Vet Tech salary

Veterinary Technologist and Technician Salary in New Jersey: $55,597 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across New Jersey's 61 metropolitan areas, the average median veterinary technologist and technician pay sits at $55,597/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-2056. Because New Jersey sits at BEA RPP 115.2 (15% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $48,261 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Jersey City ($60,704), Newark ($59,768), East Orange ($55,335).

Veterinary Technologist and Technician Salary in New Jersey - 2025 BLS Data Infographic
New Jersey veterinary technologist and technician salary overview (2026)
$55,597
Avg Median Salary
$26.73
Avg Hourly Rate
1,074
Metro Employed
61
Cities

In 2026, veterinary technologists and technicians in New Jersey can expect an average median salary of $55,597, which is 11.2% above the national median of $49,986. The salary range across the state varies significantly, with Jersey City offering the highest average at $64,043, while Atlantic City represents the lowest at $48,541. This disparity can be attributed to factors like the cost of living, demand for veterinary services, and the concentration of animal health facilities in urban areas compared to more rural regions. New Jersey's veterinary technicians must meet state licensing requirements, which include completing an accredited program and passing a national exam. The scope of practice laws further define their roles, ensuring they can perform a variety of tasks under veterinarians' supervision. The market is projected to have a growth rate of 5.50% annually, indicating strong demand for these professionals, driven by increasing pet ownership and the need for veterinary services. Top cities for employment in this field include Newark at $63,055, East Orange and Franklin both at $58,378, and Woodbridge at $58,363. With a total of 1,074 veterinary technologists and technicians employed statewide, the outlook for this career path remains promising.

New Jersey Veterinary Technologist and Technician Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)
$42,047
avg across 61 cities
Median
$55,597
state average
Top Earners (90th %ile)
$75,658
avg across 61 cities

Overall salary range in New Jersey: $37,273 (lowest entry-level) to $90,252 (highest top earner)

New Jersey vs National Average

New Jersey
$55,597
National Median
$49,986

New Jersey veterinary technologists and technicians earn 11.23% more than the national median (+$5,611/year difference).

New Jersey Veterinary Technologist and Technician Salary Distribution (2026)

Vertical bar chart showing New Jersey veterinary technologist and technician salary percentiles: 10th percentile $42,047, 25th $46,244, Median $55,597, 75th $66,682, 90th $75,658. US national median is $49,986.$21.2K$42.4K$63.6K$84.7K$42.0K10thEntry Level$46.2K25thEarly Career$55.6KMedianMid Career$66.7K75thExperienced$75.7K90thTop EarnerUS Median $50.0K

Veterinary Technologist and Technician salaries in New Jersey range from $42,047 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $75,658 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $55,597. The New Jersey median is $5,611 above the US national median of $49,986. The average hourly rate is $26.73/hr. Approximately 1,074 veterinary technologist and technicians are employed across 61 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$35,273

2025 BLS Actual

$52,699

2026 Current Est.

$55,597

2019–2027 Growth

+66.3%

Salary Trajectory for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians in New Jersey (20192027)

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

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for veterinary technologists and technicians in New Jersey. Baseline $35,273 in 2025, projected to $58,655 by 2027.$30.6K$38.8K$47.0K$55.1K$63.3K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$35.3K$36.4K$38.2K$41.3K$43.7K$50.5K$52.7K$55.6K$58.7K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$35,273Actual
2020$36,435Actual
2021$38,193Actual
2022$41,304Actual
2023$43,728Actual
2024$50,454Actual
2025$52,699Actual
2026(current)$55,597Estimated
2027$58,655Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the New Jersey metropolitan area, the median veterinary technologist and technician salary grew 49.4% from $35,273 (2019) to $52,699 (2025). At a 5.50% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $58,655 by 2027 — a total increase of $23,382 (66.29%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the New Jersey metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 20262026 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 New Jersey

#1
Jersey City
42 employed · $30.78/hr
$64,043
+15.19% vs avg
#2
Newark
61 employed · $30.31/hr
$63,055
+13.41% vs avg
#3
East Orange
9 employed · $28.06/hr
$58,378
+5.00% vs avg
#4
Franklin
15 employed · $28.06/hr
$58,378
+5.00% vs avg
#5
Woodbridge
25 employed · $28.06/hr
$58,363
+4.98% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in New Jersey

