Entry-Level Veterinary Technician Salary (2026): What New Grad Vet Techs Actually Make
The average entry-level vet tech hourly is $19.41 per hour ($40,373 annual) in 2026, based on the 10th percentile of BLS wage data. New CVT / LVT / RVT starting pay ranges from $23,041 to $57,054 in San Francisco, CA — driven by Mars Petcare / NVA / Thrive corporate sign-on bonuses, 24/7 ER specialty premium, California RVT scope, and VTS specialty path.
2019 BLS
$24,530
2025 BLS
$35,710
2026 Current Est.
$37,674
2019–2027 Growth
+62.0%
National Entry-Level Veterinary Technologist and Technician Salary Trend (10th Percentile)
2019–2025: BLS OEWS actual data. 2026+: CAGR 5.50% projection.
| Year | Entry-Level Salary (P10) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $24,530 | Actual |
| 2020 | $25,520 | Actual |
| 2021 | $28,370 | Actual |
| 2022 | $29,000 | Actual |
| 2023 | $30,180 | Actual |
| 2024 | $32,120 | Actual |
| 2025 | $35,710 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $37,674 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $39,746 | Projected |
Entry-level veterinary technologist and technician salaries (10th percentile) have shown consistent growth over 7 years of BLS data. The 10th percentile represents typical starting pay for new graduates and early-career professionals. At the current 5.50% CAGR, starting salaries are projected to continue rising through 2027.
Note: BLS actual data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. Estimated and projected values are calculated using a 5.50% historical CAGR. Actual compensation may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Starting Veterinary Technologist and Technician Salary by State
Entry-level veterinary technologist and technician pay varies dramatically by state. The top-paying states offer starting salaries well above $40,373, while others fall below the national average. Here are all 52 states ranked by average starting salary for veterinary technologists and technicians.
| # | State | Avg Starting Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $50,591 |
| 2 | Maine | $50,212 |
| 3 | Vermont | $49,063 |
| 4 | New York | $48,798 |
| 5 | Washington | $48,796 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $48,458 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $46,715 |
| 8 | Oregon | $46,226 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $44,378 |
| 10 | Colorado | $43,448 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $42,047 |
| 12 | Hawaii | $41,278 |
| 13 | Illinois | $40,704 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $40,663 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $40,427 |
| 16 | Indiana | $40,254 |
| 17 | Michigan | $39,862 |
| 18 | Iowa | $39,705 |
| 19 | Nebraska | $39,704 |
| 20 | Arizona | $39,647 |
| 21 | Maryland | $39,568 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $39,371 |
| 23 | Montana | $39,196 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $39,018 |
| 25 | Alaska | $38,798 |
| 26 | New Hampshire | $38,648 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $38,463 |
| 28 | Kansas | $38,410 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $38,335 |
| 30 | Florida | $38,328 |
| 31 | Virginia | $37,745 |
| 32 | Georgia | $37,273 |
| 33 | Missouri | $37,088 |
| 34 | Nevada | $37,054 |
| 35 | Ohio | $36,875 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $36,516 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $36,461 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $36,281 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $36,199 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $35,735 |
| 41 | Idaho | $35,233 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $35,187 |
| 43 | Delaware | $34,955 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $34,562 |
| 45 | Texas | $33,663 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $31,548 |
| 47 | Utah | $31,248 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $30,744 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $30,348 |
| 50 | Alabama | $30,314 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $29,229 |
| 52 | Puerto Rico | $24,424 |
Beginner Veterinary Technologist and Technician Pay: Top 20 Cities
These 20 metro areas offer the highest starting salaries for new veterinary technologists and technicians. Each figure represents the 10th percentile of local BLS wage data — the typical pay range for professionals with little to no experience.
