Veterinary Technologist and Technician Salary in San Diego, CA
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $60,280 a year — 27% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,165 take-home, or $4,014 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median veterinary technologist and technician salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,054
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,737
- Medicare (1.45%)$874
- California income tax$1,666
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$784
- Take-home pay$48,165
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Veterinary Technologist and Technician pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,240 | $23.67 | $40,100 | $3,342 |
| 25th percentile | $54,590 | $26.25 | $44,009 | $3,667 |
| Median (50th) | $60,280 | $28.98 | $48,165 | $4,014 |
| 75th percentile | $62,940 | $30.26 | $50,108 | $4,176 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,620 | $35.88 | $57,598 | $4,800 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,280 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median veterinary technologist and technician's $48,165 take-home pay has the buying power of $43,048 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 about as common in San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for veterinary technologists and technicians, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #12 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 |
| 12 | San Diego, CA | $60,280 | $48,165 | $43,048 |
*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
- Riverside, CA — $58,510
- Los Angeles, CA — $60,670
Frequently asked questions
How much does a veterinary technologist and technician make in San Diego, CA?
The median veterinary technologist and technician salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $60,280 a year, or about $28.98 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $54,590 and $62,940.
What is a veterinary technologist and technician’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $60,280 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $48,165 a year ($4,014 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,450 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a veterinary technologist and technician?
Pay here is 27% above the national median of $47,380. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $43,048 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #12 of 60 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a veterinary technologist and technician afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 61% of a median veterinary technologist and technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Pediatricians, General — $239,200+
- Physician Assistant — $165,160
- Pharmacist — $165,130
- Nurse Practitioner — $163,860
- Veterinarian — $159,750
- Dentists, General — $158,160
- Registered Nurse — $139,520
- Optometrist — $133,280
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $129,630
- Dental Hygienist — $123,790