CityMedian Salary
Atlantic City$48,541
Camden$49,781
Trenton$50,450
Princeton$51,453
Summit$53,664

Best Value Cities for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians in New Jersey

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

CityNominal SalaryCoL IndexAdjusted Salary
Jersey City$64,043115.2$55,593
Newark$63,055115.2$54,735
East Orange$58,378115.2$50,675
Franklin$58,378115.2$50,675
Woodbridge$58,363115.2$50,662

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

Salary by Experience Level in New Jersey

Experience LevelEstimated Annual
Entry Level (0-2 years)$42,047
Mid Career (3-7 years)$55,597
Experienced (7+ years)$75,658

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

All 61 Cities in New Jersey

#CityMedian Salary
1Jersey City$64,043
2Newark$63,055
3East Orange$58,378
4Franklin$58,378
5Woodbridge$58,363
6Parsippany-Troy Hills$58,278
7Union$58,133
8Elizabeth$58,112
9Brick$57,991
10Gloucester Township$57,827
11New Brunswick$57,805
12Vineland$57,709
13Howell$57,612
14Paterson$57,543
15Plainfield$57,475
16Irvington$57,389
17West New York$57,302
18Piscataway$57,261
19Jackson$57,230
20Lakewood$57,134
21West Orange$57,101
22Montclair$57,016
23Washington Township$56,927
24Old Bridge$56,906
25Edison$56,817
26Union City$56,792
27Toms River$56,774
28Bridgewater$56,707
29Middletown$56,691
30Clifton$56,517
31South Brunswick$56,417
32Berkeley$56,413
33Perth Amboy$56,403
34Wayne$56,386
35Linden$56,377
36Passaic$56,362
37East Brunswick$56,341
38Bloomfield$56,221
39Long Branch$56,185
40Westfield$56,029
41Hamilton$55,971
42Sayreville$55,953
43Cherry Hill$55,943
44North Bergen$55,843
45Hoboken$55,793
46Kearny$55,707
47Manalapan$55,658
48Bayonne$55,602
49Manchester$55,474
50Moorestown$55,257
51Hackensack$55,256
52Marlboro$54,970
53Mount Laurel$54,930
54Egg Harbor$54,796
55Evesham$54,714
56Rahway$54,474
57Summit$53,664
58Princeton$51,453
59Trenton$50,450
60Camden$49,781
61Atlantic City$48,541

More New Jersey Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore veterinary technologist and technician hourly pay in New Jersey cities.

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new veterinary technologists and technicians.

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced veterinary technologists and technicians.

Explore More Veterinary Technologist and Technician Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do veterinary technologists and technicians make in New Jersey in 2026?

The average median veterinary technologist and technician salary in New Jersey is $55,597/year across 61 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $48,541 in Atlantic City to $64,043 in Jersey City. This makes New Jersey one of the higher-paying states, at 11.23% above the national median of $49,986. The state employs approximately 1,074 veterinary technologists and technicians.

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

Jersey City offers the highest veterinary technologist and technician salary in New Jersey at $64,043/year ($30.78/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Jersey City ($64,043), Newark ($63,055), East Orange ($58,378). 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 New Jersey veterinary technologist and technician pay compare to the national average?

New Jersey's average veterinary technologist and technician salary of $55,597 is 11.23% above the national median of $49,986 in 2026. The state employs approximately 1,074 veterinary technologists and technicians across 61 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 New Jersey?

Entry-level veterinary technologists and technicians (10th percentile) in New Jersey earn approximately $42,047/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $37,273 in lower-paying areas to $45,486 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 New Jersey?

New Jersey employs approximately 1,074 veterinary technologists and technicians across 61 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. Job availability varies by metro area, with larger cities offering more opportunities. Demand continues to grow as the veterinary technology field expands and the population ages.

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

When adjusted for cost of living, Jersey City offers the highest purchasing power for veterinary technologists and technicians in New Jersey, with an adjusted salary of $55,593 (nominal: $64,043, CoL index: 115.2). This means your dollar goes 13% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.
JL

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 New Jersey. State averages are employment-weighted across 61 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 (). 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

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