Research Summary. After extensive research by the Zippia data science team, we identified these details of veterinary technician salary by state for the United States in 2026:
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California continues to lead with the highest veterinary technician salary of $50,580
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Arkansas remains the state with the lowest veterinary technician salary at $29,370
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The national average salary for veterinary technicians is now $38,441
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The national hourly pay for veterinary technicians is $18.48
You can read more on the specific methodology.
Background
In 2026, salary remains a critical factor for job seekers across all demographics. For those considering a career as a veterinary technician, understanding the average salaries across different states is essential.
While specific salaries can vary by city and region, the state averages provide a solid baseline for what candidates might expect. California leads the way, continuing to offer the highest salaries in this field.
Here’s a snapshot of the top ten states for veterinary technician salaries:
Let’s delve deeper into how we arrived at these figures and present a comprehensive ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Veterinary Technicians By State
| Rank | State | Average Veterinary Technician Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $50,580 | $38,000 | $66,000 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $45,920 | $36,000 | $58,000 |
| 3 | Alaska | $45,718 | $40,000 | $51,000 |
| 4 | New York | $45,309 | $34,000 | $58,000 |
| 5 | Virginia | $45,131 | $34,000 | $58,000 |
| 6 | Washington | $44,539 | $35,000 | $55,000 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $43,848 | $35,000 | $53,000 |
| 8 | Idaho | $42,988 | $34,000 | $53,000 |
| 9 | Nevada | $42,415 | $32,000 | $55,000 |
| 10 | Oregon | $42,057 | $33,000 | $52,000 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $41,874 | $32,000 | $53,000 |
| 12 | Maine | $41,492 | $33,000 | $51,000 |
| 13 | Vermont | $41,409 | $33,000 | $51,000 |
| 14 | Nebraska | $40,507 | $32,000 | $50,000 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $40,476 | $31,000 | $51,000 |
| 16 | Arizona | $40,201 | $30,000 | $52,000 |
| 17 | Delaware | $40,153 | $30,000 | $52,000 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $39,719 | $31,000 | $49,000 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $39,714 | $33,000 | $47,000 |
| 20 | Colorado | $39,613 | $31,000 | $50,000 |
| 21 | Mississippi | $39,532 | $31,000 | $50,000 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $38,715 | $31,000 | $48,000 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $38,554 | $31,000 | $47,000 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $37,880 | $30,000 | $47,000 |
| 25 | New Jersey | $37,669 | $28,000 | $49,000 |
| 26 | Illinois | $37,194 | $29,000 | $46,000 |
| 27 | Kansas | $37,174 | $29,000 | $46,000 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $37,130 | $29,000 | $47,000 |
| 29 | Michigan | $36,513 | $29,000 | $45,000 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | $36,374 | $27,000 | $47,000 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $36,340 | $29,000 | $45,000 |
| 32 | Alabama | $36,127 | $28,000 | $45,000 |
| 33 | Indiana | $35,974 | $28,000 | $44,000 |
| 34 | Ohio | $35,835 | $28,000 | $45,000 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $35,699 | $28,000 | $45,000 |
| 36 | Maryland | $35,471 | $27,000 | $46,000 |
| 37 | Utah | $34,426 | $27,000 | $43,000 |
| 38 | Florida | $34,370 | $26,000 | $44,000 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $34,008 | $26,000 | $42,000 |
| 40 | Montana | $33,563 | $27,000 | $41,000 |
| 41 | Georgia | $33,363 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 42 | Iowa | $33,265 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 43 | Texas | $33,128 | $25,000 | $43,000 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $32,642 | $26,000 | $40,000 |
| 45 | Missouri | $32,476 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $32,158 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $32,032 | $24,000 | $41,000 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $31,667 | $24,000 | $41,000 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $30,226 | $24,000 | $37,000 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $29,370 | $23,000 | $36,000 |
Methodology: Veterinary Technician Salary By State
To better understand veterinary technician pay by state, Zippia has aggregated data across a multitude of channels including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Federal Labor Commission (FLC), and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). We supplement this data with actual salaries from job postings, allowing us to calculate a weighted average for veterinary technicians by state.
This analysis ranks each state based on average annual salary, with the highest ranking awarded to the state offering the highest average pay for veterinary technicians.
Veterinary Technician Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for veterinary technicians?
The highest-paid state for veterinary technicians is California with an average salary of $50,580 per year.
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What city pays veterinary technicians the most?
San Rafael, CA pays veterinary technicians the most with an average salary of $50,900 per year.
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What is the worst state for veterinary technicians?
The worst state for veterinary technicians is Arkansas with an average salary of $29,370 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.
