 | $22.02 |
| Kentucky | $39,590 | $19.03 |
| Louisiana | $35,530 | $17.08 |
| Maine | $50,810 | $24.43 |
| Maryland | $47,350 | $22.76 |
| Massachusetts | $49,540 | $23.82 |
| Michigan | $49,710 | $23.90 |
| Minnesota | $57,270 | $27.53 |
| Mississippi | $36,380 | $17.49 |
| Missouri | $43,520 | $20.92 |
| Montana | $41,170 | $19.79 |
| Nebraska | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| Nevada | $50,250 | $24.16 |
| New Hampshire | $48,780 | $23.45 |
| New Jersey | $49,050 | $23.58 |
| New Mexico | $44,790 | $21.53 |
| New York | $59,010 | $28.37 |
| North Carolina | $47,620 | $22.89 |
| North Dakota | $48,790 | $23.46 |
| Ohio | $47,990 | $23.07 |
| Oklahoma | $39,100 | $18.80 |
| Oregon | $55,810 | $26.83 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,430 | $22.32 |
| Rhode Island | $45,310 | $21.78 |
| South Carolina | $39,020 | $18.76 |
| South Dakota | $45,300 | $21.78 |
| Tennessee | $42,810 | $20.58 |
| Texas | $39,410 | $18.95 |
| Utah | $40,560 | $19.50 |
| Vermont | $49,490 | $23.79 |
| Virginia | $52,090 | $25.04 |
| Washington | $59,740 | $28.72 |
| West Virginia | $37,700 | $18.12 |
| Wisconsin | $47,020 | $22.61 |
| Wyoming | $38,650 | $18.58 |
Highest-paying states for vet techs
- District of Columbia: $61,270 median
- California: $60,630 median
- Washington: $59,740 median
- New York: $59,010 median
- Minnesota: $57,270 median
The lowest medians are in Louisiana ($35,530), Mississippi ($36,380), Alabama ($36,590), West Virginia ($37,700), Arkansas ($38,360). The most vet tech jobs are in Texas (16,730 jobs), Florida (11,380 jobs), California (11,310 jobs), Pennsylvania (6,620 jobs), New York (5,350 jobs).
How much does a vet tech make a month?
At the median salary of $47,380, a vet tech earns about $3,948 a month, $1,822 every two weeks or $911 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced vet tech pay
New vet techs typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $35,710 a year and the lowest 25% under $38,910. The top 25% earn over $57,650 and the top 10% over $63,180. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Vet Tech salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Vet tech | $47,380 |
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 |
| Veterinarian | $130,100 |
| Chiropractor | $79,200 |
| Optometrist | $136,570 |
| Psychiatrist | $281,870 |
| Psychologist | $100,580 |
Common questions
How much does a vet tech make?
The US median is $47,380 a year ($22.78 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a vet tech make an hour?
The median is about $22.78 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $17.17 and the top 10% about $30.38 an hour.
Which state pays vet techs the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median at $61,270, followed by California ($60,630) and Washington ($59,740).
How much does a vet tech make a month?
At the US median of $47,380 a year, about $3,948 a month or $1,822 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level vet tech make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $35,710 a year and the lowest 25% under $38,910, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of vet techs make?
The top 10% earn over $63,180 a year; the top 25% earn over $57,650.
How much does a vet tech make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $60,630 in California, $39,410 in Texas, $46,380 in Florida, $59,010 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 29-2056, “Veterinary Technologists and Technicians”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.