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Pay guide

Highest Paying States for Vet Techs in 2026

District of Columbia pays vet techs the most on paper, with a median of $61,270 in the May 2025 BLS survey. Adjust for what things cost and the ranking changes: Minnesota moves to the top. This guide shows both lists, the states where the top earners sit, and how to decide whether a move would pay.

Written by VetTeamJobs editorial

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Updated October 2026. About 8 minutes.

Data BLS OEWS May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities 2023

Vet tech median pay by state, BLS May 2025. Click a state for its jobs.

List view: every state, highest median first
  1. District of Columbia $61,270 median, $81,990 90th
  2. California $60,630 median, $75,860 90th
  3. Washington $59,740 median, $77,300 90th
  4. New York $59,010 median, $78,760 90th
  5. Minnesota $57,270 median, $65,120 90th
  6. Oregon $55,810 median, $77,710 90th
  7. Virginia $52,090 median, $75,770 90th
  8. Connecticut $50,950 median, $75,090 90th
  9. Maine $50,810 median, $57,690 90th
  10. Nevada $50,250 median, $65,420 90th
  11. Michigan $49,710 median, $63,020 90th
  12. Colorado $49,650 median, $60,380 90th
  13. Massachusetts $49,540 median, $64,470 90th
  14. Vermont $49,490 median, $58,430 90th
  15. New Jersey $49,050 median, $75,310 90th
  16. North Dakota $48,790 median, $56,980 90th
  17. New Hampshire $48,780 median, $60,840 90th
  18. Indiana $48,720 median, $59,490 90th
  19. Hawaii $48,550 median, $62,660 90th
  20. Delaware $48,370 median, $61,890 90th
  21. Ohio $47,990 median, $61,360 90th
  22. North Carolina $47,620 median, $59,420 90th
  23. Maryland $47,350 median, $74,460 90th
  24. Wisconsin $47,020 median, $59,110 90th
  25. Alaska $46,480 median, $75,820 90th
  26. Illinois $46,440 median, $60,520 90th
  27. Pennsylvania $46,430 median, $60,280 90th
  28. Florida $46,380 median, $57,870 90th
  29. Arizona $46,300 median, $58,350 90th
  30. Kansas $45,810 median, $58,250 90th
  31. Iowa $45,560 median, $63,860 90th
  32. Rhode Island $45,310 median, $63,590 90th
  33. South Dakota $45,300 median, $50,440 90th
  34. New Mexico $44,790 median, $56,870 90th
  35. Nebraska $43,680 median, $57,310 90th
  36. Missouri $43,520 median, $49,260 90th
  37. Georgia $43,060 median, $58,590 90th
  38. Tennessee $42,810 median, $57,040 90th
  39. Idaho $42,120 median, $48,660 90th
  40. Montana $41,170 median, $57,660 90th
  41. Utah $40,560 median, $55,330 90th
  42. Kentucky $39,590 median, $50,530 90th
  43. Texas $39,410 median, $54,610 90th
  44. Oklahoma $39,100 median, $53,880 90th
  45. South Carolina $39,020 median, $57,970 90th
  46. Wyoming $38,650 median, $49,260 90th
  47. Arkansas $38,360 median, $47,820 90th
  48. West Virginia $37,700 median, $48,170 90th
  49. Alabama $36,590 median, $49,060 90th
  50. Mississippi $36,380 median, $46,710 90th
  51. Louisiana $35,530 median, $47,690 90th
Highest median
District of Columbia
$61,270 a year
Highest after cost of living
Minnesota
$58,201 in US-average dollars
Highest 90th percentile
District of Columbia
$81,990 a year
US median
$47,380
$22.78 an hour

How we built this. Medians and 90th percentiles are BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates for veterinary technologists and technicians (29-2056). The adjusted column divides each median by the state's 2023 BEA Regional Price Parity (US = 100), the same method Indeed Hiring Lab uses for its cost-adjusted rankings. Open-job counts are our live board on the day of the build.

