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The future of the veterinary technician world holds great promise in the United States. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job openings for vet techs are predicted to grow 15 percent between 2020 and 2030, nearly double the national average for all occupations (8 percent). This is expected to create 17,100 fresh jobs in this field in the coming decade.
The rapid growth of vet tech positions rests on the growing pet care industry. In a recent national pet owners survey, the American Pet Products Association (APPA) found that because of the companionship, love, stress relief, and other health benefits provided by pets, owners are increasingly humanizing their furry friends, treating them as family members. More than 70 percent of U.S. households own a pet, equating to 90.5 million homes (APPA 2021).
This increase in humanization is a driving factor for an industry where expenditures within the U.S. pet industry topped out at almost $123.6 billion last year, and many pet owners are taking their pets to the vet more often. Of the pet-related expenses in which Americans invested, $34.3 billion—nearly 28 percent—of total pet-related dollars spent went toward veterinary care.
With the anticipated growth of the pet care industry, veterinarians will need more qualified technicians and technologists to perform tests, prepare vaccines, prep tissue samples, take blood samples, clean instruments, maintain equipment, and assist vets during surgery.
Read on to learn which states in the U.S. have the highest demand for vet technicians.
States With The Highest Demand For Veterinary Technicians and Technologists
Of the 17,100 new jobs anticipated for vet techs across the U.S. between 2020 and 2030, the following list represents the states that are expected to have the most jobs, the highest average of job openings per year, and the greatest percentage of growth through 2030:
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New Jobs Source: BLS (2021) |
Average Openings Per Year Source: BLS (2021) |
Percentage Source: Projections Central (2022) |
|---|---|---|
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A Closer Look at Job Outlook in Regions with High Demand
In 2021, the median annual wage for veterinary technologists and technicians in the United States was $36,850. Techs in the tenth percentile made $28,370 per year, and techs earning in the 90th percentile made $48,100 per year.
Read on to learn the expected salaries for vet techs in three of the top ten states with the highest demand, the regions in each state that provide the highest salaries, and local educational opportunities for veterinary technicians. These three states represent different areas of the country. All data is sourced from the BLS or Projections Central unless otherwise specified.
Vet Tech Jobs in California
With an anticipated 9,350 new jobs between 2020 and 2030, 1,191 job openings per year, and a faster than average growth rate of 21.1 percent, California will have many opportunities for veterinary technicians and technologists. As of May 2021, the annual wage for veterinary techs working in California was $45,140 per year, according to the BLS. Techs in the 10th percentile made $31,220 per year, and techs in the 90th percentile earned $59,360 per year. On the national scale, California’s annual median wages ranked fourth in 2021.
Highest Paying Regions in California
Median annual wages for veterinary technicians in California can range from $29,120 in Riverside to $94,020 in the San Jose area. Below is detailed salary information for the three regions in California offering the highest wages:
| San Francisco, Oakland, and Hayward | San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Santa Clara | Santa Rosa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $35,820 | $36,670 | $35,450 |
| Median | $48,810 | $55,110 | $48,140 |
| 90th Percentile | $68,940 | $94,020 | $59,820 |
Educational Opportunity – Santa Rosa Junior College
SRJC’s veterinary technician program is designed for current veterinary assistants or others currently working in the veterinary industry looking to advance their careers. The program qualifies students to sit for the California Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) board exam through the “alternative route.”
Students looking to sit for the boards via this avenue must complete 20 approved semester-units of animal health courses while gaining the required two years of full-time practical experience. The program covers topics like veterinary anatomy, surgical assistance, and veterinary lab procedures.
- Location: Santa Rosa, CA
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, WASC
- Tuition: $46 per unit (California residents); $347 per unit (non-residents)
Vet Tech Jobs in Colorado
At 7.2 percent anticipated growth between 2020 and 2030, Colorado is predicted to be the state with the ninth highest percentage growth in the veterinary tech occupation. Colorado is expected to see 3,800 new jobs by 2030 and an average of 380 job openings per year.
According to the BLS, the mean annual wage for vet techs working in Colorado in 2021 was $38,250. Vet techs earning in the 10th percentile in 2021 made $28,370 annually, and those earning in the 90th percentile made $48,100. Nationwide, Colorado ranked 16th nationally for median annual vet tech wages in 2021.
Highest Paying Regions in Colorado
The BLS reports on wages for ten metropolitan regions, with salaries ranging from $28,810 in Pueblo and $49,950 in Boulder. The following detailed salary information highlights what a vet tech working in one of the three regions in Colorado can expect to earn, based on reports from 2021:
| Boulder | Denver, Aurora, and Lakewood | Fort Collins | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $31,260 | $30,870 | $29,780 |
| Median | $39,500 | $38,600 | $37,670 |
| 90th Percentile | $49,950 | $48,650 | $47,850 |
Educational Opportunity – Pima Medical Institute
By enrolling in Pima Medical Institute’s (PMI) Veterinary Technician Program, students can obtain an associate of applied science (AAS). In Colorado, the program is available at PMI’s Aurora and Colorado Springs campuses; the program is also available at PMI campuses in Arizona, California, Montana, Nevada, Texas, and Washington.
The program, which includes an externship, prepares students to work with animals, both domestic and exotic, at a wide range of animal facilities and clinics. Coursework includes laboratory animal science, diagnostic imaging, exotic animal medicine, and small animal nursing.
- Location: Aurora and Colorado Springs, CO
- Duration: 18 months
- Tuition: $15,852 for full program
- Accreditation: American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
Vet Tech Jobs in New York
New York is another promising state for veterinary techs looking for employment opportunities. With a growth rate projected at 20.4 percent between 2020 and 2030, the BLS predicts that there will be 5,100 new jobs in New York State and job seekers can expect an average of 510 job openings for vet techs each year.
According to the BLS, the median annual salary for vet techs in 2021 was $45,560. Entry-level veterinary technicians and technologists made $30,440 per year, and experienced techs made $59,340. New York ranked third for median annual salary for veterinary technicians and technologists nationwide in 2021.
Highest Paying Regions in New York
Of the thirteen regions reported on by the New York Department of labor, the range for the mean annual wage in 2021 was between $28,880 in Binghamton and $59,330 in the New York City metropolitan area. Detailed below are the range of salaries a vet tech could expect to earn based on the top three regions for median annual wages in New York in 2021:
| New York, Newark, and Jersey City | Kingston | Albany, Schenectady, and Troy | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $34,900 | $34,790 | $30,890 |
| Median | $45,880 | $38,970 | $42,100 |
| 90th Percentile | $59,330 | $49,580 | $50,090 |
Educational Opportunity – LaGuardia Community College
LaGuardia Community College, a branch of the City University of New York (CUNY) system, offers a competitive veterinary tech program where graduates can earn an associate of applied sciences (AAS) degree.
LaGCC’s vet tech program is divided into two phases. All students are accepted into the preclinical phase and must complete the introductory 12-credit-hour phase with a minimum 2.5 GPA. After completing the pre-clinical phase, students can apply for acceptance into the clinical phase and are accepted based on GPA and grades in specific courses.
The 65-credit program is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and prepares students to sit for the New York State licensing exam. Coursework includes vertebrate anatomy and physiology, farm animal nursing, principles of animal control, and a companion animal intern experience.
- Location: Long Island, NY
- Duration: Two years
- Tuition: $4,800 per year (New York City residents); $9,600 per year (state residents and non-residents)
- Accreditation: American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
