Prevailing Wage for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
Prevailing wages for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians are set by the DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data, covering roles from Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) to Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT). DOL assigns four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts considerably depending on the worksite city.
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Entry-level technicians new to the field, typically recent graduates of an AVMA-accredited program with limited hands-on clinical experience and minimal independent judgment. Work is closely supervised, with tasks like sample collection and equipment sterilization performed under direct veterinarian oversight.
Qualified technicians with moderate experience, working with some independence on diagnostics, laboratory procedures, and patient monitoring. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians, reflecting the typical candidate completing routine clinical duties with standard professional guidance.
Experienced technicians who handle complex cases, mentor junior staff, or specialize in areas such as anesthesia, dentistry, or emergency care. These professionals exercise significant independent judgment and may take responsibility for specialized equipment or departmental protocols.
Fully competent senior technicians in lead or supervisory roles, setting clinical standards, managing teams, or working in advanced specialty settings. May hold credentials such as a Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) designation and operate with minimal oversight across all practice areas.
Prevailing Wage for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your state credential matches the filed title
Vet tech titles vary by state: CVT, LVT, and RVT each reflect different state licensing boards. If an employer files your LCA under a title that doesn't match your credential, USCIS may question specialty occupation eligibility during H-1B adjudication.
Watch for specialty pay excluded from the prevailing wage calculation
Emergency Vet Tech shift differentials and on-call stipends are often excluded from the base wage DOL uses to assess compliance. Confirm your offer letter separates these from your guaranteed annual salary before accepting a sponsored position.
Target West Coast metros where vet tech wages run highest
San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle post prevailing wages significantly above the national median for all four levels. If your offer is in a lower-cost market, compare it against the local OES floor rather than national figures.
Search Migrate Mate to find employers sponsoring vet tech roles
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Veterinary Technologists and Technicians for H-1B or green card, so you can focus your search on veterinary hospitals and specialty clinics with a real track record of filing.
Jobs for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 29-2056.00 alongside Veterinary Technologists and Technicians, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) Prevailing Wage
Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) Prevailing Wage
Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) positions fall under SOC 29-2056.00 (Veterinary Technologists and Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Emergency Veterinary Technician (Emergency Vet Tech) Prevailing Wage
Emergency Veterinary Technician (Emergency Vet Tech) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Emergency Veterinary Technician (Emergency Vet Tech) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-2056.00 (Veterinary Technologists and Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Internal Medicine Veterinary Technician (Internal Medicine Vet Tech) Prevailing Wage
Internal Medicine Veterinary Technician (Internal Medicine Vet Tech) Prevailing Wage
Internal Medicine Veterinary Technician (Internal Medicine Vet Tech) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-2056.00 (Veterinary Technologists and Technicians). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) Prevailing Wage
Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) Prevailing Wage
Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) positions fall under SOC 29-2056.00 (Veterinary Technologists and Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) Prevailing Wage
Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-2056.00 (Veterinary Technologists and Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Veterinarian Technician (Vet Tech) Prevailing Wage
Veterinarian Technician (Vet Tech) Prevailing Wage
Veterinarian Technician (Vet Tech) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-2056.00 (Veterinary Technologists and Technicians). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Veterinary Laboratory Technician (Vet Lab Tech) Prevailing Wage
Veterinary Laboratory Technician (Vet Lab Tech) Prevailing Wage
Veterinary Laboratory Technician (Vet Lab Tech) positions fall under SOC 29-2056.00 (Veterinary Technologists and Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Veterinary Nurse (Vet Nurse) Prevailing Wage
Veterinary Nurse (Vet Nurse) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Veterinary Nurse (Vet Nurse) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-2056.00 (Veterinary Technologists and Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Veterinary Technician (Vet Tech) Prevailing Wage
Veterinary Technician (Vet Tech) Prevailing Wage
Veterinary Technician (Vet Tech) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-2056.00 (Veterinary Technologists and Technicians). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Veterinary Technologist Prevailing Wage
Veterinary Technologist Prevailing Wage
Veterinary Technologist positions fall under SOC 29-2056.00 (Veterinary Technologists and Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and assigns wages to SOC 29-2056 across hundreds of geographic areas. Employers filing an LCA must pay at least the DOL wage for the level that matches the position's requirements and the worksite location. OFLC publishes these figures and updates them periodically.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
DOL assigns Level 1 to entry positions with close supervision, Level 2 to qualified technicians working with moderate independence, Level 3 to experienced professionals handling complex or specialized tasks, and Level 4 to senior or lead technicians. Your level should reflect the actual duties, required experience, and degree of supervision in the job description, not simply your personal credentials.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same vet tech role vary so much by city?
DOL calculates wages from regional OES surveys, so local labor market conditions directly shape the floor. A Licensed Veterinary Technician in San Francisco faces a much higher local wage than one in a rural market. The LCA must list the actual worksite address, so if you work at a clinic in Seattle but your employer is headquartered elsewhere, Seattle's prevailing wage applies.
What happens if a sponsored vet tech job offer falls below the prevailing wage?
An employer cannot file a certified LCA or submit an H-1B petition if the offered wage is below the DOL prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite. If USCIS or DOL identifies a shortfall, the petition can be denied or trigger a wage investigation. Workers in this situation should not rely on an employer's assurance that the offer is compliant without independent verification.
How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for a vet tech position in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current prevailing wage for SOC 29-2056 in any metropolitan area or county. Select the correct geographic area matching the clinic or hospital worksite, then choose the wage level that reflects the posted duties. You can also review recent LCA disclosure data through OFLC to see what wages employers have actually certified for similar Veterinary Technologists and Technicians roles. Migrate Mate can help you identify which employers have sponsored this occupation and in which locations.
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