Salaries › Veterinary Technician › California
Veterinary Technician Salary in California (2026)
$29.15 per hour · take-home ≈ $49,056/year ($4,088/month) for a single filer
California is among the top 5 highest-paying states for Veterinary Technicians (2nd of 51), with a median about 27% above the national average. Of the 11,310 Veterinary Technician jobs BLS counts in California, the typical worker earns $60,630 a year — though pay ranges from $48,240 for newcomers to $75,860 at the top.
Veterinary Technician pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $48,240 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $51,570 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $60,630 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $64,100 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $75,860 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 11,310 Veterinary Technician jobs in California (occupation code 29-2056, “Veterinary Technologists and Technicians”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Veterinary Technician salary of $60,630 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $49,056 — an effective tax rate of 19.1%.
| Gross (median) | $60,630 |
| Federal income tax | −$5,096 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,638 |
| California state income tax | −$1,840 |
| Take-home (annual) | $49,056 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $4,088 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Veterinary Technician make in California?
- The median Veterinary Technician salary in California is $60,630 per year ($29.15 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $51,570 and $64,100.
- What is the take-home pay for a Veterinary Technician in California?
- On the median salary of $60,630, a single filer in California takes home about $49,056 per year ($4,088 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 19.1%.
- How many Veterinary Technician jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 11,310 Veterinary Technician jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Veterinary Technicians
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.