Best states for an animal technician

Q: What is the best state for animal technicians?

The best state to be an animal technician is New York based on animal technician salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for animal technicians?

The highest paying state for animal technicians is Arkansas based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for animal technicians?

The worst state for animal technicians is Arkansas, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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Are you thinking of becoming an animal technician and really want to work at Covance? Turns out, your chances to become an animal technician are better in some states than others.Although there are abundant animal technician jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the South. New York is the best state in the country for animal technician jobs.

New York is the best state for jobs for animal technicians, and Arkansas is the worst. The most common pay in New York is $41,280, while the median pay in Arkansas is $20,985.If you are currently seeking employment as an animal technician, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for animal technicians in 2026

1. New York
Total animal technician jobs: 1,271
Average annual salary: $41,280
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000
Location Quotient:
1.17
Animal technician jobs in New York
2. Maine
Total animal technician jobs: 185
Average annual salary: $34,645
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Location Quotient:
1.64
Animal technician jobs in Maine
3. Connecticut
Total animal technician jobs: 346
Average annual salary: $36,638
Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000
Location Quotient:
1.23
Animal technician jobs in Connecticut
4. Massachusetts
Total animal technician jobs: 942
Average annual salary: $36,402
Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Location Quotient:
1.21
Animal technician jobs in Massachusetts
5. Vermont
Total animal technician jobs: 75
Average annual salary: $34,747
Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Location Quotient:
1.15
Animal technician jobs in Vermont
6. Alaska
Total animal technician jobs: 116
Average annual salary: $35,158
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Location Quotient:
1.64
Animal technician jobs in Alaska
7. Washington
Total animal technician jobs: 554
Average annual salary: $38,448
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Location Quotient:
0.89
Animal technician jobs in Washington
8. Virginia
Total animal technician jobs: 763
Average annual salary: $37,343
Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000
Location Quotient:
0.95
Animal technician jobs in Virginia
9. New Hampshire
Total animal technician jobs: 161
Average annual salary: $33,838
Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Location Quotient:
1.09
Animal technician jobs in New Hampshire
10. Michigan
Total animal technician jobs: 727
Average annual salary: $32,181
Lowest 10 percent earn: $21,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Location Quotient:
1.11
Animal technician jobs in Michigan

Animal technician jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be an animal technician

