How Much Does a Vet Tech Earn?

Veterinary technicians held more than 87,870 jobs in the United States in 2013, and the profession is expected to expand by 30 percent over the next decade (much faster than the average rate for other professions).  This accelerated growth will greatly increase the number of job opportunities for qualified candidates in the field.  But how much can a qualified veterinary technician expect to earn?


 

General Vet Tech Salary Data

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) collects salary data for the general category of veterinary technicians and technologists.  According to 2013 survey data, the mean annual wage for this category was $31,760 ($15.27 per hour).  The median annual wage was $30,500 ($14.66 per hour).  The lowest ten percent of veterinary technicians earned less than $21,030 per year, while the highest ten percent of veterinary technicians earned more than $44,030 per year.

The BLS salary numbers are slightly lower than those reported by the North American Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) organization, whose 2007 survey reported that the average salary for a vet tech was $36,120 per year.  The NAVTA survey also called attention to the significant salary growth seen in the profession over the past two decades: in 1991 a technician could expect to earn an average of just $19,000 per year, while in 2007 they could easily expect to earn an average of more than $36,000.

Salary by Type of Employer

The NAVTA 2007 salary survey also reported varying average rates of compensation by type of employer, both in private practice and outside of private practice.

In private practice, the top paying positions for vet techs were found in specialty practice ($39,810), food animal practice ($39,800) and emergency practice ($38,860).  Other areas of practice surveyed for vet tech salary information included companion animal practice ($33,270), equine practice ($32,840), and mixed animal practice ($28,960).

Outside of private practice, the top paying positions for vet techs were found with private industry or sales entities ($51,510), diagnostic or research organizations ($45,060), educational organizations ($42,980), the government ($42,200), colleges or universities ($37,350), and nonprofit organizations ($34,180).

Salary by Geographic Location

The Bureau of Labor Statistics 2013 salary survey also collected data on the top paying geographic areas for veterinary technicians to find employment.  The annual mean wage in the District of Columbia was the highest, coming in at a strong $39,710 ($19.09 per hour).  Rounding out the top 5 states in the survey were Alaska at $38,620 ($18.57 per hour), New York at $37,870 ($18.21 per hour), Massachusetts at $37,670 ($18.11 per hour), and Virginia at $37,450 ($18.00 per hour).

In terms of ranking metropolitan areas, the BLS salary survey found the top paying area was the Norwich/New London area of Connecticut and Rhode Island.  This area reported a strong annual mean wage of $50,560 ($24.31 per hour).  Other top paying areas included the Poughkeepside/Newburg/Middletown area of New York ($45,140), the San Jose/Sunnyvale area of California ($43,650), the Anchorage area of Alaska ($42,020), and the New York/White Plains area of New York ($41,540).

Salary by Vet Tech Specialty

Veterinary technician specialists have advanced training in a particular field that generally rewards them with salaries that are higher than the average for those without specialty certification.  NAVTA currently recognizes 11 specialty certification areas for veterinary technicians.

A 2013 article in Veterinary Technician Today listed the varying salaries for a few of the vet tech specialties.  Vet tech anesthetists earned an average of $48,000 per year, dental vet techs earned an average of $44,000 per year, surgical vet techs earned an average of $39,000 per year, and emergency and critical care vet techs earned an average of $38,000 per year.

Final Word

Veterinary technicians will enjoy the greatest earning potential if they are willing to achieve specialty certification, relocate to an area that pays a higher average salary, or seek a position with high paying employers in private practice or industry.  These considerations can yield a salary of $10,000 to $20,000 more than the average annual salary for the profession.