Salary AI Book a Demo

Certified Vet Tech Salary in the United States

How much does a Certified Vet Tech make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Certified Vet Tech in the United States is $38,343 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $18.

However, a Certified Vet Tech's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $50,486
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $34,589 to $44,699
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $31,171
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Certified Vet Tech Salaries

A Certified Vet Tech'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Certified Vet Tech Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Certified Vet Tech'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $38,499
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $39,353
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $42,538
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $42,879
  • Expert (over 8 years): $43,107
Levels Salary
Entry Level Certified Vet Tech$38,499
Intermediate Level Certified Vet Tech$39,353
Senior Level Certified Vet Tech$42,538
Specialist Level Certified Vet Tech$42,879
Expert Level Certified Vet Tech$43,107
View as Graph

How Do Certified Vet Tech Salaries Vary from State to State?

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 Certified Vet Teches. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $42,453.
  • California: $42,292.
  • Massachusetts: $41,729.

Top Paying Cities for Certified Vet Teches

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:

  • San Jose: $48,362
  • San Francisco: $47,833
  • Oakland: $46,824

What Skills Can Increase a Certified Vet Tech's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 2.45% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • CPR (Mentioned in 2.63% Job Postings): Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) combines rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth) and chest compressions to temporarily pump enough blood to the brain until specialized treatment is available.
  • Pediatric (Mentioned in 1.19% Job Postings): Pediatrics is the branch of medicine that involves the medical care of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 2.45%
CPR 2.63%
Pediatric 1.19%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Certified Vet Tech's salary.

  • Flexibility: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Dedication: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Acute Care: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Flexibility $44,861
17%
Dedication $43,711
14%
Acute Care $41,410
8%
Get Latest Data

Certified Vet Tech Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Certified Vet Tech roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 50% above the average. Conversely, Certified Vet Tech positions in Edu., Gov't & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Certified Vet Tech as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Certified Vet Tech

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$57,514$28.050%

How Education impacts a Certified Vet Tech's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Certified Vet Teches enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Certified Vet Tech with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $38,691 and $40,882).

Certified Vet Tech Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Certified Vet Tech
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.1%
High School 64.0%
Associates 13.5%
Bachelors 15.7%
Masters 4.5%
Doctorate 1.1%
View as Graph

Certified Vet Tech Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Certified Vet Tech'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.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$34,589
Average $38,343/year
$44,699
$2,882
Average $3,195/month
$3,725
$665
Average $737/week
$860
$17
Average $18/hour
$21
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $44,699 $3,725 $860 $21
Average $38,343 $3,195 $737 $18
25th Percentile $34,589 $2,882 $665 $17

Most common benefits for Certified Vet Tech

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Certified Vet Tech

Here are companies hiring for Certified Vet Tech and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Certified Vet Tech Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Certified Vet Tech job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Certified Vet Tech

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Certified Vet Tech?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Certified Vet Tech roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst