"How long does it take to become a veterinary technician in Arizona?"

"Most paths into the veterinary technician field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"Do veterinary technicians need a license in Arizona?"

"Yes. Arizona requires state-level licensing or registration for veterinary technicians, administered by the Veterinary Medical Examining Board. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for veterinary technicians in Arizona?"

"In Arizona, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Arizona Department of Economic Security - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Veterinary Technician in Arizona

Q: "How much do veterinary technicians earn in Arizona?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), veterinary technicians in Arizona earned a median annual wage of approximately $46,300. Employment concentration in Arizona is about 1.48 times the national average for this occupation."

Q: "What is the job outlook for veterinary technicians in Arizona?"

"Arizona currently employs approximately 3,970 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 9.1% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Arizona veterinary technologists and technicians earn a median annual wage of $46,300 ($22.26/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 3,970 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -2.3% below the national median of $47,380 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $46,300 ($22.26/hr)
25th percentile: $43,510 per year
75th percentile: $49,340 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $58,350 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $37,870 per year
Workers employed in Arizona: 3,970
Versus national median: -2.3% below the U.S. median of $47,380
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.48 - this occupation is more concentrated in Arizona than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Arizona employs approximately 3,970 veterinary technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $46,300 ¹. The state’s concentration of veterinary technician jobs is 1.48x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, veterinary technician employment is projected to grow 9.1% from 2024 to 2034, with about 14,300 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a veterinary technician in Arizona, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Veterinary Technician in Arizona

How do I become a veterinary technician in Arizona? Arizona requires credentials such as Veterinary Technicians, Veterinarian. The licensing authority is the Veterinary Medical Examining Board ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Arizona? Yes. Arizona has licensing or registration requirements for veterinary technicians. The Veterinary Medical Examining Board oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do veterinary technicians earn in Arizona? The median annual wage for veterinary technicians in Arizona is $46,300 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,870 and experienced professionals can earn $58,350 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: Veterinary Medical Examining Board
Median wage (Arizona): $46,300 per year ¹

Veterinary Technician License Requirements in Arizona

The Veterinary Medical Examining Board oversees veterinary technician licensing in Arizona ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Veterinary Technicians	Reference: ARS 32-2242
Veterinarian	Reference: ARS 32-2215

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Veterinary Technician Wages by Metro Area in Arizona

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Wages by Metro Area in Arizona

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), veterinary technologists and technicians wages in Arizona vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler	2,760	$46,390	$48,510	$38,530	$58,940
Tucson	470	$44,260	$45,040	$37,040	$55,210
Flagstaff	100	$43,960	$45,520	$39,920	$58,550
Prescott Valley-Prescott	100	$44,330	$45,510	$36,290	$56,750
Lake Havasu City-Kingman	50	$44,980	$43,850	$37,650	$54,850
Sierra Vista-Douglas	30	$36,760	$41,510	$34,050	$52,600

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Top Metros for Veterinary technicians in Arizona

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest veterinary technician employment within Arizona according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler	2,760	$46,390
Tucson	470	$44,260
Flagstaff	100	$43,960
Prescott Valley-Prescott	100	$44,330
Lake Havasu City-Kingman	50	$44,980

Explore More Trades in Arizona

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for veterinary technicians in Arizona? Arizona currently employs approximately 3,970 veterinary technicians ¹. Nationally, veterinary technician employment is projected to grow 9.1% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a veterinary technician in Arizona with an out-of-state license? Contact the Veterinary Medical Examining Board for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Arizona? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Arizona.

How much do veterinary technicians earn in Arizona compared to the national average? The median annual wage for veterinary technicians in Arizona is $46,300, which is $320 above the national median of $45,980 according to BLS data ¹.

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Veterinary Medical Examining Board - Licensing Information: https://vetboard.az.gov/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)