Veterinary Technician Salary in California

Veterinary Technicians in California have a median annual salary of $60,630, which works out to about $29.15 per hour, with a typical 25th–75th percentile range of $51,570 to $64,100, based on the latest BLS OEWS data.

29-2056 · Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

Veterinary Technician pay in California at a glance

Median annual salary

$60,630

Median hourly wage

$29.15/hr

Average annual salary

$61,400

Average hourly wage

$29.52/hr

25th percentile

$51,570

75th percentile

$64,100

10th percentile

$48,240

90th percentile

$75,860

People employed

11,310

Salary distribution

Reported wage points from the lowest to the highest paid veterinary technician roles in California.

10th percentile
$48,240
25th percentile
$51,570
Median percentile
$60,630
75th percentile
$64,100
90th percentile
$75,860

California vs U.S. salary

The median salary for veterinary technician roles in California is about 28.0% above the U.S. median of $47,380 for the same occupation.

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How much does a veterinary technician make in California?

Half of veterinary technician roles in California report earning more than $60,630 a year and half report earning less — that is the median. The mean (average) of $61,400 is pulled up or down by the highest and lowest earners, which is why the median is usually the better benchmark.

Salary range

A quarter of reported salaries fall below $51,570 and a quarter are above $64,100, so most veterinary technician pay sits between those two figures. These percentiles describe how pay is spread across all reported roles — they are not a direct measure of years of experience.

What can affect veterinary technician pay?

  • Years of experience and level of responsibility
  • Employer type and size
  • Specialization within the occupation
  • Certifications and licensing
  • Industry
  • Hours worked, shift patterns and overtime
  • The local labor market where the job is based

Veterinary Technician pay in other states

Related jobs in California

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Methodology · Data sources

Salary figures are benchmarks and can vary by employer, experience, specialization, hours worked and other factors.