Veterinary Technologist and Technician Salary in California: $64,695 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across California's 157 metropolitan areas, the average median veterinary technologist and technician pay sits at $64,695/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-2056. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $57,202 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Oakland ($72,708), Fremont ($71,104), San Francisco ($71,090).

Veterinary Technologist and Technician Salary in California - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — California veterinary technologist and technician salary overview (2026)

$64,695

Avg Median Salary

$31.10

Avg Hourly Rate

13,829

Metro Employed

157

Cities

In 2026, the average median salary for veterinary technologists and technicians in California is projected to be $64,695, significantly higher than the national median of $49,986, marking a differential of +29.4%. The disparity in salaries across cities is pronounced, with Oakland leading at $76,707 and Visalia at the lower end with $49,954. This gap is largely driven by factors such as the cost of living, demand for veterinary services, and the availability of advanced veterinary practices in urban regions. California has specific licensing requirements and scope of practice laws that can affect salary potential. For instance, the need for highly trained professionals to meet the demands of pet ownership in a state with a large population contributes to job security. The projected annual growth rate in this field is 5.50%, indicating a steady demand for veterinary technicians and technologists. Cities like Fremont ($75,015), San Francisco ($75,000), Sunnyvale ($72,647), and Santa Clara ($72,170) also reflect higher salary prospects, showing that urban areas tend to offer better pay due to increased demand for veterinary services. Overall, the job market for veterinary technologists and technicians in California remains strong, with ample opportunities for those entering the field.

California Veterinary Technologist and Technician Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$50,591

avg across 157 cities

Median

$64,695

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$80,998

avg across 157 cities

Overall salary range in California: $40,734 (lowest entry-level) to $108,104 (highest top earner)

California vs National Average

California

$64,695

National Median

$49,986

California veterinary technologists and technicians earn 29.43% more than the national median (+$14,709/year difference).

California Veterinary Technologist and Technician Salary Distribution (2026)

Veterinary Technologist and Technician salaries in California range from $50,591 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $80,998 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $64,695. The California median is $14,709 above the US national median of $49,986. The average hourly rate is $31.10/hr. Approximately 13,829 veterinary technologist and technicians are employed across 157 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$42,020

2025 BLS Actual

$61,322

2026 Current Est.

$64,695

2019–2027 Growth

+62.4%

Salary Trajectory for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians in California (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.50% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$42,020	Actual
2020	$47,060	Actual
2021	$45,370	Actual
2022	$49,736	Actual
2023	$53,369	Actual
2024	$54,705	Actual
2025	$61,322	Actual
2026(current)	$64,695	Estimated
2027	$68,253	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median veterinary technologist and technician salary grew 45.9% from $42,020 (2019) to $61,322 (2025). At a 5.50% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $68,253 by 2027 — a total increase of $26,233 (62.43%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California 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.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California

Oakland

78 employed · $36.88/hr

$76,707

+18.57% vs avg

Fremont

43 employed · $36.06/hr

$75,015

+15.95% vs avg

San Francisco

1,220 employed · $36.06/hr

$75,000

+15.93% vs avg

Sunnyvale

26 employed · $34.93/hr

$72,647

+12.29% vs avg

Santa Clara

32 employed · $34.70/hr

$72,170

+11.55% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in California

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Visalia	$49,954	-22.79%	$24.01
Merced	$53,193	-17.78%	$25.57
Redding	$54,238	-16.16%	$26.08
Lodi	$58,275	-9.92%	$28.02
Bakersfield	$58,795	-9.12%	$28.26

Best Value Cities for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians in California

When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for veterinary technologists and technicians.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Oakland	$76,707	113.1	$67,822
Fremont	$75,015	113.1	$66,326
San Francisco	$75,000	115.613	$64,872
San Jose	$70,980	110.423	$64,280
Sunnyvale	$72,647	113.1	$64,233

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in California

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$50,591	$24.32	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$64,695	$31.10	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$80,998	$38.94	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 157 Cities in California

