As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for an Animal Technician in Missouri is $39,453 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.
However, an Animal Technician's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Animal Technician Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $42,841 | $3,570 | $824 | $21 |
| Average | $39,453 | $3,288 | $759 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $35,693 | $2,974 | $686 | $17 |
Heartland Veterinary Partners LLC - Old Alexandria, MO
Heartland Veterinary Partners LLC - Eureka, MO
Heartland Veterinary Partners LLC - Troy, MO
Heartland Veterinary Partners LLC - Eureka, MO
An Animal Technician's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of an Animal Technician's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Animal Technician | $38,780 |
| Intermediate Level Animal Technician | $39,554 |
| Senior Level Animal Technician | $40,970 |
| Specialist Level Animal Technician | $41,122 |
| Expert Level Animal Technician | $41,223 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Animal Technicians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
Animal Technician salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $44,743. While startup companies pay approximate $37,958.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $37,958 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $40,113 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $43,238 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $44,743 |
For Animal Technician roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Chemicals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Animal Technician positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Pharmaceuticals typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Animal Technician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | $51,289 | $25.0 | 30% |
| Chemicals | $43,398 | $21.0 | 10% |
Understanding how an Animal Technician's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $42,841 | $3,570 | $824 | $21 |
| Average | $39,453 | $3,288 | $759 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $35,693 | $2,974 | $686 | $17 |
For an Animal Technician, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Animal Technician, Sr. role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $47,200 - a projected growth of 20% over your current level.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Animal Technician job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
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