Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Salary
The median pay for a veterinary technologists and technicians in Lafayette, LA is $34,800/year ($16.73/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $46K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.21), which stretches that salary to about $39,904 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,019/month, about 42.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $35K get you in Lafayette?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lafayette’s Regional Price Parity (87.21). 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
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What this looks like in Lafayette
Pay for veterinary technologists and technicians in Lafayette runs about 27% below the U.S. median of $47K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,019/month, which is 42.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.21 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for veterinary technologists and technicianss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for veterinary technologists and technicians in metros near Lafayette, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie | $36K | $39K |
| Baton Rouge | $36K | $39K |
| Shreveport-Bossier City | $35K | $42K |
| Lake Charles | $35K | $41K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lafayette, LA
Entry-level veterinary technologists and technicians (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $35K. Top earners bring in $46K or more, a $17K 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 states
Track veterinary technologists and technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Lafayette numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a veterinary technologists and technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lafayette?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $35K, rent takes 42.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,019/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/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 Lafayette?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new veterinary technologists and technicians typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,752/month. At HUD’s $1,019/month FMR, rent would take 58% 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 Lafayette?
Local pay runs 27% below the national median — $35K here vs. $47K nationally. Cost of living is 13% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Lafayette compare to the national average for veterinary technologists and technicians?
Lafayette pays $35K median vs. the U.S. average of $47K — that’s -27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.21), the purchasing-power equivalent is $40K — below the national median.
How much do veterinary technologists and technicians make in Lafayette, LA?
The median is $34,800 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,200, and experienced veterinary technologists and technicians can clear $45,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $35K enough to live in Lafayette?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,416/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,019/month, which eats 42.2% 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 Lafayette?
Lafayette has a Regional Price Parity of 87.21 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median veterinary technologists and technicians salary is worth about $39,904 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.