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Oakland	$76,707	$36.88	$55,065	$108,104	78
2	Fremont	$75,015	$36.06	$51,272	$107,168	43
3	San Francisco	$75,000	$36.06	$57,054	$84,326	1,220
4	Sunnyvale	$72,647	$34.93	$53,767	$99,564	26
5	Santa Clara	$72,170	$34.70	$52,653	$95,235	32
6	San Jose	$70,980	$34.13	$55,620	$82,744	470
7	Santa Ana	$66,353	$31.90	$46,185	$91,427	69
8	Santa Cruz	$66,265	$31.86	$52,381	$79,252	150
9	Santa Rosa	$65,347	$31.42	$48,287	$78,397	250
10	Anaheim	$65,146	$31.32	$46,210	$90,914	51
11	Fontana	$65,125	$31.31	$45,385	$89,768	32
12	Irvine	$65,053	$31.28	$48,087	$91,451	72
13	Folsom	$64,758	$31.13	$46,888	$84,845	17
14	Pomona	$64,736	$31.12	$47,651	$86,312	36
15	Petaluma	$64,722	$31.11	$50,616	$86,797	12
16	Salinas	$64,703	$31.11	$52,349	$80,064	130
17	Simi Valley	$64,701	$31.10	$47,764	$88,430	23
18	Escondido	$64,685	$31.10	$47,793	$85,970	31
19	Vallejo	$64,598	$31.06	$45,386	$82,448	110
20	Fairfield	$64,569	$31.04	$47,456	$85,573	25
21	Fullerton	$64,332	$30.93	$46,708	$87,328	25
22	Sacramento	$64,323	$30.92	$52,085	$80,106	1,010
23	Daly City	$64,276	$30.90	$46,579	$84,744	20
24	El Monte	$64,256	$30.89	$46,790	$87,067	20
25	Vista	$64,220	$30.88	$46,708	$86,777	24
26	Long Beach	$64,219	$30.87	$44,198	$91,993	89
27	Concord	$64,205	$30.87	$46,673	$86,893	29
28	Clovis	$64,109	$30.82	$46,451	$84,012	19
29	Roseville	$64,059	$30.80	$49,597	$88,159	35
30	Garden Grove	$64,043	$30.78	$46,040	$86,339	37
31	Temecula	$64,028	$30.78	$46,263	$83,905	25
32	Los Angeles	$64,007	$30.77	$51,062	$80,591	3,640
33	Santa Clarita	$63,985	$30.76	$47,555	$90,303	41
34	Lancaster	$63,901	$30.72	$45,971	$89,997	40
35	Inglewood	$63,901	$30.72	$45,971	$89,997	21
36	Corona	$63,820	$30.68	$45,721	$89,507	24
37	Richmond	$63,811	$30.68	$45,505	$85,547	25
38	Rialto	$63,780	$30.66	$45,691	$85,443	17
39	Napa	$63,733	$30.65	$48,414	$77,564	30
40	Oxnard	$63,733	$30.64	$50,165	$79,399	390
41	Torrance	$63,699	$30.63	$45,249	$89,295	26
42	Chula Vista	$63,669	$30.61	$43,362	$86,841	51
43	San Diego	$63,595	$30.57	$51,948	$78,724	1,330
44	Elk Grove	$63,577	$30.56	$45,163	$84,591	25
45	Oceanside	$63,563	$30.56	$45,129	$84,499	28
46	Whittier	$63,544	$30.55	$48,116	$83,081	22
47	San Rafael	$63,538	$30.54	$48,039	$83,024	11
48	Rancho Cucamonga	$63,481	$30.52	$44,944	$84,267	46
49	Thousand Oaks	$63,475	$30.52	$49,217	$87,542	32
50	Hayward	$63,446	$30.50	$44,863	$88,257	23
51	Woodland	$63,430	$30.50	$47,778	$85,013	15
52	Buena Park	$63,419	$30.49	$47,819	$82,828	20
53	Encinitas	$63,415	$30.49	$47,807	$82,650	16
54	Downey	$63,411	$30.49	$44,592	$88,302	22
55	Dublin	$63,375	$30.47	$47,712	$82,678	14
56	Redlands	$63,355	$30.46	$47,665	$84,923	16
57	Chino	$63,320	$30.45	$47,517	$82,333	17
58	Westminster	$63,300	$30.44	$47,276	$84,738	21
59	Santa Monica	$63,296	$30.43	$47,458	$82,251	20
60	San Mateo	$63,289	$30.43	$44,506	$87,720	21
61	Tulare	$63,270	$30.42	$47,399	$82,168	17
62	San Buenaventura	$63,248	$30.41	$49,184	$87,745	19
63	Moreno Valley	$63,206	$30.38	$46,059	$87,601	53
64	Mission Viejo	$63,206	$30.38	$47,310	$82,115	23
65	Pleasanton	$63,197	$30.38	$47,287	$84,226	16
66	Pasadena	$63,107	$30.34	$47,300	$87,097	35
67	Carlsbad	$63,064	$30.32	$48,217	$86,419	23
68	Santee	$63,063	$30.32	$46,969	$81,636	9
69	Glendale	$63,006	$30.29	$48,615	$86,915	36
70	Mountain View	$62,973	$30.28	$46,757	$81,338	13
71	Pittsburg	$62,969	$30.28	$46,488	$83,619	19
72	Novato	$62,949	$30.27	$46,634	$81,095	11
73	Costa Mesa	$62,924	$30.26	$46,879	$86,639	23
74	Berkeley	$62,859	$30.23	$48,274	$82,343	23
75	Huntington Beach	$62,843	$30.22	$48,427	$88,537	50
76	Jurupa Valley	$62,788	$30.18	$48,298	$86,011	24
77	Hemet	$62,769	$30.17	$46,277	$80,663	14
78	Union City	$62,765	$30.17	$46,265	$80,647	11
