Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Salary
The median pay for a veterinary technologists and technicians in Kennewick-Richland, WA is $61,070/year ($29.36/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $77K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.08), that's roughly $61,021 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,538/month, about 36.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $61K get you in Kennewick-Richland?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Kennewick-Richland’s Regional Price Parity (100.08). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About veterinary technologists and technicians
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Kennewick-Richland
Kennewick-Richland sits well above the national pay line for veterinary technologists and technicians, local pay runs about 29% higher than the U.S. median of $47K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,538/month, which is 36.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.08) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for veterinary technologists and technicians in metros near Kennewick-Richland, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $61K | $55K |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $57K | $57K |
| Bellingham | $59K | $57K |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $58K | $55K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kennewick-Richland, WA
Entry-level veterinary technologists and technicians (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $77K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Veterinary Technologists and Technicians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $61K | +29% | 120 |
| California | $61K | +28% | 11,310 |
| Washington | $60K | +26% | 2,290 |
| New York | $59K | +25% | 5,350 |
| Minnesota | $57K | +21% | 3,560 |
| Oregon | $56K | +18% | 1,120 |
| Virginia | $52K | +10% | 2,790 |
| Connecticut | $51K | +8% | 1,690 |
| Maine | $51K | +7% | 910 |
| Nevada | $50K | +6% | 1,120 |
| Michigan | $50K | +5% | 2,550 |
| Colorado | $50K | +5% | 3,720 |
| Massachusetts | $50K | +5% | 3,990 |
| Vermont | $49K | +4% | 390 |
| New Jersey | $49K | +4% | 2,910 |
| North Dakota | $49K | +3% | 340 |
| New Hampshire | $49K | +3% | 870 |
| Indiana | $49K | +3% | 1,820 |
| Hawaii | $49K | +2% | 270 |
| Delaware | $48K | +2% | 530 |
| Ohio | $48K | +1% | 4,790 |
| North Carolina | $48K | +1% | 2,580 |
| Maryland | $47K | -0% | 2,540 |
| Wisconsin | $47K | -1% | 2,590 |
| Alaska | $46K | -2% | 380 |
| Illinois | $46K | -2% | 5,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $46K | -2% | 6,620 |
| Florida | $46K | -2% | 11,380 |
| Arizona | $46K | -2% | 3,970 |
| Kansas | $46K | -3% | 1,270 |
| Iowa | $46K | -4% | 1,220 |
| Rhode Island | $45K | -4% | 530 |
| South Dakota | $45K | -4% | 300 |
| New Mexico | $45K | -5% | 890 |
| Nebraska | $44K | -8% | 690 |
| Missouri | $44K | -8% | 2,040 |
| Georgia | $43K | -9% | 2,410 |
| Tennessee | $43K | -10% | 1,640 |
| Idaho | $42K | -11% | 790 |
| Montana | $41K | -13% | 480 |
| Utah | $41K | -14% | 1,550 |
| Kentucky | $40K | -16% | 1,670 |
| Texas | $39K | -17% | 16,730 |
| Oklahoma | $39K | -17% | 1,060 |
| South Carolina | $39K | -18% | 2,540 |
| Wyoming | $39K | -18% | 310 |
| Arkansas | $38K | -19% | 320 |
| West Virginia | $38K | -20% | 400 |
| Alabama | $37K | -23% | 1,880 |
| Mississippi | $36K | -23% | 650 |
| Louisiana | $36K | -25% | 2,220 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track veterinary technologists and technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kennewick-Richland numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a veterinary technologists and technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kennewick-Richland?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 36.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,538/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for veterinary technologists and technicians in Kennewick-Richland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new veterinary technologists and technicians typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,800/month. At HUD’s $1,538/month FMR, rent would take 55% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is veterinary technologists and technician a high-paying job in Kennewick-Richland?
Local pay is 29% above the national median — $61K here vs. $47K nationally.
How does Kennewick-Richland compare to the national average for veterinary technologists and technicians?
Kennewick-Richland pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $47K — that’s +29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.08), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do veterinary technologists and technicians make in Kennewick-Richland, WA?
The median is $61,070 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,670, and experienced veterinary technologists and technicians can clear $77,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Kennewick-Richland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,259/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,538/month, which eats 36.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a veterinary technologists and technicians salary go in Kennewick-Richland?
Kennewick-Richland has a Regional Price Parity of 100.08 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median veterinary technologists and technicians salary is worth about $61,021 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do veterinary technologists and technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.