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for an animal technician

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	New York	$41,280	$25,000	19,849,399	1,271
2	Maine	$34,645	$25,000	1,335,907	185
3	Connecticut	$36,638	$23,000	3,588,184	346
4	Massachusetts	$36,402	$23,000	6,859,819	942
5	Vermont	$34,747	$24,000	623,657	75
6	Alaska	$35,158	$27,000	739,795	116
7	Washington	$38,448	$26,000	7,405,743	554
8	Virginia	$37,343	$23,000	8,470,020	763
9	New Hampshire	$33,838	$22,000	1,342,795	161
10	Michigan	$32,181	$21,000	9,962,311	727
11	Rhode Island	$34,923	$22,000	1,059,639	97
12	Maryland	$38,015	$23,000	6,052,177	530
13	Delaware	$35,152	$21,000	961,939	114
14	North Dakota	$37,872	$27,000	755,393	30
15	Wisconsin	$32,620	$22,000	5,795,483	479
16	Minnesota	$32,369	$22,000	5,576,606	643
17	California	$37,216	$23,000	39,536,653	2,144
18	Oregon	$33,461	$22,000	4,142,776	363
19	Pennsylvania	$33,014	$20,000	12,805,537	898
20	New Jersey	$33,014	$20,000	9,005,644	728
21	Illinois	$31,870	$21,000	12,802,023	1,087
22	West Virginia	$31,149	$20,000	1,815,857	107
23	Nebraska	$31,280	$21,000	1,920,076	162
24	Ohio	$30,797	$19,000	11,658,609	701
25	Indiana	$29,929	$19,000	6,666,818	514
26	Colorado	$28,013	$19,000	5,607,154	620
27	Nevada	$28,399	$18,000	2,998,039	198
28	Idaho	$31,081	$21,000	1,716,943	75
29	Arizona	$26,931	$17,000	7,016,270	539
30	District of Columbia	$33,885	$20,000	693,972	42
31	North Carolina	$27,406	$18,000	10,273,419	851
32	Kentucky	$28,525	$19,000	4,454,189	245
33	Iowa	$27,473	$18,000	3,145,711	317
34	Florida	$24,712	$17,000	20,984,400	1,672
35	Mississippi	$27,923	$19,000	2,984,100	134
36	Wyoming	$27,710	$19,000	579,315	33
37	South Carolina	$24,814	$17,000	5,024,369	398
38	Hawaii	$28,636	$24,000	1,427,538	61
39	Missouri	$24,410	$16,000	6,113,532	546
40	South Dakota	$26,878	$19,000	869,666	48
41	Kansas	$25,247	$17,000	2,913,123	236
42	Montana	$26,421	$19,000	1,050,493	72
43	Georgia	$24,082	$16,000	10,429,379	919
44	Alabama	$25,739	$17,000	4,874,747	276
45	Oklahoma	$22,513	$15,000	3,930,864	283
46	Tennessee	$22,238	$15,000	6,715,984	495
47	Texas	$22,371	$15,000	28,304,596	1,732
48	Utah	$21,337	$14,000	3,101,833	282
49	Louisiana	$22,309	$15,000	4,684,333	173
50	New Mexico	$21,218	$14,000	2,088,070	106
51	Arkansas	$20,985	$14,000	3,004,279	137

Highest paying states for animal technicians

Rank	State	Avg. Animal Technician Salary
1	New York	$41,280
2	Maine	$34,645
3	Connecticut	$36,638
4	Massachusetts	$36,402
5	Vermont	$34,747
6	Alaska	$35,158
7	Washington	$38,448
8	Virginia	$37,343
9	New Hampshire	$33,838
10	Michigan	$32,181
11	Rhode Island	$34,923
12	Maryland	$38,015
13	Delaware	$35,152
14	North Dakota	$37,872
15	Wisconsin	$32,620
16	Minnesota	$32,369
17	California	$37,216
18	Oregon	$33,461
19	Pennsylvania	$33,014
20	New Jersey	$33,014
21	Illinois	$31,870
22	West Virginia	$31,149
23	Nebraska	$31,280
24	Ohio	$30,797
25	Indiana	$29,929
26	Colorado	$28,013
27	Nevada	$28,399
28	Idaho	$31,081
29	Arizona	$26,931
30	District of Columbia	$33,885
31	North Carolina	$27,406
32	Kentucky	$28,525
33	Iowa	$27,473
34	Florida	$24,712
35	Mississippi	$27,923
36	Wyoming	$27,710
37	South Carolina	$24,814
38	Hawaii	$28,636
39	Missouri	$24,410
40	South Dakota	$26,878
41	Kansas	$25,247
42	Montana	$26,421
43	Georgia	$24,082
44	Alabama	$25,739
45	Oklahoma	$22,513
46	Tennessee	$22,238
47	Texas	$22,371
48	Utah	$21,337
49	Louisiana	$22,309
50	New Mexico	$21,218
51	Arkansas	$20,985

Animal technician best states FAQs

What is the best state for animal technicians?

What is the highest paying state for animal technicians?

What is the worst state for animal technicians?

Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.

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Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Animal Technician
Best states for Animal Technicians

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs

Total animal technician jobs:	1,271
Average annual salary:	$41,280
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$25,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$66,000
Location Quotient:	1.17

Best states for an animal technician

10 best states for animal technicians in 2026

1. New York

2. Maine

3. Connecticut

4. Massachusetts

5. Vermont

6. Alaska

7. Washington

8. Virginia

9. New Hampshire

10. Michigan