79	West Covina	$62,758	$30.17	$48,227	$85,866	25
80	Chino Hills	$62,740	$30.16	$46,143	$82,684	21
81	Gilroy	$62,651	$30.12	$45,997	$86,536	10
82	Modesto	$62,625	$30.11	$49,406	$78,081	140
83	San Marcos	$62,616	$30.10	$45,658	$86,418	17
84	Chico	$62,561	$30.08	$50,914	$75,992	70
85	Tustin	$62,561	$30.08	$45,531	$82,258	18
86	Ontario	$62,560	$30.08	$45,320	$84,463	42
87	San Ramon	$62,556	$30.08	$45,775	$82,081	19
88	Eastvale	$62,497	$30.05	$45,636	$81,884	10
89	Murrieta	$62,495	$30.05	$47,681	$85,017	25
90	Vacaville	$62,495	$30.05	$47,681	$87,506	15
91	Brentwood	$62,468	$30.04	$45,567	$85,913	13
92	Hesperia	$62,437	$30.01	$45,496	$85,811	14
93	Lake Elsinore	$62,433	$30.01	$45,485	$85,635	18
94	Citrus Heights	$62,354	$29.97	$45,300	$81,565	19
95	El Cajon	$62,297	$29.95	$45,192	$84,514	18
96	San Clemente	$62,279	$29.94	$45,062	$85,115	10
97	Bellflower	$62,254	$29.93	$45,069	$85,191	11
98	Palmdale	$62,226	$29.92	$46,999	$86,429	29
99	La Mirada	$62,226	$29.92	$48,453	$78,851	10
100	Apple Valley	$62,214	$29.91	$44,976	$80,946	19
101	Menifee	$62,196	$29.90	$46,992	$84,175	20
102	Yucaipa	$62,170	$29.89	$44,871	$84,906	14
103	Norwalk	$62,166	$29.89	$46,860	$83,910	22
104	Rancho Cordova	$62,110	$29.86	$44,733	$84,547	20
105	Montebello	$62,051	$29.84	$44,595	$84,506	16
106	Compton	$62,026	$29.82	$44,474	$80,322	25
107	Porterville	$61,981	$29.80	$44,433	$80,335	11
108	Lompoc	$61,973	$29.79	$47,896	$78,030	8
109	San Luis Obispo	$61,918	$29.77	$51,146	$66,011	120
110	Hawthorne	$61,877	$29.75	$44,193	$79,991	13
111	Antioch	$61,857	$29.74	$46,153	$85,179	17
112	Burbank	$61,851	$29.74	$44,186	$83,021	22
113	San Bernardino	$61,805	$29.71	$42,341	$88,266	33
114	Riverside	$61,728	$29.68	$49,564	$77,215	910
115	Alhambra	$61,708	$29.67	$48,740	$83,358	13
116	Livermore	$61,708	$29.67	$46,687	$83,358	21
117	Santa Maria	$61,707	$29.67	$51,473	$75,021	160
118	Orange	$61,690	$29.66	$45,836	$82,483	21
119	South Gate	$61,689	$29.66	$48,441	$83,292	25
120	Victorville	$61,675	$29.66	$45,801	$82,272	30
121	West Sacramento	$61,654	$29.65	$48,358	$83,176	9
122	Poway	$61,637	$29.63	$47,075	$77,100	8
123	San Leandro	$61,555	$29.59	$48,313	$84,933	23
124	Yuba City	$61,517	$29.58	$49,891	$65,262	40
125	Indio	$61,485	$29.56	$47,958	$82,614	23
126	Lake Forest	$61,485	$29.56	$47,958	$82,614	14
127	Carson	$61,376	$29.51	$47,952	$84,490	21
128	Rocklin	$61,366	$29.50	$47,929	$84,457	10
129	Fresno	$61,274	$29.46	$48,150	$76,255	220
130	Newport Beach	$61,262	$29.46	$47,682	$81,872	12
131	Redwood City	$61,258	$29.46	$47,608	$81,661	13
132	Turlock	$61,242	$29.45	$47,572	$83,884	17
133	Manteca	$61,223	$29.43	$47,589	$81,741	13
134	Perris	$61,217	$29.43	$47,326	$81,725	12
135	Madera	$61,168	$29.40	$47,460	$81,404	8
136	Baldwin Park	$61,059	$29.36	$47,142	$81,045	19
137	Palo Alto	$61,059	$29.36	$47,204	$83,428	15
138	Lakewood	$61,034	$29.34	$47,146	$81,119	19
139	Hanford	$60,909	$29.29	$46,792	$80,514	10
140	Beaumont	$60,856	$29.26	$46,478	$80,531	9
141	Tracy	$60,841	$29.26	$46,692	$80,327	14
142	Alameda	$60,821	$29.24	$46,646	$82,480	12
143	Laguna Niguel	$60,806	$29.23	$46,362	$82,586	16
144	Milpitas	$60,776	$29.22	$46,542	$82,332	16
145	Camarillo	$60,647	$29.16	$46,241	$79,847	13
146	Oakley	$60,622	$29.15	$44,628	$79,744	8
147	Davis	$60,608	$29.14	$46,087	$79,524	14
148	Upland	$60,562	$29.12	$45,796	$81,780	18
149	La Habra	$60,474	$29.08	$45,776	$81,293	16
150	Lynwood	$60,448	$29.07	$45,780	$79,199	16
151	Brea	$59,417	$28.57	$46,633	$77,826	10
152	Stockton	$59,091	$28.41	$49,764	$65,653	140
153	Bakersfield	$58,795	$28.26	$43,730	$64,735	120
154	Lodi	$58,275	$28.02	$45,119	$77,471	14
155	Redding	$54,238	$26.08	$47,370	$77,342	60
156	Merced	$53,193	$25.57	$40,734	$64,186	40
157	Visalia	$49,954	$24.01	$43,434	$63,015	60

