Veterinary technologists and technicians
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Veterinary technologists and technicians in the United States earn a median salary of $47,380 per year — about $23 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 134K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +9%.
AI & Automation Risk
The core of this occupation involves physical tasks that AI cannot perform, such as restraining animals, administering anesthesia, performing surgery prep, and providing emergency first aid. However, AI has significant exposure in the diagnostic and administrative aspects of the job, including analyzing lab results, interpreting X-rays, and managing patient records, which may increase individual productivity.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corvallis, ORBEST VALUE | $67,960 | Above avg (104.0) | $65,335 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $71,090 | Above avg (115.6) | $61,490 |
| Rochester, MN | $55,750 | Below avg (90.8) | $61,384 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $61,070 | Average (100.1) | $61,022 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $67,280 | Above avg (110.4) | $60,929 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $60,830 | Average (102.4) | $59,379 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $58,750 | Average (99.6) | $59,006 |
| Kingston, NY | $59,060 | Average (100.7) | $58,644 |
| Chico, CA | $59,300 | Average (101.2) | $58,599 |
| Midland, MI | $53,830 | Below avg (91.9) | $58,561 |
| Reno, NV | $58,160 | Average (101.0) | $57,576 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $61,940 | Above avg (107.8) | $57,467 |
| Bellingham, WA | $59,360 | Above avg (103.3) | $57,445 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $53,110 | Below avg (92.7) | $57,290 |
| Manhattan, KS | $51,610 | Below avg (90.2) | $57,241 |