Veterinary Technologist and Technician Hourly Pay in Palm Bay, FL: $23.00 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a veterinary technologist and technician working in Palm Bay, FL runs $23.00 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $47,844 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2056). Weighted against Palm Bay's regional price level (BEA RPP 100.0, 0% above national), each hour of work buys what $23.00 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $28,703 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Palm Bay, the 2026 veterinary technologist and technician hourly pay is projected at $23.00, slightly below the national median of $24.03. This pay rate offers a competitive wage for those working part-time or on a per-diem basis, with many professionals opting for schedules that typically entail three days a week in diverse settings such as general practice clinics, specialty hospitals, or pharmaceutical research facilities. Entry-level positions may start around $18.83 per hour, while experienced technicians can earn as much as $29.43 per hour, reflecting the growing demand for skilled professionals in this field and highlighting an upward trend in compensation based on official BLS estimates derived from 2025 data.
Veterinary Technologist and Technician Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $18.83 | $150.65 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $19.83 | $158.67 |
| Median (P50) | $23.00 | $183.99 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $24.58 | $196.65 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $29.43 | $235.48 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Palm Bay
Based on $23.00/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $23.00/hr, a veterinary technologist and technician working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Palm Bay, FL can expect to earn approximately $47,838 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $27,599. With a cost-of-living index of 100.00 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Palm Bay.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Palm Bay
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $919.96 | $3,986 | $47,838 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $551.98 | $2,392 | $28,703 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $367.98 | $1,595 | $19,135 |
Compare Vet Tech Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Veterinary Technologist and Technician (Palm Bay) | $23.00 |
| Veterinary Assistant (National Avg) | $17.99 |
| Veterinarian (National Avg) | $60.38 |
| Animal Care and Service Worker (National Avg) | $15.87 |
| Medical Lab Technician (National Avg) | $28.18 |
Veterinary Technologist and Technicians in Palm Bay, FL earn a median of $47,844 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.29% lower than the national median of $49,986 and 0.40% above the Florida state average of $47,654.
Veterinary Technologist and Technician Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $23.00/hr = $28,703/year (purchasing power: $28,701).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $47,838/year (purchasing power: $47,836).
CoL index: 100.005 (100 = national average).
2019 BLS Actual
$13.54/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$21.80/hr
2026 Current Est.
$23.00/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+79.2%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians in Palm Bay (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.50% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $13.54/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $14.85/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $17.30/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $17.50/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $18.24/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $19.14/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $21.80/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $23.00/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $24.26/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for veterinary technologists and technicians in Palm Bay grew 61.0% from $13.54/hr (2019) to $21.80/hr (2025). At a 5.50% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $24.26/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem veterinary technologists and technicians can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Palm Bay metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.50% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Veterinary Technologist and Technician in Palm Bay
The earning potential for part-time veterinary technologists and technicians can be significant, especially for those who choose to work 24 hours a week. In this scenario, an individual might anticipate an annual income markedly lower than that of their full-time counterparts, but the flexibility of part-time work can have its advantages. Per-diem roles may offer even higher hourly rates, generally ranging from $25 to $40, and veterinary technician specialists (VTS) command rates from $35 to $55 when working with specialized cases. Hourly rates vary notably depending on the employer type in Palm Bay, with corporate chain hospitals often paying less compared to specialty hospitals or research labs. For those negotiating pay, it's useful to consider the benefits provided by traditional employment versus the higher hourly pay without benefits from per-diem roles; while some veterinarians accept lower hourly rates for health insurance, others seek to maximize their hourly compensation.
More salary data for Palm Bay, FL:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for veterinary technologists and technicians in Palm Bay in 2026?
How much do part-time veterinary technologists and technicians make in Palm Bay?
Are veterinary technologists and technicians in Palm Bay paid hourly or salary?
How much does a full-time veterinary technologist and technician make per year in Palm Bay?
Do veterinary technologists and technicians earn more per hour working part-time in Palm Bay?
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 5.50% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for veterinary technologists and technicians in Palm Bay. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.50%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for veterinary technologist and technicians (SOC 29-2056).
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