Ten highest state medians, vet techs, BLS May 2025
  1. 1 District of Columbia $61,270
  2. 2 California $60,630
  3. 3 Washington $59,740
  4. 4 New York $59,010
  5. 5 Minnesota $57,270
  6. 6 Oregon $55,810
  7. 7 Virginia $52,090
  8. 8 Connecticut $50,950
  9. 9 Maine $50,810
  10. 10 Nevada $50,250

Hover a bar for the cost-adjusted figure and rank.

In this guide

    The ten highest paying states by median

    This is the list most articles stop at. It is accurate, and it mostly tracks the general cost of living and the strength of state title protection for credentialed techs.

    RankStateMedian annualHourly90th pctPrice parityEmployedOpen jobs
    1District of Columbia$61,270$29.46$81,990110.812028 open
    2California$60,630$29.15$75,860112.611,310348 open
    3Washington$59,740$28.72$77,300108.62,290122 open
    4New York$59,010$28.37$78,760107.65,350268 open
    5Minnesota$57,270$27.54$65,12098.43,56052 open
    6Oregon$55,810$26.83$77,710104.71,12053 open
    7Virginia$52,090$25.04$75,770100.72,790168 open
    8Connecticut$50,950$24.49$75,090103.71,69037 open
    9Maine$50,810$24.43$57,69097.191035 open
    10Nevada$50,250$24.16$65,42097.01,12022 open

    Price parity is the BEA's measure of what goods, services and housing cost in a state compared with the national average of 100. Every state in this top ten except Minnesota and Maine and Nevada is above 100, which means part of the extra pay goes straight to rent.

    The same states after cost of living

    Ten highest medians after cost of living, BEA 2023 price parities
    1. 1 Minnesota $58,201
    2. 2 District of Columbia $55,298
    3. 3 North Dakota $55,068
    4. 4 Washington $55,009
    5. 5 New York $54,842
    6. 6 California $53,845
    7. 7 Oregon $53,305
    8. 8 Indiana $52,842
    9. 9 Michigan $52,771
    10. 10 Maine $52,327

    In US-average dollars. The full ranked version with a toggle is in the cost-of-living guide.

    To compare pay across states fairly, divide each median by the state's price parity. The result is what the wage is worth in national-average dollars. It is a rough tool, because price parities measure a whole state and your rent depends on the metro, but it changes the picture.

    RankStateAdjusted medianRaw medianPrice parityRaw rankOpen jobs
    1Minnesota$58,201$57,27098.4552 open
    2District of Columbia$55,298$61,270110.8128 open
    3North Dakota$55,068$48,79088.616See board
    4Washington$55,009$59,740108.63122 open
    5New York$54,842$59,010107.64268 open
    6California$53,845$60,630112.62348 open
    7Oregon$53,305$55,810104.7653 open
    8Indiana$52,842$48,72092.21843 open
    9Michigan$52,771$49,71094.21173 open
    10Maine$52,327$50,81097.1935 open

    The biggest climbers are North Dakota (raw rank 16, adjusted rank 3), Indiana (raw rank 18, adjusted rank 8): lower-cost states where vet tech pay holds up well against local prices.

    The biggest fallers are Connecticut (raw rank 8, adjusted rank 21), where high housing costs eat most of the headline pay.

    Where the top earners are

    Highest 90th percentile pay, vet techs, BLS May 2025
    1. 1 District of Columbia $81,990
    2. 2 New York $78,760
    3. 3 Oregon $77,710
    4. 4 Washington $77,300
    5. 5 California $75,860
    6. 6 Alaska $75,820
    7. 7 Virginia $75,770
    8. 8 New Jersey $75,310
    9. 9 Connecticut $75,090
    10. 10 Maryland $74,460

    Where experienced, credentialed and specialty techs land.

