Veterinary Technologist and Technician Salary in Riverside, CA
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $58,510 a year — 23% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $46,872 take-home, or $3,906 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median veterinary technologist and technician salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,841
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,628
- Medicare (1.45%)$848
- California income tax$1,560
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$761
- Take-home pay$46,872
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Veterinary Technologist and Technician pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,980 | $22.59 | $38,449 | $3,204 |
| 25th percentile | $49,630 | $23.86 | $40,385 | $3,365 |
| Median (50th) | $58,510 | $28.13 | $46,872 | $3,906 |
| 75th percentile | $60,910 | $29.28 | $48,625 | $4,052 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,190 | $35.19 | $56,725 | $4,727 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $58,510 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median veterinary technologist and technician's $46,872 take-home pay has the buying power of $44,035 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Veterinary Technologist and Technician jobs are less concentrated in Riverside, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.64), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for veterinary technologists and technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #7 of 60 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $67,280 | $53,117 | $48,103 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $71,090 | $55,443 | $47,955 |
| 3 | Albany, NY | $58,750 | $46,810 | $47,014 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $61,260 | $51,402 | $46,253 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $60,970 | $48,669 | $45,626 |
| 6 | Minneapolis, MN | $59,090 | $47,164 | $44,994 |
| 7 | Riverside, CA | $58,510 | $46,872 | $44,035 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $56,580 | $45,861 | $43,354 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 60 metros →
Veterinary Technologist and Technician salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $67,280
- San Francisco, CA — $71,090
- Sacramento, CA — $60,970
- San Diego, CA — $60,280
- Los Angeles, CA — $60,670
Frequently asked questions
How much does a veterinary technologist and technician make in Riverside, CA?
The median veterinary technologist and technician salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $58,510 a year, or about $28.13 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,630 and $60,910.
What is a veterinary technologist and technician’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $58,510 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $46,872 a year ($3,906 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,321 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a veterinary technologist and technician?
Pay here is 23% above the national median of $47,380. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $44,035 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #7 of 60 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a veterinary technologist and technician afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median veterinary technologist and technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Psychiatrist — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Practitioner — $169,920
- Physician Assistant — $165,490
- Pharmacist — $161,870
- Veterinarian — $160,860
- Registered Nurse — $133,940
- Optometrist — $129,990
- Dentists, General — $125,230
- Physical Therapist — $120,110
- Occupational Therapist — $119,530
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $118,560