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

"The primary Hawaii license requires approximately 18 years of qualifying experience."

"Do veterinary technicians need a license in Hawaii?"

"Yes. Hawaii requires state-level licensing or registration for veterinary technicians, administered by the Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce \u0026 Consumer Affairs - Board of Veterinary Examiners. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"In Hawaii, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Hawaii Workforce Development Division - Apprenticeships, 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 Hawaii

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), veterinary technicians in Hawaii earned a median annual wage of approximately $48,550. Employment concentration in Hawaii is roughly 0.52 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

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

"Hawaii currently employs approximately 270 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

Hawaii veterinary technologists and technicians earn a median annual wage of $48,550 ($23.34/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 270 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 2.5% above the national median of $47,380 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $48,550 ($23.34/hr)
25th percentile: $45,930 per year
75th percentile: $54,950 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $62,660 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $35,990 per year
Workers employed in Hawaii: 270
Versus national median: 2.5% above the U.S. median of $47,380
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.52 - this occupation is less concentrated in Hawaii than the national average

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

Hawaii employs approximately 270 veterinary technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $48,550 ¹. 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 Hawaii, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Veterinary Technician in Hawaii

How do I become a veterinary technician in Hawaii? Hawaii requires credentials such as Veterinary Technician, Veterinarian. The licensing authority is the Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Board of Veterinary Examiners ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Typical requirements include approximately 18 years of experience ³.

Do I need a license in Hawaii? Yes. Hawaii has licensing or registration requirements for veterinary technicians. The Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Board of Veterinary Examiners oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do veterinary technicians earn in Hawaii? The median annual wage for veterinary technicians in Hawaii is $48,550 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $35,990 and experienced professionals can earn $62,660 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: Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Board of Veterinary Examiners
Median wage (Hawaii): $48,550 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Veterinary Technician License Requirements in Hawaii

The Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Board of Veterinary Examiners oversees veterinary technician licensing in Hawaii ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Veterinary Technician	DESCRIPTION OF OCCUPATION: A Veterinary Technician performs medical tests in a laboratory environment for use in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases in animals.
Veterinarian	DESCRIPTION OF OCCUPATION: A Veterinarian treats injuries of animals and tries to prevent, control, and cure animal diseases.

Additional Requirements

Background check: Background check required
Exam: Third-party exam required
Experience: Current employment in field required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Veterinary Technician Wages by Metro Area in Hawaii

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Wages by Metro Area in Hawaii

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Urban Honolulu	190	$48,070	$49,080	$35,980	$62,880
Kahului-Wailuku	30	$54,950	$54,360	$46,530	$67,280

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 Hawaii

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Urban Honolulu	190	$48,070
Kahului-Wailuku	30	$54,950

Explore More Trades in Hawaii

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for veterinary technicians in Hawaii? Hawaii currently employs approximately 270 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 Hawaii with an out-of-state license? Contact the Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Board of Veterinary Examiners for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do veterinary technicians earn in Hawaii compared to the national average? The median annual wage for veterinary technicians in Hawaii is $48,550, which is $2,570 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Board of Veterinary Examiners - Licensing Information: http://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/veterinary/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)