    The median tells you what a typical tech earns. If you are a credentialed tech with several years in emergency or specialty medicine, or you hold a VTS, the 90th percentile is the more useful figure. The states with the highest 90th percentile are:

    RankState90th percentile90th pct hourlyMedianSpread (90th minus 10th)
    1District of Columbia$81,990$39.42$61,270$31,600
    2New York$78,760$37.87$59,010$31,120
    3Oregon$77,710$37.36$55,810$37,790
    4Washington$77,300$37.16$59,740$30,910
    5California$75,860$36.47$60,630$27,620
    6Alaska$75,820$36.45$46,480$38,810
    7Virginia$75,770$36.43$52,090$40,180
    8New Jersey$75,310$36.21$49,050$37,440
    9Connecticut$75,090$36.10$50,950$33,610
    10Maryland$74,460$35.80$47,350$35,710

    A large spread between the 10th and 90th percentile means experience and setting are rewarded. In those states, the difference between a general practice offer and an overnight emergency role can be more than the entire median wage of a lower-paying state.

    Every state, both ways

    The full ranking, sortable by raw or adjusted median.

    StateMedianAdjusted medianPrice parity90th pctEmployed
    Alabama$36,590$40,65690.0$49,0601,880
    Alaska$46,480$45,703101.7$75,820380
    Arizona$46,300$45,796101.1$58,3503,970
    Arkansas$38,360$44,34786.5$47,820320
    California$60,630$53,845112.6$75,86011,310
    Colorado$49,650$48,964101.4$60,3803,720
    Connecticut$50,950$49,132103.7$75,0901,690
    Delaware$48,370$48,71199.3$61,890530
    District of Columbia$61,270$55,298110.8$81,990120
    Florida$46,380$44,812103.5$57,87011,380
    Georgia$43,060$44,52996.7$58,5902,410
    Hawaii$48,550$44,705108.6$62,660270
    Idaho$42,120$46,08391.4$48,660790
    Illinois$46,440$46,95798.9$60,5205,040
    Indiana$48,720$52,84292.2$59,4901,820
    Iowa$45,560$51,30688.8$63,8601,220
    Kansas$45,810$50,90090.0$58,2501,270
    Kentucky$39,590$43,74690.5$50,5301,670
    Louisiana$35,530$40,23888.3$47,6902,220
    Maine$50,810$52,32797.1$57,690910
    Maryland$47,350$45,529104.0$74,4602,540
    Massachusetts$49,540$45,786108.2$64,4703,990
    Michigan$49,710$52,77194.2$63,0202,550
    Minnesota$57,270$58,20198.4$65,1203,560
    Mississippi$36,380$41,67287.3$46,710650
    Missouri$43,520$47,40791.8$49,2602,040
    Montana$41,170$45,64390.2$57,660480
    Nebraska$43,680$48,31990.4$57,310690
    Nevada$50,250$51,80497.0$65,4201,120
    New Hampshire$48,780$46,325105.3$60,840870
    New Jersey$49,050$45,041108.9$75,3102,910
    New Mexico$44,790$49,54690.4$56,870890
    New York$59,010$54,842107.6$78,7605,350
    North Carolina$47,620$50,60694.1$59,4202,580
    North Dakota$48,790$55,06888.6$56,980340
    Ohio$47,990$52,27791.8$61,3604,790
    Oklahoma$39,100$44,28188.3$53,8801,060
    Oregon$55,810$53,305104.7$77,7101,120
    Pennsylvania$46,430$47,62197.5$60,2806,620
    Rhode Island$45,310$44,684101.4$63,590530
    South Carolina$39,020$41,86793.2$57,9702,540
    South Dakota$45,300$51,41988.1$50,440300
    Tennessee$42,810$46,28192.5$57,0401,640
    Texas$39,410$40,54597.2$54,61016,730
    Utah$40,560$42,69595.0$55,3301,550
    Vermont$49,490$51,23296.6$58,430390
    Virginia$52,090$51,728100.7$75,7702,790
    Washington$59,740$55,009108.6$77,3002,290
    West Virginia$37,700$41,98289.8$48,170400
    Wisconsin$47,020$50,50593.1$59,1102,590
    Wyoming$38,650$42,56690.8$49,260310

    Should you move for the money?

