Vet Tech salary

Veterinary Technologist and Technician Salary in Bend, OR: $57,086 (2026)

Quick Answer:A full-time veterinary technologist and technician in Bend, OR earns a median $57,086/year (≈ $27.44/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2056). Once you factor in Bend's price level (4% above national, BEA RPP 103.6), that paycheck buys what $55,099 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.1% above the Oregon state average.

$57,086
Median Annual Salary
$27.44/hr
Median Hourly Rate
$48,319
Entry Level (P10)
$77,543
Top Earners (P90)

Official BLS data · View source

Veterinary Technologist and Technician Salary in Bend, OR — 2026 est., based on 2025 BLS
Bend, OR veterinary technologist and technician salary overview (2026 est., based on 2025 BLS)

In 2026, Bend, Oregon offers a competitive median salary of $57,086 for veterinary technologists and technicians, reflecting a substantial 14.20% increase compared to the national median of $49,986. The salary range in this region varies significantly, with the lowest earners (P10) making $48,319 and the highest (P90) seeing up to $77,543, according to projections based on 2025 BLS OEWS data. This salary framework highlights the impact of the corporate pay-scale systems employed by major veterinary chains such as VCA and BluePearl, which significantly influence the local market. As veterinary services evolve, the demand for skilled technicians continues to rise in Bend, offering promising career opportunities for those entering the field.

Salary Breakdown

PercentileAnnualHourly
Entry Level (P10)$48,319$23.23
Lower Range (P25)$52,412$25.20
Median (P50)(typical)$57,086$27.44
Upper Range (P75)$63,870$30.71
Top Earners (P90)$77,543$37.28

Median Salary Position

$48,319$77,543
City Median: $57,086
National: $49,986
P10–P90 Range

14.20% above the national average

2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Bend

Vertical bar chart of 10th through 90th percentile salaries for veterinary technologist and technicians in Bend. The median salary is $57,086, compared to the national median of $49,986.$43.5K$53.0K$62.5K$71.9K$81.4K$48.3K10th Pctl$52.4K25th Pctl$57.1KMedian$63.9K75th Pctl$77.5K90th PctlUS Median$50.0K

In Bend, OR, the veterinary technologist and technician salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $29,224 (2026 est.). At $57,086, the local median is 14.2% above the national median of $49,986.

Source: BLS OEWS projected to 2026. Percentiles reflect the distribution of veterinary technologist and technician pay in the Bend metro area.

Salary Calculator

8 hrs (1 day)24 hrs (3 days)40 hrs (full-time)
$1,098
per week
$4,756
per month
$57,076
per year

At 40 hours/week in Bend: You'd be in the lower-middle range

How Bend Veterinary Technologist and Technician Pay Compares

Bend median: $57,086/year (2026)

Compared ToMedian SalaryBend Pays
Oregon Average$55,912+2.10% more
National Average$49,986+14.20% more
Horizontal bar chart comparing veterinary technologist and technician median salary in Bend ($57,086) with Oregon average ($55,912) and the US national median ($49,986).Bend$57,086Oregon Avg$55,912+2.10%US National$49,986+14.20%

Veterinary Technologist and Technicians in Bend, OR earn a median of $57,086 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.20% higher than the national median of $49,986 and 2.10% above the Oregon state average of $55,912.

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary

$57,086
Nominal Salary
103.607
CoL Index
$55,099
Adjusted Salary

Bend has a cost of living 3.61% above the national average.

Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.

The nominal salary is $57,086. After adjusting for a cost-of-living index of 103.607, the purchasing-power equivalent is $55,099, a loss of $1,987.$42.5K$48.3K$54.1K$59.9K$65.6K$57,086NominalSalary$55,099CoL Adjusted(CoL: 103.607) -3.48%US Median $50.0K

Bend, OR has a cost-of-living index of 103.607 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $57,086 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $55,099 — a 3.48% reduction.

