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These Are The 10 Best Cities For Veterinarians

By Chris Kolmar
Dec. 11, 2016
Last Modified and Fact Checked on: Jan. 20, 2026

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Top 10 Cities for Veterinarians in 2026

As you embark on your career as a veterinarian or consider relocating to enhance your prospects, understanding regional opportunities is crucial. The profession of veterinarians presents varying salaries and career paths depending on where you are in the U.S.!

At Zippia, we analyzed data to identify the cities that provide the most favorable conditions for veterinarians in 2026. Our findings highlight cities where veterinarians enjoy competitive salaries, abundant job opportunities, and a reasonable cost of living.

Utilizing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other reliable sources, we compiled this list of the best cities for veterinarians:

  1. Brunswick, GA
  2. Reading, PA
  3. Killeen, TX
  4. Haverhill, MA
  5. Santa Rosa, CA
  6. Kingston, NY
  7. Montgomery County, PA
  8. Durham, NC
  9. Prescott, AZ
  10. Boise City, ID

Brunswick, GA, emerges as the top city for veterinarians, offering the best combination of salary and job availability.

Conversely, if you are considering where to avoid, Baton Rouge, LA, remains a less favorable location for veterinarians.

Continue reading to learn about our methodology in determining the best cities for veterinarians and more insights into the top ten cities.

How We Identified the Best Cities for Veterinarians

At Zippia, we engage with a diverse group of job seekers and have found two key factors that job seekers prioritize:

  • Job availability
  • Competitive pay

To pinpoint the best cities for veterinarians across the U.S., we assessed job availability and salary levels. Our analysis utilized the following criteria sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

  • Location quotient: A metric indicating how prevalent the veterinarian profession is in a specific city.
  • Average annual salary.
  • Average starting salary for entry-level positions.

We adjusted salary figures relative to the cost of living in each state to ensure a fair comparison across cities.

This analysis encompassed 266 metropolitan areas nationwide, with the primary area serving as the representative ‘city’ for our study. For instance, the “Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division” was simplified to Boston.

To rank the cities, we assigned each city a score from 1 to 266 based on the criteria above, with the best city receiving the lowest score overall.

Now, let’s take a closer look at what makes each of these cities an excellent choice for veterinarians.

1. Brunswick, GA

Total Jobs: 30
Average Annual Salary: $116,420
Average Entry Level Salary: $83,390
Location Quotient: 1.72

2. Reading, PA

Total Jobs: 110
Average Annual Salary: $130,690
Average Entry Level Salary: $83,760
Location Quotient: 1.37

3. Killeen, TX

Total Jobs: 80
Average Annual Salary: $132,230
Average Entry Level Salary: $84,360
Location Quotient: 1.3

4. Haverhill, MA

Total Jobs: 50
Average Annual Salary: $139,200
Average Entry Level Salary: $83,790
Location Quotient: 1.67

5. Santa Rosa, CA

Total Jobs: 170
Average Annual Salary: $123,380
Average Entry Level Salary: $82,400
Location Quotient: 1.93

6. Kingston, NY

Total Jobs: 50
Average Annual Salary: $125,590
Average Entry Level Salary: $84,330
Location Quotient: 1.86

7. Montgomery County, PA

Total Jobs: 740
Average Annual Salary: $128,630
Average Entry Level Salary: $67,550
Location Quotient: 1.54

8. Durham, NC

Total Jobs: 200
Average Annual Salary: $117,110
Average Entry Level Salary: $67,510
Location Quotient: 1.43

9. Prescott, AZ

Total Jobs: 70
Average Annual Salary: $107,800
Average Entry Level Salary: $68,500
Location Quotient: 2.56

10. Boise City, ID

Total Jobs: 210
Average Annual Salary: $98,020
Average Entry Level Salary: $66,280
Location Quotient: 1.53

Conclusion: Best Cities for Veterinarians

If you’re starting your career as a veterinarian, consider these cities for their high pay, job availability, and potential for career growth.

On the flip side, here are the cities you might want to avoid as a veterinarian:

  1. Baton Rouge, LA
  2. Grand Rapids, MI
  3. Cleveland, OH

Comprehensive List of the Best Cities for Veterinarians

Rank State Average Salary Entry Level Salary # Of Jobs
1 Brunswick, GA $116,420 $83,390 30
2 Reading, PA $130,690 $83,760 110
3 Killeen, TX $132,230 $84,360 80
4 Haverhill, MA $139,200 $83,790 50
5 Santa Rosa, CA $123,380 $82,400 170
6 Kingston, NY $125,590 $84,330 50
7 Montgomery County, PA $128,630 $67,550 740
8 Durham, NC $117,110 $67,510 200
9 Prescott, AZ $107,800 $68,500 70
10 Boise City, ID $98,020 $66,280 210
11 Grand Island, NE $115,790 $58,520 40
12 Modesto, CA $116,560 $80,470 140
13 Columbia, SC $88,820 $69,080 350
14 Columbus, OH $105,650 $67,440 590
15 Ames, IA $95,520 $66,190 90
16 Auburn, AL $98,410 $64,350 30
17 Sebastian, FL $119,790 $66,100 30
18 Albuquerque, NM $112,360 $65,170 220
19 Barnstable Town, MA $123,660 $79,660 80
20 Lebanon, PA $99,620 $64,390 40
21 Silver Spring, MD $136,480 $78,720 330
22 Corpus Christi, TX $101,660 $70,240 110
23 Sacramento, CA $136,160 $85,250 430
24 Roanoke, VA $112,510 $76,460 100
25 Des Moines, IA $93,380 $66,370 290
26 Salem, OR $100,320 $79,050 100
27 Jackson, MI $104,420 $66,630 40
28 Austin, TX $100,480 $70,050 520
29 Toledo, OH $106,840 $61,790 160
30 Providence, RI $121,530 $90,570 270
31 Fayetteville, NC $102,000 $68,340 70
32 St. Joseph, MO $81,560 $68,070 40
33 Charlottesville, VA $120,280 $62,390 80
34 Asheville, NC $107,780 $55,330 160
35 Oklahoma City, OK $105,860 $65,430 300
36 York, PA $132,230 $101,620 70
37 Harrisonburg, VA $102,710 $68,490 50
38 Burlington, VT $98,930 $69,130 90
39 State College, PA $116,980 $56,090 50
40 Spokane, WA $105,820 $69,020 130
41 Gainesville, FL $102,060 $63,870 100
42 Burlington, NC $104,230 $60,790 40
43 Springfield, MO $95,360 $65,530 100
44 Clarksville, TN $88,290 $59,520 60
45 Raleigh, NC $116,610 $45,770 640
46 Warren, MI $105,000 $63,660 640
47 Fort Worth, TX $117,550 $64,180 450
48 Lansing, MI $101,420 $83,250 90
49 Canton, OH $96,150 $75,640 80
50 Leominster, MA $127,100 $67,740 30
51 New Haven, CT $150,910 $73,270 140
52 Port St. Lucie, FL $94,420 $65,330 110
53 Medford, OR $118,650 $53,700 60
54 Milwaukee, WI $113,050 $67,030 410
55 Hattiesburg, MS $78,150 $59,050 50
56 Charleston, SC $108,350 $73,400 110
57 Erie, PA $113,610 $68,730 50
58 Gulfport, MS $107,000 $66,380 50
59 Lakeland, FL $117,040 $68,460 100
60 Nassau County, NY $138,370 $67,890 690
61 Lexington, KY $99,340 $32,040 280
62 Mankato, MN $97,850 $63,010 40
63 Janesville, WI $100,310 $63,860 40
64 Ogden, UT $106,920 $69,360 90
65 Spartanburg, SC $109,100 $81,880 30
66 Newark, NJ $139,040 $73,050 430
67 Pittsburgh, PA $105,890 $66,910 490
68 Mount Vernon, WA $84,360 $63,910 40
69 Wilmington, DE $126,490 $66,990 130
70 Wilmington, NC $88,380 $57,950 100
71 Redding, CA $95,710 $67,950 60
72 Daphne, AL $80,650 $56,820 50
73 Miami, FL $109,850 $81,270 350
74 Tyler, TX $95,000 $65,410 40
75 Columbus, GA $106,380 $65,350 40
76 Greenville, NC $93,240 $66,430 40
77 Bangor, ME $119,630 $55,020 30
78 Sheboygan, WI $100,790 $60,220 30
79 Portland, ME $98,160 $61,230 110
80 Dayton, OH $109,980 $48,730 180
81 Elkhart, IN $102,460 $63,040 40
82 San Antonio, TX $118,440 $52,030 460
83 Las Vegas, NV $101,900 $73,680 370
84 Lake County, IL $107,380 $60,800 210
85 Waterloo, IA $120,210 $58,390 30
86 Rochester, MN $88,160 $64,860 70
87 Lawrence, MA $116,240 $65,530 50
88 Charleston, WV $91,580 $63,750 40
89 Greenville, SC $88,380 $69,250 150
90 Camden, NJ $103,570 $71,340 260
91 Seattle, WA $99,230 $69,240 650
92 South Bend, IN $92,430 $58,820 60
93 Portsmouth, NH $109,610 $52,500 60
94 Atlanta, GA $93,970 $60,980 1,120
95 Fort Wayne, IN $89,370 $67,410 80
96 Jacksonville, NC $83,300 $55,840 40
97 Santa Cruz, CA $104,440 $57,660 80
98 Nashville, TN $86,120 $64,610 390
99 Cape Coral, FL $88,400 $66,020 140
100 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY $80,620 $57,060 290
Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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