More California Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore veterinary technologist and technician hourly pay in California cities.

Oakland →Fremont →San Francisco →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new veterinary technologists and technicians.

Oakland →Fremont →San Francisco →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced veterinary technologists and technicians.

Oakland →Fremont →San Francisco →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do veterinary technologists and technicians make in California in 2026?

The average median veterinary technologist and technician salary in California is $64,695/year across 157 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $49,954 in Visalia to $76,707 in Oakland. This makes California one of the higher-paying states, at 29.43% above the national median of $49,986. The state employs approximately 13,829 veterinary technologists and technicians.

What is the highest paying city for veterinary technologists and technicians in California?

Oakland offers the highest veterinary technologist and technician salary in California at $76,707/year ($36.88/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Oakland ($76,707), Fremont ($75,015), San Francisco ($75,000). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for veterinary technology services, and competition among employers for licensed veterinary technologists and technicians.

How does California veterinary technologist and technician pay compare to the national average?

California's average veterinary technologist and technician salary of $64,695 is 29.43% above the national median of $49,986 in 2026. The state employs approximately 13,829 veterinary technologists and technicians across 157 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level veterinary technologist and technician salary in California?

Entry-level veterinary technologists and technicians (10th percentile) in California earn approximately $50,591/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $40,734 in lower-paying areas to $57,054 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many veterinary technologists and technicians are employed in California?

California employs approximately 13,829 veterinary technologists and technicians across 157 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes California one of the larger employers of veterinary technologists and technicians nationally. Demand continues to grow as the veterinary technology field expands and the population ages.

Which California city offers the best value for veterinary technologists and technicians?

When adjusted for cost of living, Oakland offers the highest purchasing power for veterinary technologists and technicians in California, with an adjusted salary of $67,822 (nominal: $76,707, CoL index: 113.1). This means your dollar goes 12% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.

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.

Clinically reviewed by Sofia Patel, RVTData verified by Mark Chen, LVT

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide 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. A 5.50% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 veterinary technologist and technician compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 157 metro areas — larger metro areas with more veterinary technologists and technicianscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). 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

Last verified: June 2, 2026

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