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Best states for a licensed veterinary technician
Quoted expert
Dr. Rick DeBowes
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for licensed veterinary technicians? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for licensed veterinary technician jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Although there are abundant licensed veterinary technician jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the South. California is the best state in the country for licensed veterinary technician jobs.
In order to get you the best states for licensed veterinary technicians, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a licensed veterinary technician, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for licensed veterinary technicians in 2026
1. California
Total licensed veterinary technician jobs: 4,893 Average annual salary: $57,708 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
2. Oregon
Total licensed veterinary technician jobs: 804 Average annual salary: $46,819 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
3. Nevada
Total licensed veterinary technician jobs: 401 Average annual salary: $44,957 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
4. Alaska
Total licensed veterinary technician jobs: 190 Average annual salary: $46,309 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location Quotient: 1.54
5. Delaware
Total licensed veterinary technician jobs: 286 Average annual salary: $44,345 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location Quotient: 1.54
6. North Dakota
Total licensed veterinary technician jobs: 167 Average annual salary: $45,077 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
7. Washington
Total licensed veterinary technician jobs: 1,498 Average annual salary: $45,026 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Location Quotient: 1.39
8. Nebraska
Total licensed veterinary technician jobs: 425 Average annual salary: $42,099 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
9. Idaho
Total licensed veterinary technician jobs: 243 Average annual salary: $44,603 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Location Quotient: 1
10. Arizona
Total licensed veterinary technician jobs: 1,124 Average annual salary: $42,250 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
Licensed veterinary technician jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a licensed veterinary technician
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a licensed veterinary technician
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $57,708 | $42,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,893 |
| 2 | Oregon | $46,819 | $36,000 | 4,142,776 | 804 |
| 3 | Nevada | $44,957 | $33,000 | 2,998,039 | 401 |
| 4 | Alaska | $46,309 | $40,000 | 739,795 | 190 |
| 5 | Delaware | $44,345 | $31,000 | 961,939 | 286 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $45,077 | $36,000 | 755,393 | 167 |
| 7 | Washington | $45,026 | $35,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,498 |
| 8 | Nebraska | $42,099 | $33,000 | 1,920,076 | 425 |
| 9 | Idaho | $44,603 | $34,000 | 1,716,943 | 243 |
| 10 | Arizona | $42,250 | $31,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,124 |
| 11 | Maine | $41,860 | $33,000 | 1,335,907 | 211 |
| 12 | Maryland | $47,934 | $34,000 | 6,052,177 | 571 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $45,008 | $32,000 | 3,588,184 | 366 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $44,287 | $33,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,001 |
| 15 | Colorado | $42,080 | $32,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,119 |
| 16 | New York | $45,381 | $32,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,366 |
| 17 | Vermont | $42,053 | $33,000 | 623,657 | 82 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $42,871 | $31,000 | 1,059,639 | 105 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $38,502 | $30,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,510 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $40,849 | $31,000 | 1,342,795 | 196 |
| 21 | Virginia | $44,402 | $32,000 | 8,470,020 | 795 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $38,607 | $30,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,002 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $39,429 | $30,000 | 579,315 | 74 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $40,593 | $30,000 | 2,984,100 | 135 |
| 25 | Illinois | $38,640 | $30,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,264 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $36,618 | $27,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,095 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $39,829 | $28,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,010 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $39,034 | $29,000 | 1,815,857 | 117 |
| 29 | Hawaii | $41,139 | $34,000 | 1,427,538 | 132 |
| 30 | Kansas | $36,062 | $27,000 | 2,913,123 | 668 |
| 31 | Alabama | $36,959 | $28,000 | 4,874,747 | 793 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $41,226 | $29,000 | 9,005,644 | 881 |
| 33 | Michigan | $35,554 | $27,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,683 |
| 34 | Iowa | $34,657 | $27,000 | 3,145,711 | 722 |
| 35 | Ohio | $37,449 | $28,000 | 11,658,609 | 806 |
| 36 | Indiana | $37,340 | $29,000 | 6,666,818 | 595 |
| 37 | Texas | $34,943 | $25,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,254 |
| 38 | District of Columbia | $42,750 | $30,000 | 693,972 | 83 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $37,574 | $29,000 | 4,454,189 | 275 |
| 40 | Missouri | $33,793 | $26,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,249 |
| 41 | Montana | $34,567 | $27,000 | 1,050,493 | 164 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $33,410 | $24,000 | 2,088,070 | 333 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $34,674 | $26,000 | 5,024,369 | 433 |
| 44 | Utah | $32,795 | $25,000 | 3,101,833 | 489 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $33,290 | $25,000 | 3,930,864 | 325 |
| 46 | Florida | $32,778 | $24,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,020 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $30,316 | $23,000 | 3,004,279 | 471 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $33,941 | $26,000 | 869,666 | 53 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $32,957 | $24,000 | 4,684,333 | 192 |
| 50 | Georgia | $31,630 | $24,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,009 |
| 51 | Tennessee | $31,138 | $23,000 | 6,715,984 | 523 |
Highest paying states for licensed veterinary technicians
| Rank | State | Avg. Licensed Veterinary Technician Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $57,708 |
| 2 | Oregon | $46,819 |
| 3 | Nevada | $44,957 |
| 4 | Alaska | $46,309 |
| 5 | Delaware | $44,345 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $45,077 |
| 7 | Washington | $45,026 |
| 8 | Nebraska | $42,099 |
| 9 | Idaho | $44,603 |
| 10 | Arizona | $42,250 |
| 11 | Maine | $41,860 |
| 12 | Maryland | $47,934 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $45,008 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $44,287 |
| 15 | Colorado | $42,080 |
| 16 | New York | $45,381 |
| 17 | Vermont | $42,053 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $42,871 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $38,502 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $40,849 |
| 21 | Virginia | $44,402 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $38,607 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $39,429 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $40,593 |
| 25 | Illinois | $38,640 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $36,618 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $39,829 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $39,034 |
| 29 | Hawaii | $41,139 |
| 30 | Kansas | $36,062 |
| 31 | Alabama | $36,959 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $41,226 |
| 33 | Michigan | $35,554 |
| 34 | Iowa | $34,657 |
| 35 | Ohio | $37,449 |
| 36 | Indiana | $37,340 |
| 37 | Texas | $34,943 |
| 38 | District of Columbia | $42,750 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $37,574 |
| 40 | Missouri | $33,793 |
| 41 | Montana | $34,567 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $33,410 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $34,674 |
| 44 | Utah | $32,795 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $33,290 |
| 46 | Florida | $32,778 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $30,316 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $33,941 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $32,957 |
| 50 | Georgia | $31,630 |
| 51 | Tennessee | $31,138 |
Expert opinions on the best states for licensed veterinary technicians
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for licensed veterinary technicians to find work opportunities?
Dr. Rick DeBowes
Professor, Washington State University
In talking with colleagues around the country, it seems as if everyone is seeking associates for their practices. Colleagues who teach practice management have reported similar observations. Rural or isolated areas might have fewer opportunities, primarily because more irregular patterns are located in such regions. Nevertheless, it seems that every year I work with several graduates who secure offers to 'return home' to a rural environment and practice medicine in those small communities that helped raise them. At present, it seems that nearly everyone who wants a clinical practice position, in most areas of the country, is finding and receiving more offers than they can accept.
Licensed veterinary technician best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025