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Licensed veterinary technician salary
Average licensed veterinary technician salary
$40,369
Understanding Licensed Veterinary Technician Salaries
The average salary for a Licensed Veterinary Technician in the United States is approximately $40,369 annually or about $19 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific field of veterinary practice.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level LVTs can expect to earn less, while those with more experience may see salaries rise significantly. For instance, seasoned technicians can earn upwards of $50,000, particularly in high-demand areas or specialized fields.
Where to Find Higher Salaries
States with the highest salaries for LVTs include California, Massachusetts, and Washington. These regions often have a higher cost of living but also offer more job opportunities and higher pay scales.
Job Outlook
The demand for veterinary technicians is expected to grow as pet ownership increases and animal healthcare becomes more advanced. This growth translates into more job openings and potential salary growth in the field.
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Where can a Licensed Veterinary Technician earn more?
Licensed veterinary technician salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level licensed veterinary technician | $35,300 | $16.96 |
| Mid-level licensed veterinary technician | $37,400 | $17.98 |
| Senior-level licensed veterinary technician | $45,200 | $21.74 |
Licensed veterinary technician salary estimates from across the web
Average licensed veterinary technician salary by state
The highest-paying states for licensed veterinary technicians are California, Maryland, and Oregon. The lowest average licensed veterinary technician salary states are Louisiana, Utah, and Florida.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for licensed veterinary technicians
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $57,708 | $27.74 |
| 2 | Oregon | $46,819 | $22.51 |
| 3 | Nevada | $44,957 | $21.61 |
| 4 | Alaska | $46,309 | $22.26 |
| 5 | Delaware | $44,345 | $21.32 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $45,077 | $21.67 |
| 7 | Washington | $45,026 | $21.65 |
| 8 | Nebraska | $42,099 | $20.24 |
| 9 | Idaho | $44,603 | $21.44 |
| 10 | Arizona | $42,250 | $20.31 |
| 11 | Maine | $41,860 | $20.13 |
| 12 | Maryland | $47,934 | $23.05 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $45,008 | $21.64 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $44,287 | $21.29 |
| 15 | Colorado | $42,080 | $20.23 |
| 16 | New York | $45,381 | $21.82 |
| 17 | Vermont | $42,053 | $20.22 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $42,871 | $20.61 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $38,502 | $18.51 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $40,849 | $19.64 |
| 21 | Virginia | $44,402 | $21.35 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $38,607 | $18.56 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $39,429 | $18.96 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $40,593 | $19.52 |
| 25 | Illinois | $38,640 | $18.58 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $36,618 | $17.60 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $39,829 | $19.15 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $39,034 | $18.77 |
| 29 | Hawaii | $41,139 | $19.78 |
| 30 | Kansas | $36,062 | $17.34 |
| 31 | Alabama | $36,959 | $17.77 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $41,226 | $19.82 |
| 33 | Michigan | $35,554 | $17.09 |
| 34 | Iowa | $34,657 | $16.66 |
| 35 | Ohio | $37,449 | $18.00 |
| 36 | Indiana | $37,340 | $17.95 |
| 37 | Texas | $34,943 | $16.80 |
| 38 | District of Columbia | $42,750 | $20.55 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $37,574 | $18.06 |
| 40 | Missouri | $33,793 | $16.25 |
| 41 | Montana | $34,567 | $16.62 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $33,410 | $16.06 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $34,674 | $16.67 |
| 44 | Utah | $32,795 | $15.77 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $33,290 | $16.00 |
| 46 | Florida | $32,778 | $15.76 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $30,316 | $14.57 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $33,941 | $16.32 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $32,957 | $15.84 |
| 50 | Georgia | $31,630 | $15.21 |
| 51 | Tennessee | $31,138 | $14.97 |
Highest paying cities for licensed veterinary technicians
The highest-paying cities for licensed veterinary technicians are San Diego, CA, Alexandria, VA, and Anchorage, AK.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego, CA | $56,667 | $27.24 |
| 2 | Alexandria, VA | $46,616 | $22.41 |
| 3 | Anchorage, AK | $46,462 | $22.34 |
| 4 | Oceanside, NY | $45,729 | $21.99 |
| 5 | Olympia, WA | $45,408 | $21.83 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $45,110 | $21.69 |
| 7 | Harrisburg, PA | $39,544 | $19.01 |
| 8 | Birmingham, AL | $36,940 | $17.76 |
| 9 | Clinton, MI | $35,791 | $17.21 |
| 10 | San Antonio, TX | $35,231 | $16.94 |
| 11 | Aiken, SC | $34,726 | $16.70 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $31,705 | $15.24 |
| 13 | Chattanooga, TN | $30,894 | $14.85 |
Licensed veterinary technician salary details
A licensed veterinary technician's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $52,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a licensed veterinary technician's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
| 75th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| Average | $40,369 | $3,364 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
Highest paying licensed veterinary technician jobs
The highest paying types of licensed veterinary technicians are surgery technician, certified veterinary technician, and registered veterinary technician.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technician | $38,045 | $3,170 | $18.29 | 596,842 |
| Laboratory Animal Technician | $30,382 | $2,532 | $14.61 | 63,768 |
| Animal Health Technician | $37,267 | $3,106 | $17.92 | 89,376 |
| Animal Technician | $31,378 | $2,615 | $15.09 | 39,917 |
| Clinical Technician | $35,760 | $2,980 | $17.19 | 161,812 |
| Surgery Technician | $41,646 | $3,470 | $20.02 | 83,376 |
Top companies hiring licensed veterinary technicians now:
Which companies pay licensed veterinary technicians the most?
