Patient Care Technician Salary By State: Highest-Paid Patient Care Technicians by State [2026]
Research Summary. Extensive analysis conducted by the Zippia data science team has brought to light the salary landscape for patient care technicians across the United States in 2026:
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Vermont leads with the highest patient care technician salary at $48,079
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Maryland holds the position of the lowest salary at $24,413
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The national average salary for patient care technicians is $32,806
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The average hourly pay for patient care technicians is $15.77
For a detailed understanding, refer to our specific methodology.
Background
In surveys across various demographics, salary remains a top priority for job seekers. Many ask, “How much do patient care technicians earn in my area?” While personal factors certainly influence individual salaries, comprehensive data exists showing average salaries for patient care technicians by state, categorized by experience level. Although your location may vary slightly from these averages, they effectively provide a benchmark for what to expect.
Currently, the state with the highest salary for patient care technicians is Vermont, reflecting the evolving landscape of healthcare roles and compensation in 2026.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for patient care technician salaries:
Let’s explore the details and full rankings of all states.
Highest-Paid Patient Care Technicians By State
| Rank | State | Average Patient Care Technician Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $48,079 | $35,000 | $64,000 |
| 2 | California | $44,524 | $33,000 | $59,000 |
| 3 | Montana | $44,127 | $33,000 | $57,000 |
| 4 | Oregon | $40,705 | $31,000 | $53,000 |
| 5 | Washington | $40,686 | $31,000 | $52,000 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $38,893 | $28,000 | $52,000 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $37,658 | $27,000 | $51,000 |
| 8 | Nevada | $37,053 | $27,000 | $49,000 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $36,582 | $28,000 | $47,000 |
| 10 | Colorado | $35,471 | $27,000 | $46,000 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $35,454 | $25,000 | $48,000 |
| 12 | Maine | $35,206 | $26,000 | $47,000 |
| 13 | Hawaii | $34,566 | $29,000 | $41,000 |
| 14 | New York | $34,240 | $25,000 | $46,000 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $34,164 | $25,000 | $46,000 |
| 16 | Alaska | $34,052 | $29,000 | $38,000 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $33,972 | $25,000 | $44,000 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $33,664 | $25,000 | $44,000 |
| 19 | Kansas | $33,563 | $25,000 | $44,000 |
| 20 | Illinois | $33,558 | $25,000 | $44,000 |
| 21 | Arizona | $33,179 | $25,000 | $43,000 |
| 22 | Nebraska | $32,855 | $24,000 | $43,000 |
| 23 | Arkansas | $32,721 | $24,000 | $43,000 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $32,646 | $24,000 | $43,000 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $32,442 | $24,000 | $42,000 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $31,999 | $24,000 | $42,000 |
| 27 | Texas | $31,347 | $23,000 | $41,000 |
| 28 | Michigan | $30,697 | $22,000 | $41,000 |
| 29 | Utah | $30,609 | $23,000 | $40,000 |
| 30 | Rhode Island | $30,379 | $22,000 | $41,000 |
| 31 | Iowa | $30,281 | $22,000 | $39,000 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $29,685 | $22,000 | $39,000 |
| 33 | Ohio | $29,604 | $22,000 | $39,000 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $29,530 | $22,000 | $38,000 |
| 35 | Delaware | $28,715 | $21,000 | $38,000 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | $28,700 | $21,000 | $38,000 |
| 37 | Georgia | $28,679 | $21,000 | $38,000 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $28,612 | $21,000 | $37,000 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $28,597 | $21,000 | $37,000 |
| 40 | Alabama | $28,208 | $21,000 | $37,000 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $28,159 | $21,000 | $37,000 |
| 42 | Missouri | $28,146 | $21,000 | $37,000 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $28,113 | $21,000 | $37,000 |
| 44 | Idaho | $28,059 | $21,000 | $36,000 |
| 45 | Florida | $27,916 | $21,000 | $36,000 |
| 46 | Virginia | $27,658 | $20,000 | $37,000 |
| 47 | Indiana | $27,600 | $20,000 | $36,000 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $26,732 | $20,000 | $35,000 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $26,661 | $20,000 | $35,000 |
| 50 | Maryland | $24,413 | $18,000 | $32,000 |
Methodology: Patient Care Technician Salary By State
To provide a clearer picture of patient care technician pay across states, Zippia has gathered data from various sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This data is further validated with actual salaries from job postings. Our data science team compiles this information to calculate a weighted average, yielding the average pay for patient care technicians by state.
The annual salary averages are derived from these estimates, ranking each state by the average salary for patient care technicians.
Patient Care Technician Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for patient care technicians?
The highest-paid state for patient care technicians is Vermont, with an average salary of $48,079 per year.
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What city pays patient care technicians the most?
Rochester, NH offers the highest pay for patient care technicians, averaging $38,927 per year.
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What is the worst state for patient care technicians?
The state with the lowest salary for patient care technicians is Maryland, averaging $24,413 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