| # | City | Starting Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $57,054 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $55,620 |
| 3 | Oakland, CA | $55,065 |
| 4 | Sunnyvale, CA | $53,767 |
| 5 | Portland, ME | $52,877 |
| 6 | Santa Clara, CA | $52,653 |
| 7 | Santa Cruz, CA | $52,381 |
| 8 | Salinas, CA | $52,349 |
| 9 | Sacramento, CA | $52,085 |
| 10 | Seattle, WA | $52,075 |
| 11 | San Diego, CA | $51,948 |
| 12 | Corvallis, OR | $51,895 |
| 13 | Santa Maria, CA | $51,473 |
| 14 | Fremont, CA | $51,272 |
| 15 | Burlington, VT | $51,231 |
| 16 | Minneapolis, MN | $51,178 |
| 17 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $51,146 |
| 18 | Los Angeles, CA | $51,062 |
| 19 | Chico, CA | $50,914 |
| 20 | Petaluma, CA | $50,616 |
Veterinary Technician Salary With No Experience: New Grad Vet Tech Reality
The 10th percentile of BLS wage data is the standard proxy for entry-level vet tech pay — it represents what the lowest-paid 10% of vet techs in a given metro area earn, predominantly new grads in their first 6–12 months. Nationally, that sits at $19.41/hour ($40,373 annualized) for 2026. New vet tech offers vary by setting (small animal GP vs ER vs specialty vs academic teaching hospital) and corporate vs independent structure.
What New Grad Vet Techs Actually Earn (Year 1)
- California new grad RVT (top tier with state scope) — Bay Area / LA / San Diego $24–$32/hour starting. California Registered Veterinary Technician scope premium.
- Hawaii, Washington, Massachusetts, Connecticut ($20–$28/hour) — high COL anchors.
- NY (LVT), Oregon, NJ ($18–$26/hour) — strong markets.
- Mid-Atlantic / Midwest / South $14–$22/hour — Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, NC, Arizona.
- Mars Petcare new grad (VCA, Banfield, BluePearl) — largest US corporate group. $2,000–$5,000 sign-on bonuses, tuition reimbursement for AVMA-accredited programs, structured benefits. Strong path for new grads.
- NVA (National Veterinary Associates) new grad — second largest corporate group.
- Thrive Pet Healthcare / Petco new grad — third largest.
- MedVet / Ethos / BluePearl 24/7 ER new grad — premium ER track. Strong shift differentials.
- Academic veterinary teaching hospital new grad — UC Davis, Texas A&M, UF, Cornell, Penn, OSU, UGA, NC State, UT, Mizzou, Iowa State, UW, UMN, MSU, UIUC, Purdue, KSU, OSU, MSU, LSU, Tufts, CSU, OSU Oregon, WSU, Auburn. Strong benefits + PSLF.
- Equine practice new grad — Kentucky, Florida, Texas, California equine markets.
- Federal vet tech (USDA, VA, military) — federal pension and PSLF.
AVMA CVTEA Program + VTNE Exam
- AVMA CVTEA-accredited vet tech program — required entry credential. 2-year associate degree typical. 4-year vet technologist (BS) programs available but limited.
- VTNE exam — Veterinary Technician National Examination administered by AAVSB. Required for credentialing.
- State credentialing rules — CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician — most states), LVT (Licensed Veterinary Technician — NY and others), RVT (Registered Veterinary Technician — California and others).
- California RVT scope premium — broader scope drives higher entry-level pay.
- NAVTA national push — advocacy toward national RVT standards.
- BLS / animal CPR certification — required for clinical positions.
- VTS specialty post-grad path — 16 NAVTA-recognized specialty academies. Pursued at year 3–5 (most require 4,000 hours specialty work).
Setting Selection: Corporate / Independent / ER / Academic
- Mars Petcare corporate (most common entry, sign-on bonuses) — VCA, Banfield, BluePearl. $2,000–$5,000 sign-on, tuition reimbursement, structured benefits.
- NVA, Thrive Pet Healthcare, Petco — second / third largest corporate groups.
- MedVet / Ethos / BluePearl 24/7 ER (premium) — shift differentials, strong demand.
- Independent small animal — owner-DVM private practice.
- Academic veterinary teaching hospital — strong benefits + PSLF for university appointments.
- Equine practice — KY, FL, TX, CA, NJ, NY, VA markets.
- Zoo / wildlife / aquarium tech — niche specialty at major zoos.
- Federal vet tech (USDA, VA, military) — pension and PSLF.
- Pediatric (NICU equivalent / neonatal kitten / puppy support) — specialty practice.
Year-by-Year Progression to Vet Tech National Median
- Year 0–1 (P10 baseline) — $19.41/hour national average.
- Year 1–2 (P10 → P25) — 5–10% raise.
- Year 2–3 (P25 → mid-tier) — specialty cross-training (ECC, surgery, internal medicine, anesthesia).
- Year 3–5 (approaching national median) — most vet techs reach state median.