Licensed veterinary technician salaries at Zoetis and City of Seattle are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average licensed veterinary technician salary at companies like Wells Fargo and Acc Of Nyc are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zoetis | $63,478 | $30.52 |
| 2 | City of Seattle | $50,375 | $24.22 |
| 3 | Wells Fargo | $46,824 | $22.51 |
| 4 | Acc Of Nyc | $46,527 | $22.37 |
| 5 | Shannon Medical Center | $46,094 | $22.16 |
| 6 | Cornell University | $45,975 | $22.10 |
| 7 | Riverside Community Hospital | $44,866 | $21.57 |
| 8 | Virginia Beach SPCA | $44,284 | $21.29 |
| 9 | Neuralink IT Solutions | $44,273 | $21.29 |
| 10 | ASPCA | $43,760 | $21.04 |
| 11 | DuPont | $43,290 | $20.81 |
| 12 | Oneida Indian Nation | $43,040 | $20.69 |
| 13 | Michigan Humane | $42,960 | $20.65 |
| 14 | Kitsap Humane Society | $42,864 | $20.61 |
| 15 | Ethos Veterinary Health | $42,808 | $20.58 |
| 16 | VCA Animal Hospitals | $42,428 | $20.40 |
| 17 | Eurofins | $42,257 | $20.32 |
| 18 | BluePearl Vet | $42,146 | $20.26 |
| 19 | River Oaks Hospital | $42,012 | $20.20 |
| 20 | The Animal Medical Center | $41,909 | $20.15 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Licensed veterinary technician salary trends
The average licensed veterinary technician salary has risen by $6,814 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average licensed veterinary technician earned $33,555 annually, but today, they earn $40,369 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for licensed veterinary technicians over the last decade.
Compare licensed veterinary technician salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average licensed veterinary technician salary over time
Compare licensed veterinary technician salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Licensed veterinary technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $40,400 | $19.41 | +2.6% |
| 2025 | $39,300 | $18.91 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | $38,300 | $18.42 | +3.0% |
| 2023 | $37,200 | $17.88 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $36,200 | $17.39 | +2.1% |
Recently added licensed veterinary technician salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veterinary Eye Center of NYC | Licensed Veterinary Technician-Specialty | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $58,436 |
| Small Door Veterinary | Licensed Veterinary Technician | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $81,393 |
| National Veterinary Associates | Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) | Waterville, NY | 06/28/2025 | $48,001 |
| Inwood Animal Clinic | Licensed Veterinary Technician | New York, NY | 06/28/2025 | $50,088 |
| Vet Aid | Licensed Veterinary Technician | Tequesta, FL | 06/27/2025 | $45,914 |
| Mission Veterinary Partners | Licensed Veterinary Technician | Florence, KY | 06/27/2025 | $41,740 |
| Veterinary Practice Partners | Licensed Veterinary Technician | Tequesta, FL | 06/27/2025 | $45,914 |
| Veterinarypracticepartners | Licensed Veterinary Technician | Tequesta, FL | 06/27/2025 | $45,914 |
| VCA Animal Hospital | Licensed Veterinary Technician Surgery | Kalamazoo, MI | 06/26/2025 | $37,566 |
| Banfield Pet Hospital | Licensed Veterinary Technician | Seattle, WA | 06/26/2025 | $45,935 |
Licensed veterinary technician salary FAQs
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