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

"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 Oregon?"

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

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

"In Oregon, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Oregon Apprenticeship and Training Division, 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 Oregon

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), veterinary technicians in Oregon earned a median annual wage of approximately $55,810. Employment concentration in Oregon is roughly 0.69 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 Oregon?"

"Oregon currently employs approximately 1,120 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

Oregon veterinary technologists and technicians earn a median annual wage of $55,810 ($26.83/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,120 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 17.8% above the national median of $47,380 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $55,810 ($26.83/hr)
25th percentile: $48,360 per year
75th percentile: $62,460 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $77,710 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $39,920 per year
Workers employed in Oregon: 1,120
Versus national median: 17.8% above the U.S. median of $47,380
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.69 - this occupation is less concentrated in Oregon than the national average

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

Oregon employs approximately 1,120 veterinary technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $55,810 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 Oregon, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Veterinary Technician in Oregon

How do I become a veterinary technician in Oregon? Oregon requires credentials such as Veterinary Technicians, Veterinarians. The licensing authority is the Oregon 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 Oregon? Yes. Oregon has licensing or registration requirements for veterinary technicians. The Oregon Veterinary Medical Examining Board oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do veterinary technicians earn in Oregon? The median annual wage for veterinary technicians in Oregon is $55,810 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $39,920 and experienced professionals can earn $77,710 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: Oregon Veterinary Medical Examining Board
Median wage (Oregon): $55,810 per year ¹

Veterinary Technician License Requirements in Oregon

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

License Types

License	Requirements
Veterinary Technicians	Veterinary Technicians assist veterinarians in the treatment of animals, usually in animal hospitals and clinics. The skills may be learned in a two-year community college program.
Veterinarians	Veterinarians diagnose and treat animal medical problems. May engage in a particular function, such as research and development, consultations, administration, technical writing, sale or production of…

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Veterinary Technician Wages by Metro Area in Oregon

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Wages by Metro Area in Oregon

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro	760	$58,300	$59,690	$46,490	$77,300
Salem	90	$49,310	$50,230	$31,370	$61,920
Corvallis	80	$67,960	$68,140	$49,190	$78,680
Eugene-Springfield	80	$50,140	$52,580	$39,510	$62,460
Bend	70	$54,110	$55,570	$45,800	$73,500
Medford	50	$51,900	$56,280	$38,350	$81,290

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 Oregon

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro	760	$58,300
Salem	90	$49,310
Corvallis	80	$67,960
Eugene-Springfield	80	$50,140
Bend	70	$54,110

Explore More Trades in Oregon

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for veterinary technicians in Oregon? Oregon currently employs approximately 1,120 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 Oregon with an out-of-state license? Contact the Oregon Veterinary Medical Examining Board for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do veterinary technicians earn in Oregon compared to the national average? The median annual wage for veterinary technicians in Oregon is $55,810, which is $9,830 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Oregon Veterinary Medical Examining Board - Licensing Information: https://www.oregon.gov/tspc/Pages/index.aspx ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)