- Year 5+ — VTS specialty credential (4,000 hours specialty work + exam), lead tech / hospital manager track.
2026 New Grad Vet Tech Salary Outlook
Entry-level vet tech pay has grown at a compound annual rate of 5.50% nationally over the past five years — driven by industry-wide retention crisis pushing corporate groups to raise pay, sustained pet-ownership demand, structural DVM shortage forcing greater delegation to credentialed techs, rapid 24/7 specialty + ER hospital expansion creating VTS demand. The BLS projects vet tech employment growth at 19% through 2033 — among the fastest-growing healthcare support occupations.
Entry-Level to Mid-Career: Veterinary Technologist and Technician Salary Growth
Veterinary Technologist and Technician salaries follow a predictable growth curve. Here's how pay typically progresses from entry-level to experienced:
How to Maximize Your Starting Veterinary Technician Salary
New grad vet techs who strategically position state, setting, sign-on bonuses, and specialty path consistently land starting offers 25–45% above the national average. Here's how to maximize your first vet tech salary:
1. Target California RVT or High-COL State
- California RVT (top tier with state scope) — Bay Area / LA / San Diego $24–$32/hour starting. Broader RVT scope.
- Hawaii, Washington, Massachusetts, Connecticut — high COL anchors.
- NY (LVT), Oregon, NJ — strong markets.
- No-state-income-tax markets — Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Washington, Nevada strong real take-home.
- Highest-paying new grad metro — San Francisco, CA at $57,054.
2. Pass VTNE Exam Before Job Search
- AVMA CVTEA-accredited vet tech program — required entry credential.
- VTNE exam — pass before graduation if possible.
- State credentialing — CVT / LVT / RVT depending on state.
- California RVT, NY LVT, Texas LVT — state-specific credentialing required.
- BLS / animal CPR certification — required for clinical positions.
- USDA accreditation — for federal vet tech positions.
3. Target Mars Petcare / NVA / Thrive Corporate Sign-On
- Mars Petcare (VCA, Banfield, BluePearl) sign-on — $2,000–$5,000 sign-on plus tuition reimbursement.
- NVA / Thrive Pet Healthcare / Petco sign-on — competitive starting plus benefits.
- MedVet / Ethos / BluePearl 24/7 ER (premium) — shift differentials.
- Academic veterinary teaching hospital — strong benefits + PSLF.
- Rural shortage sign-on — $3,000–$10,000+ at rural HPSA-designated practices.
- Tuition reimbursement — most corporate groups pay toward AVMA-accredited program enrollment.
4. Choose Setting Based on Career Plan
- Corporate small animal (most common entry) — Mars Petcare, NVA, Thrive, Petco. Sign-on bonuses + structured benefits.
- 24/7 ER vet tech (premium track) — BluePearl, MedVet, Ethos. Shift differentials + ECC specialty path.
- Academic veterinary teaching hospital — strong benefits + PSLF.
- Independent small animal — owner-DVM private practice.
- Equine practice — KY, FL, TX, CA equine markets.
- Federal vet tech (USDA, VA, military) — pension + PSLF.
- Zoo / wildlife / aquarium — niche.
5. Plan VTS Specialty / Tech-to-DVM Path
- VTS specialty credentials (post-3–5 years) — 16 NAVTA-recognized specialty academies. 4,000 hours specialty work + exam.
- Specialty exposure tracks — ECC (Emergency & Critical Care), surgery, internal medicine, anesthesia, dermatology, oncology, behavior, dentistry, nutrition, ophthalmology.
- Lead tech / hospital manager track — administrative pay with team coordination.
- Vet tech-to-DVM path — many career-track vet techs pursue DVM program. Substantial pay increase but requires 4-year DVM program commitment.
- Travel vet tech (post-1–2 years) — emerging market.
- Per diem / relief vet tech — 20–35% premium over staff.
- Federal senior vet tech (USDA, VA, military) — pension and PSLF.
- Industry-wide retention crisis — corporate groups offering increasingly aggressive retention bonuses.
More Salary Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jordan Lee, CVT
Career Analyst
Jordan has 10 years of experience in veterinary technology. They specialize in emergency care. Jordan has worked in both clinic and hospital settings.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS , released .
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, CVT, a licensed veterinary technologist and technician with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. We applied a 5.50% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS trends, to estimate current 2026 compensation.