    Four things decide whether a cross-state move pays off for a vet tech:

    1. The adjusted gap, not the raw gap. Use the adjusted table above. A move from a state at 90 on the price index to one at 110 needs a raise of more than 22 percent just to break even.
    2. Credential transfer. Most regulated states accept an accredited degree plus a passing VTNE score, but many add a state law exam, fingerprints and a fee, and processing can take weeks. Credentials earned through on-the-job routes may not transfer at all. See credentials by state.
    3. Title protection. In states that reserve tasks for credentialed techs, the credential is worth more and the gap to assistant pay is wider. In states with weak protection, uncredentialed staff compete for the same jobs.
    4. The metro, not the state. Pay inside a state varies as much as pay between states. Check the posted range on specific jobs in the city you would move to, and compare it with the state percentiles on each job page.

    Shortcut: set a free alert for the state you are considering and watch the posted ranges for a few weeks. The listings tell you more about a local market than any state average.

    Outlook

    Nationally, the BLS projects vet tech employment to grow 9% from 2025 to 2035 with about 13,400 openings a year. High-paying states are not necessarily the fastest-hiring ones; the largest number of openings is in the big-population states. For the full state table with 10th, median and 90th percentiles, see vet tech salary by state, and for how to turn these figures into a better offer, negotiating pay as a vet tech.

    Questions people search for

    What is the highest paying state for vet techs?

    District of Columbia, with a median of $61,270 a year ($29.46 an hour) in the BLS May 2025 survey. California ($60,630) and Washington ($59,740) are next.

    Which state pays vet techs the most after cost of living?

    Dividing each state's median by its 2023 BEA regional price parity, Minnesota comes out on top at the equivalent of $58,201 in national-average dollars, followed by District of Columbia and North Dakota.

    Can a vet tech make $30 an hour?

    Yes, in several states. The 90th percentile tops $62,400 a year, which is $30 an hour, in 17 states and DC, led by District of Columbia ($81,990), New York ($78,760), Oregon ($77,710). Those figures usually mean emergency, specialty or university hospital work with experience.

    Is it worth moving states for vet tech pay?

    Sometimes. A move only pays off if the gap in pay is bigger than the gap in housing and taxes, and if your credential transfers without a long delay. Compare price-adjusted medians here, then check the credential rules in our credentials by state guide before you apply.

    Where is the data from?

    Pay figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025. Cost of living adjustments use the BEA regional price parities for 2023, the latest state figures published, with the US average set to 100.

    Jobs that match this guide

    Pay-listed first. 7,515 open tech, assistant, CSR, kennel and manager jobs on the board, refreshed daily. No DVM listings. Every Apply goes to the clinic's own site.

    Browse all jobs

    Vet Technician

    Community Veterinary Partners Group

    The Woodlands, TX

    • $17.00 to $23.00/hr
    • Part time

    Posted todayAbove Texas median (+6%)

    Veterinary Technician

    Community Veterinary Partners Group

    Phillipsburg, NJ

    • $18.00 to $26.00/hr
    • Full time
    • Swings

    Posted yesterdayBelow New Jersey median (-7%)

    Registered Veterinary Technician

    Mission Pet Health (Southern Veterinary Partners) Group

    Parma Heights, OH

    • $20.00 to $25.00/hr
    • Full time
    • GP

    Posted yesterdayAt Ohio median

    Registered Veterinary Technician

    Mission Pet Health (Southern Veterinary Partners) Group

    Eagle, CO

    • $22.00 to $26.00/hr
    • Full time
    • GP

    Posted yesterdayAt Colorado median

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    Sources

    1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 state data (download, oesm25st.zip)
    2. BLS OEWS: Veterinary Technologists and Technicians (29-2056), May 2025
    3. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: Real Personal Consumption Expenditures by State and Real Personal Income by State and Metropolitan Area, 2023 (regional price parities, December 12, 2024)
    4. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Veterinary Technologists and Technicians (2025 to 2035 projections)
    5. AAVSB: Veterinary Technician Regulated and Non-regulated Jurisdictions (updated 08/2026, PDF)

    Pay guides are re-run each spring when the new OEWS release lands; career and credential guides are re-checked against state boards every six months. If you spot something out of date, email bynumenterprisesbe@gmail.com and we will fix it.

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