"How long does veterinary technician in New York training take?"

"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 New York?"

"Yes. New York requires state-level licensing or registration for veterinary technicians, administered by the NYS Education Department - State Board for Veterinary Medicine. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for veterinary technicians in New York?"

"In New York, registered apprenticeships are administered through the New York Office of 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 New York

Q: "How much do veterinary technicians earn in New York?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), veterinary technicians in New York earned a median annual wage of approximately $59,010. Employment concentration in New York is roughly 0.66 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 New York?"

"New York currently employs approximately 5,350 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

New York veterinary technologists and technicians earn a median annual wage of $59,010 ($28.37/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 5,350 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 24.5% above the national median of $47,380 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $59,010 ($28.37/hr)
25th percentile: $50,410 per year
75th percentile: $66,310 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $78,760 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $47,640 per year
Workers employed in New York: 5,350
Versus national median: 24.5% above the U.S. median of $47,380
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.66 - this occupation is less concentrated in New York than the national average

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

New York employs approximately 5,350 veterinary technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $59,010 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 New York, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About How to Become a Veterinary Technician in New York

How to become a veterinary technician in New York? New York requires credentials such as Veterinary Technician, Veterinarian. The licensing authority is the NYS Education Department - State Board for Veterinary Medicine 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 New York? Yes. New York has licensing or registration requirements for veterinary technicians. The NYS Education Department - State Board for Veterinary Medicine oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do veterinary technicians earn in New York? The median annual wage for veterinary technicians in New York is $59,010 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $47,640 and experienced professionals can earn $78,760 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: NYS Education Department - State Board for Veterinary Medicine
Median wage (New York): $59,010 per year ¹

Veterinary Technician License Requirements in New York

The NYS Education Department - State Board for Veterinary Medicine oversees veterinary technician licensing in New York ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Veterinary Technician	The practice of veterinary technology includes the performance of services within the field of veterinary medicine by a person (called a veterinary technician) who carries out medical orders prescribe…
Veterinarian	The practice of veterinary medicine includes the diagnosis and treatment (including prescriptions and surgery) of all animal disease. “Animal” includes every living creature except humans.

Additional Requirements

Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
Experience: No experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Veterinary Technician Wages by Metro Area in New York

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Wages by Metro Area in New York

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
New York-Newark-Jersey City	4,850	$59,680	$61,500	$46,560	$78,500
Albany-Schenectady-Troy	440	$58,750	$59,190	$47,410	$75,300
Buffalo-Cheektowaga	400	$50,100	$53,800	$46,880	$60,870
Rochester	320	$49,810	$52,250	$45,530	$59,200
Syracuse	230	$51,180	$53,730	$47,250	$60,330
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh	220	$54,730	$56,320	$47,330	$63,410
Ithaca	80	$56,420	$55,550	$44,990	$59,380
Utica-Rome	80	$50,440	$51,990	$45,760	$58,190
Binghamton	60	$49,000	$49,870	$40,470	$58,280
Kingston	60	$59,060	$59,110	$47,340	$77,940
Watertown-Fort Drum	40	$46,300	$45,880	$39,570	$49,540
Glens Falls	30	$51,450	$54,080	$47,190	$61,490

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 .

Top Metros for Veterinary technicians in New York

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
New York-Newark-Jersey City	4,850	$59,680
Albany-Schenectady-Troy	440	$58,750
Buffalo-Cheektowaga	400	$50,100
Rochester	320	$49,810
Syracuse	230	$51,180

Explore More Trades in New York

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for veterinary technicians in New York? New York currently employs approximately 5,350 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 New York with an out-of-state license? Contact the NYS Education Department - State Board for Veterinary Medicine for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do veterinary technicians earn in New York compared to the national average? The median annual wage for veterinary technicians in New York is $59,010, which is $13,030 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
NYS Education Department - State Board for Veterinary Medicine - Licensing Information: http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)