"How long does veterinary technician in Washington 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 Washington?"

"Yes. Washington requires state-level licensing or registration for veterinary technicians, administered by the Department of Health. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"In Washington, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Washington State of Labor and Industry - 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 Washington

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), veterinary technicians in Washington earned a median annual wage of approximately $59,740. Employment concentration in Washington is roughly 0.78 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 Washington?"

"Washington currently employs approximately 2,290 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

Washington veterinary technologists and technicians earn a median annual wage of $59,740 ($28.72/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 2,290 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 26.1% above the national median of $47,380 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $59,740 ($28.72/hr)
25th percentile: $50,700 per year
75th percentile: $64,480 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $77,300 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $46,390 per year
Workers employed in Washington: 2,290
Versus national median: 26.1% above the U.S. median of $47,380
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.78 - this occupation is less concentrated in Washington than the national average

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

Washington employs approximately 2,290 veterinary technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $59,740 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 Washington, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About How to Become a Veterinary Technician in Washington

How to become a veterinary technician in Washington? Washington requires credentials such as Veterinary Technician, Veterinary Medication Clerk. The licensing authority is the Department of Health 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 Washington? Yes. Washington has licensing or registration requirements for veterinary technicians. The Department of Health oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do veterinary technicians earn in Washington? The median annual wage for veterinary technicians in Washington is $59,740 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $46,390 and experienced professionals can earn $77,300 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: Department of Health
Median wage (Washington): $59,740 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Veterinary Technician License Requirements in Washington

The Department of Health oversees veterinary technician licensing in Washington ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Veterinary Technician	Individuals must have graduated from a AVMA-accredited school in Veterinary Technology, or have five years of full-time veterinary technician work experience or two years from a non-accredited school…
Veterinary Medication Clerk	Registration RequirementsChapter 18.92 RCWChapter 246-937 WACEducationApplicants must provide proof of high school graduation or its equivalent.

Additional Requirements

Background check: Background check required
Exam: Third-party exam required
Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Veterinary Technician Wages by Metro Area in Washington

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Wages by Metro Area in Washington

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	2,150	$57,630	$58,830	$44,280	$79,460
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	1,170	$61,260	$62,510	$49,360	$78,060
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro	760	$58,300	$59,690	$46,490	$77,300
Spokane-Spokane Valley	170	$57,100	$54,220	$37,380	$62,270
Bellingham	100	$59,360	$57,560	$46,730	$74,120
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard	90	$57,720	$58,160	$40,790	$79,360
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater	90	$59,260	$57,160	$39,080	$74,480
Kennewick-Richland	50	$61,070	$60,000	$46,670	$77,100
Mount Vernon-Anacortes	40	$60,830	$62,660	$47,940	$80,180

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 Washington

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	1,170	$61,260
Spokane-Spokane Valley	170	$57,100
Bellingham	100	$59,360
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard	90	$57,720
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater	90	$59,260

Explore More Trades in Washington

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for veterinary technicians in Washington? Washington currently employs approximately 2,290 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 Washington with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Health for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do veterinary technicians earn in Washington compared to the national average? The median annual wage for veterinary technicians in Washington is $59,740, which is $13,760 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Department of Health - Licensing Information: http://www.doh.wa.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)