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2019 BLS Actual

$33,310

2025 BLS Actual

$54,110

2026 Current Est.

$57,086

2019–2027 Growth

+80.8%

Salary Trajectory for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians in Bend (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 Bend. Baseline $33,310 in 2025, projected to $60,226 by 2027.$27.9K$37.3K$46.8K$56.2K$65.6K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$33.3K$36.1K$37.2K$40.5K$46.8K$49.5K$54.1K$57.1K$60.2K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$33,310Actual
2020$36,150Actual
2021$37,180Actual
2022$40,510Actual
2023$46,750Actual
2024$49,480Actual
2025$54,110Actual
2026(current)$57,086Estimated
2027$60,226Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Bend metropolitan area, the median veterinary technologist and technician salary grew 62.4% from $33,310 (2019) to $54,110 (2025). At a 5.50% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $60,226 by 2027 — a total increase of $26,916 (80.80%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Bend 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.

Salary by Experience Level

ExperienceEstimated Salary Range
0-2 years (New Graduate)$48,319$52,412
3-5 years (Mid Career)$52,412$57,086
5+ years (Experienced)$57,086$63,870
10+ years (Top Earner)$63,870$77,543

Vet Tech salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual veterinary technologist and technician compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

Veterinary Technologist and Technician Job Market in Bend

The local job market is robust, with approximately 70 veterinary technologists and technicians currently employed in Bend, OR. However, the cost of living index stands slightly above the national average at 103.607, which may affect take-home earnings for professionals in this field. Among local employers, corporate hospitals tend to offer the most competitive wages, yet specialty referral hospitals can provide top-tier compensation, particularly for those with Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) credentials in areas such as emergency care or anesthesia. The spread in pay levels largely stems from the varied skills and roles in the job market. Focusing on specialty credentials, pursuing positions in high-demand areas, and gaining experience in corporate settings are all strategic ways for practitioners to enhance their earning potential in Bend.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do veterinary technologists and technicians make in Bend, OR in 2026?

The estimated 2026 median veterinary technologist and technician salary in Bend is $57,086/year ($27.44/hour), based on estimated 2026 salary (projected from 2025 BLS data at 5.50% annual growth). Salaries range from $48,319 at entry level (10th percentile) to $77,543 for experienced top earners (90th percentile). This puts Bend at 14.2% above the national median. Full-time veterinary technologists and technicians typically work 2,080 hours per year, though many positions offer part-time schedules with flexible hours across multiple practices.

Is Bend, OR a good place to work as a veterinary technologist and technician?

Bend veterinary technologist and technician salaries are 14.2% above the national average and 2.1% above the Oregon state average. The metro area employs approximately 70 veterinary technologists and technicians. With a cost-of-living index of 103.607, you should factor in higher living costs when evaluating compensation. Job availability depends on population density, the number of practices, and retirement turnover in the area.

Can veterinary technologists and technicians make $100K in Bend?

The median veterinary technologist and technician salary in Bend is $57,086, and the 90th percentile earns $77,543. Reaching $100K in this market typically requires a combination of advanced certifications, working at multiple practices, or transitioning into education or consulting roles.

What is the cost-of-living adjusted veterinary technologist and technician salary in Bend?

After adjusting for Bend's cost-of-living index of 103.607 (where 100 equals the national average), the $57,086 nominal salary has purchasing power equivalent to $55,099 in an average-cost city. This means living costs in Bend reduce the effective value of your salary by 3.5% compared to the national average — consider negotiating higher base pay or exploring nearby lower-cost metros.

How much does a veterinary technologist and technician make per hour in Bend?

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians in Bend earn a median hourly rate of $27.44, which translates to approximately $57,086/year for full-time work (40 hours/week, 2,080 hours/year). Hourly rates range from $23.23 for entry-level positions to $37.28 for the most experienced practitioners. Part-time and per diem veterinary technologists and technicians sometimes command premium hourly rates because practices need flexible scheduling coverage.

Related Pages

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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

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. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $54,110 for veterinary technologists and techniciansin the Bend metropolitan area. A 5.50% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.

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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