Veterinary Technology Degree in Chicago, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
Veterinary Technology degree analysis for Chicago, IL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$55K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$52K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.9 yrs
in Chicago
Cost of Living
109
index (100 = avg)
Veterinary Technology in Chicago, IL Overview
Chicago is one of Illinois's top college towns, with 98 institutions and a student population of 177,322. Public tuition averages $14,816/year here — near the national average for public universities. Veterinary Technology has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Animal Handling and Lab Diagnostics skills. The adjusted starting salary in Chicago is approximately $54,500.
Category
Agriculture
Local Colleges
98
Public Tuition
$14,816/yr
Private Tuition
$62,666/yr
Room & Board
$9,117/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,009/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
63%
Veterinary Technology Salary in Chicago (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Chicago's cost of living index of 109 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Veterinary Technology salary: $50,000 starting, $48,000 mid-career, $55,000 senior level.Chicago adjustment factor: 1.09x based on the local cost of living index.
Veterinary Technology ROI Calculator for Chicago
Estimate your return on investment for a Veterinary Technology degree using local Chicago tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,816 | Private avg: $62,666
Chicago avg aid: $16,009/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$95,732
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,350
vs HS diploma in Chicago
ROI Payback Period
5.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Chicago
$122,268
Lifetime earnings premium ($218,000) minus total education cost ($95,732)
Student Loan Payoff for Veterinary Technology in Chicago
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Chicago for Veterinary Technology
University of Chicago
private
$62,940/yr
$251,760 total
Northwestern University
private
$62,391/yr
$249,564 total
University of Illinois at Chicago
public
$14,816/yr
$59,264 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
City Colleges of Chicago
$3,918/yr
Top Employers for Veterinary Technology in Chicago
Chicago offers opportunities in Agribusiness, Government agencies, Research institutes for Veterinary Technology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Chicago Hiring Sectors for Agriculture
Agribusiness
Government agencies
Research institutes
Food companies
Conservation orgs
Common Veterinary Technology Job Titles
Veterinary Technology in Nearby Illinois Cities
Aurora, IL
$46K starting · COL 92.8
7 colleges
Joliet, IL
$54K starting · COL 108
12 colleges
Naperville, IL
$51K starting · COL 102
13 colleges
Rockford, IL
$45K starting · COL 90
8 colleges
Elgin, IL
$40K starting · COL 79
13 colleges
Springfield, IL
$46K starting · COL 92
9 colleges
Peoria, IL
$52K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Waukegan, IL
$45K starting · COL 90.3
4 colleges
Other Agriculture Majors in Chicago
Veterinary Technology Degree in Chicago — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Veterinary Technology ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Chicago.