Vet Tech salary

Veterinary Technologist and Technician Salary in Erie, PA: $41,261 (2026)

Quick Answer:A full-time veterinary technologist and technician in Erie, PA earns a median $41,261/year (≈ $19.83/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2056). Once you factor in Erie's price level (9% below national, BEA RPP 91.0), that paycheck buys what $45,367 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 13.1% below the Pennsylvania state average.

$41,261
Median Annual Salary
$19.83/hr
Median Hourly Rate
$32,367
Entry Level (P10)
$50,566
Top Earners (P90)

Official BLS data · View source

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

With a median annual salary of $41,261, veterinary technologists and technicians in Erie, Pennsylvania, face a notable discrepancy compared to the national average, which stands at $49,986. The salary range for this profession in Erie spans from $32,367 at the lower end (10th percentile) to $50,566 at the higher end (90th percentile). These figures, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026, reflect a local market that is influenced greatly by the type of veterinary practice. Veterinary specialty hospitals tend to offer higher pay scales compared to general practice clinics, indicating that the choice of working environment can significantly impact earnings in Erie.

Salary Breakdown

PercentileAnnualHourly
Entry Level (P10)$32,367$15.56
Lower Range (P25)$38,328$18.43
Median (P50)(typical)$41,261$19.83
Upper Range (P75)$49,606$23.85
Top Earners (P90)$50,566$24.31

Median Salary Position

$32,367$50,566
City Median: $41,261
National: $49,986
P10–P90 Range

17.45% below the national average

2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Erie

Vertical bar chart of 10th through 90th percentile salaries for veterinary technologist and technicians in Erie. The median salary is $41,261, compared to the national median of $49,986.$29.1K$35.1K$41.1K$47.1K$53.1K$32.4K10th Pctl$38.3K25th Pctl$41.3KMedian$49.6K75th Pctl$50.6K90th PctlUS Median$50.0K

In Erie, PA, the veterinary technologist and technician salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $18,199 (2026 est.). At $41,261, the local median is 17.45% below the national median of $49,986.

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

Salary Calculator

8 hrs (1 day)24 hrs (3 days)40 hrs (full-time)
$793
per week
$3,438
per month
$41,255
per year

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

How Erie Veterinary Technologist and Technician Pay Compares

Erie median: $41,261/year (2026)

Compared ToMedian SalaryErie Pays
Pennsylvania Average$47,481-13.10% less
National Average$49,986-17.45% less
Horizontal bar chart comparing veterinary technologist and technician median salary in Erie ($41,261) with Pennsylvania average ($47,481) and the US national median ($49,986).Erie$41,261Pennsylvania Avg$47,481-13.10%US National$49,986-17.45%

Veterinary Technologist and Technicians in Erie, PA earn a median of $41,261 per year (2026 est.), which is 17.45% lower than the national median of $49,986 and 13.10% below the Pennsylvania state average of $47,481.

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary

$41,261
Nominal Salary
90.95
CoL Index
$45,367
Adjusted Salary

Erie has a cost of living 9.05% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.

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

The nominal salary is $41,261. After adjusting for a cost-of-living index of 90.95, the purchasing-power equivalent is $45,367, a gain of $4,106.$35.1K$40.7K$46.3K$51.9K$57.5K$41,261NominalSalary$45,367CoL Adjusted(CoL: 90.95) 9.95%US Median $50.0K

Erie, PA has a cost-of-living index of 90.95 (below the national average of 100). A veterinary technologist and technician earning $41,261 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $45,367 in an average-cost city — an effective 9.95% boost.

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2019 BLS Actual

$26,860

2025 BLS Actual

$39,110

2026 Current Est.

$41,261

2019–2027 Growth

+62.1%

Salary Trajectory for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians in Erie (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 Erie. Baseline $26,860 in 2025, projected to $43,530 by 2027.$23.5K$29.4K$35.2K$41.0K$46.9K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$26.9K$28.0K$29.3K$36.0K$37.0K$36.6K$39.1K$41.3K$43.5K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$26,860Actual
2020$27,980Actual
2021$29,340Actual
2022$35,970Actual
2023$37,050Actual
2024$36,580Actual
2025$39,110Actual
2026(current)$41,261Estimated
2027$43,530Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Erie metropolitan area, the median veterinary technologist and technician salary grew 45.6% from $26,860 (2019) to $39,110 (2025). At a 5.50% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $43,530 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,670 (62.06%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Erie 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)$32,367$38,328
3-5 years (Mid Career)$38,328$41,261
5+ years (Experienced)$41,261$49,606
10+ years (Top Earner)$49,606$50,566

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 Erie

The local job market has employed approximately 100 veterinary technologists and technicians, and while the cost of living index is at a relatively low 90.95, this can directly affect the take-home purchasing power for those in the field. Employers that typically pay the most include specialty referral hospitals and corporate chain hospitals such as VCA and BluePearl, which can offer differentials based on experience, certifications, and specialty credentials such as VTS. The disparity between the lower and upper salary ranges is influenced by several factors, including the presence of leadership roles, specialization in emergency critical care (ECC) or anesthesia, and corporate pay scales. For those looking to maximize their earnings in Erie, pursuing specialty certifications and seeking positions at 24-hour emergency clinics or specialty facilities may provide the best financial rewards.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do veterinary technologists and technicians make in Erie, PA in 2026?

The estimated 2026 median veterinary technologist and technician salary in Erie is $41,261/year ($19.83/hour), based on estimated 2026 salary (projected from 2025 BLS data at 5.50% annual growth). Salaries range from $32,367 at entry level (10th percentile) to $50,566 for experienced top earners (90th percentile). This puts Erie at 17.5% below 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 Erie, PA a good place to work as a veterinary technologist and technician?

Erie veterinary technologist and technician salaries are 17.5% below the national average and 13.1% below the Pennsylvania state average. The metro area employs approximately 100 veterinary technologists and technicians. With a cost-of-living index of 90.95, your salary stretches further here than in higher-cost metros. Job availability depends on population density, the number of practices, and retirement turnover in the area.

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

The median veterinary technologist and technician salary in Erie is $41,261, and the 90th percentile earns $50,566. 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 Erie?

After adjusting for Erie's cost-of-living index of 90.95 (where 100 equals the national average), the $41,261 nominal salary has purchasing power equivalent to $45,367 in an average-cost city. This means your dollar goes 10.0% further in Erie compared to the national average, making it an attractive location for veterinary technologists and technicians seeking strong real wages.

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

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians in Erie earn a median hourly rate of $19.83, which translates to approximately $41,261/year for full-time work (40 hours/week, 2,080 hours/year). Hourly rates range from $15.56 for entry-level positions to $24.31 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 $39,110 for veterinary technologists and techniciansin the Erie 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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