How much does a veterinarian make?
The median veterinarian in the United States earns $130,100 per year, about $62.55 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all veterinarians earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 29-1131.
Veterinarian salary range
Pay for veterinarians spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $73,920 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $215,700. The average (mean) wage of $142,680 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $73,920 | $35.54 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $101,460 | $48.78 | |
| Median (50th) | $130,100 | $62.55 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $166,120 | $79.87 | |
| 90th percentile | $215,700 | $103.70 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for veterinarians (SOC 29-1131), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Veterinarian salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Veterinarians earn the most in California at $163,920 a year, and the least in South Dakota at $88,650. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| California | $163,920 | 9,170 |
| Maryland | $163,170 | 1,430 |
| Washington | $160,510 | 2,390 |
| New Jersey | $160,140 | 1,910 |
| Arizona | $152,020 | 2,080 |
| Massachusetts | $140,260 | 1,920 |
| District of Columbia | $134,530 | 190 |
| Illinois | $133,580 | 2,330 |
| Pennsylvania | $133,520 | 3,490 |
| Minnesota | $133,110 | 2,140 |
| New York | $131,830 | 3,390 |
| Vermont | $131,820 | 280 |
| Florida | $131,660 | 5,360 |
| Texas | $131,330 | 6,270 |
| Colorado | $130,840 | 2,340 |
| Maine | $130,600 | 600 |
| Hawaii | $130,120 | 370 |
| New Mexico | $129,390 | 460 |
| North Carolina | $129,240 | 2,940 |
| West Virginia | $128,990 | 390 |
| Oregon | $128,880 | 1,660 |
| New Hampshire | $128,190 | 650 |
| Virginia | $126,730 | 2,700 |
| Georgia | $126,590 | 2,670 |
| Rhode Island | $126,570 | 430 |
| Connecticut | $126,190 | 950 |
| Nevada | $125,550 | 680 |
| Michigan | $125,390 | 2,030 |
| Ohio | $125,060 | 3,430 |
| Iowa | $124,610 | 1,000 |
| Indiana | $124,530 | 1,500 |
| Louisiana | $124,370 | 950 |
| Tennessee | $124,350 | 1,730 |
| Utah | $123,990 | 640 |
| South Carolina | $122,130 | 1,380 |
| Idaho | $116,170 | 540 |
| Missouri | $114,660 | 1,920 |
| Wisconsin | $108,780 | 1,830 |
| Arkansas | $107,710 | 540 |
| Kansas | $107,080 | 1,000 |
| Alabama | $105,630 | 1,020 |
| Mississippi | $105,370 | 480 |
| Kentucky | $104,100 | 1,190 |
| Nebraska | $103,500 | 780 |
| North Dakota | $102,180 | 270 |
| Montana | $99,390 | 510 |
| Oklahoma | $98,090 | 1,150 |
| Wyoming | $97,240 | 140 |
| South Dakota | $88,650 | 280 |
State median wages for veterinarians (SOC 29-1131), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for veterinarians
The BLS projects employment of veterinarians to grow 9.4% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 91,100 jobs in 2025 moving toward 99,600 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 3,100 openings a year for veterinarians. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a veterinarian
The typical entry-level education for veterinarians is a doctoral or professional degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a veterinarian earns
Specialty, work setting, shift differentials, certifications, and region drive the numbers. Hospitals, surgical settings, and high cost metros pay above clinics and rural facilities.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (California, $163,920) and the lowest (South Dakota, $88,650) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 83,900 people work as veterinarians in the United States. At $130,100 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Veterinarian salary FAQ
How much does a veterinarian make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a veterinarian is $62.55. The middle half of veterinarians earn between $48.78 and $79.87 per hour.
What is the highest veterinarian salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of veterinarians earn more than $215,700 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a veterinarian make a year?
The median annual salary for a veterinarian is $130,100. The average (mean) wage of $142,680 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a veterinarian a well paid job?
At $130,100 a year, a veterinarian earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 83,900 people work as veterinarians in the United States.
Which state pays veterinarians the most?
California has the highest median salary for veterinarians at $163,920 a year. Maryland ($163,170) and Washington ($160,510) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a veterinarian a good career?
Employment of veterinarians is projected to grow 9.4% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 3,100 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a veterinarian?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for veterinarians as a doctoral or professional degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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