Best states for an associate veterinarian

Q: What is the best state for associate veterinarians?

The best state to be an associate veterinarian is Rhode Island based on associate veterinarian salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for associate veterinarians?

The highest paying state for associate veterinarians is Oklahoma based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for associate veterinarians?

The worst state for associate veterinarians is South Dakota, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
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Are you thinking of becoming an associate veterinarian and really want to work at Medical Management International? Turns out, your chances to become an associate veterinarian are better in some states than others.Our research shows that Rhode Island is the best state in the country for associate veterinarians.

The median salary for associate veterinarians in Rhode Island is $96,122. Compare that to the median salary in South Dakota of $54,933, which ranked worst for associate veterinarians, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that Rhode Island is the best state for associate veterinarian jobs, whereas South Dakota is the worst.

10 best states for associate veterinarians in 2025

1. Rhode Island
Total associate veterinarian jobs: 31
Average annual salary: $96,122
Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000
Location Quotient:
0.95
Associate veterinarian jobs in Rhode Island
2. Texas
Total associate veterinarian jobs: 671
Average annual salary: $92,122
Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $154,000
Location Quotient:
1.24
Associate veterinarian jobs in Texas
3. California
Total associate veterinarian jobs: 1,084
Average annual salary: $99,525
Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000
Location Quotient:
1.38
Associate veterinarian jobs in California
4. New Jersey
Total associate veterinarian jobs: 196
Average annual salary: $100,718
Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000
Location Quotient:
0.92
Associate veterinarian jobs in New Jersey
5. Delaware
Total associate veterinarian jobs: 45
Average annual salary: $91,423
Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000
Location Quotient:
1.34
Associate veterinarian jobs in Delaware
6. Pennsylvania
Total associate veterinarian jobs: 276
Average annual salary: $94,130
Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000
Location Quotient:
0.88
Associate veterinarian jobs in Pennsylvania
7. Maryland
Total associate veterinarian jobs: 136
Average annual salary: $104,524
Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000
Location Quotient:
0.8
Associate veterinarian jobs in Maryland
8. Maine
Total associate veterinarian jobs: 30
Average annual salary: $94,177
Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000
Location Quotient:
0.84
Associate veterinarian jobs in Maine
9. New York
Total associate veterinarian jobs: 330
Average annual salary: $97,730
Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000
Location Quotient:
0.96
Associate veterinarian jobs in New York
10. New Mexico
Total associate veterinarian jobs: 17
Average annual salary: $104,929
Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000
Location Quotient:
0.32
Associate veterinarian jobs in New Mexico

Associate veterinarian jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be an associate veterinarian

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for an associate veterinarian

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Rhode Island	$96,122	$59,000	1,059,639	31
2	Texas	$92,122	$55,000	28,304,596	671
3	California	$99,525	$61,000	39,536,653	1,084
4	New Jersey	$100,718	$62,000	9,005,644	196
5	Delaware	$91,423	$57,000	961,939	45
6	Pennsylvania	$94,130	$58,000	12,805,537	276
7	Maryland	$104,524	$65,000	6,052,177	136
8	Maine	$94,177	$55,000	1,335,907	30
9	New York	$97,730	$60,000	19,849,399	330
10	New Mexico	$104,929	$64,000	2,088,070	17
11	Arizona	$86,919	$53,000	7,016,270	254
12	Oregon	$90,676	$53,000	4,142,776	123
13	Michigan	$86,467	$53,000	9,962,311	213
14	Massachusetts	$88,309	$53,000	6,859,819	323
15	Virginia	$90,033	$56,000	8,470,020	270
16	North Carolina	$88,791	$54,000	10,273,419	208
17	New Hampshire	$86,501	$52,000	1,342,795	58
18	Vermont	$91,883	$54,000	623,657	13
19	Ohio	$86,152	$53,000	11,658,609	198
20	Florida	$84,027	$48,000	20,984,400	706
21	Nevada	$87,193	$52,000	2,998,039	50
22	Washington	$84,650	$49,000	7,405,743	278
23	North Dakota	$86,231	$53,000	755,393	0
24	District of Columbia	$94,458	$59,000	693,972	14
25	West Virginia	$84,434	$52,000	1,815,857	6
26	Connecticut	$79,919	$49,000	3,588,184	108
27	Alaska	$79,273	$49,000	739,795	25
28	Arkansas	$84,041	$51,000	3,004,279	21
29	Minnesota	$80,878	$49,000	5,576,606	156
30	South Carolina	$79,890	$47,000	5,024,369	85
31	Hawaii	$81,528	$53,000	1,427,538	20
32	Tennessee	$76,915	$46,000	6,715,984	105
33	Illinois	$76,174	$46,000	12,802,023	320
34	Colorado	$73,783	$44,000	5,607,154	243
35	Idaho	$79,700	$46,000	1,716,943	21
36	Utah	$74,229	$43,000	3,101,833	78
37	Georgia	$73,272	$43,000	10,429,379	282
38	Wyoming	$73,653	$44,000	579,315	12
39	Iowa	$75,739	$46,000	3,145,711	36
40	Indiana	$73,870	$45,000	6,666,818	106
41	Wisconsin	$65,188	$39,000	5,795,483	136
42	Missouri	$69,322	$42,000	6,113,532	109
43	Alabama	$70,052	$41,000	4,874,747	55
44	Kansas	$64,709	$39,000	2,913,123	55
45	Kentucky	$63,565	$39,000	4,454,189	28
46	Montana	$63,125	$37,000	1,050,493	11
47	Mississippi	$63,778	$37,000	2,984,100	15
48	Nebraska	$60,643	$37,000	1,920,076	24
49	Louisiana	$60,299	$35,000	4,684,333	29
50	Oklahoma	$51,650	$31,000	3,930,864	52
51	South Dakota	$54,933	$33,000	869,666	0

Highest paying states for associate veterinarians

Rank	State	Avg. Associate Veterinarian Salary
1	Rhode Island	$96,122
2	Texas	$92,122
3	California	$99,525
4	New Jersey	$100,718
5	Delaware	$91,423
6	Pennsylvania	$94,130
7	Maryland	$104,524
8	Maine	$94,177
9	New York	$97,730
10	New Mexico	$104,929
11	Arizona	$86,919
12	Oregon	$90,676
13	Michigan	$86,467
14	Massachusetts	$88,309
15	Virginia	$90,033
16	North Carolina	$88,791
17	New Hampshire	$86,501
18	Vermont	$91,883
19	Ohio	$86,152
20	Florida	$84,027
21	Nevada	$87,193
22	Washington	$84,650
23	North Dakota	$86,231
24	District of Columbia	$94,458
25	West Virginia	$84,434
26	Connecticut	$79,919
27	Alaska	$79,273
28	Arkansas	$84,041
29	Minnesota	$80,878
30	South Carolina	$79,890
31	Hawaii	$81,528
32	Tennessee	$76,915
33	Illinois	$76,174
34	Colorado	$73,783
35	Idaho	$79,700
36	Utah	$74,229
37	Georgia	$73,272
38	Wyoming	$73,653
39	Iowa	$75,739
40	Indiana	$73,870
41	Wisconsin	$65,188
42	Missouri	$69,322
43	Alabama	$70,052
44	Kansas	$64,709
45	Kentucky	$63,565
46	Montana	$63,125
47	Mississippi	$63,778
48	Nebraska	$60,643
49	Louisiana	$60,299
50	Oklahoma	$51,650
51	South Dakota	$54,933

Associate veterinarian best states FAQs

What is the best state for associate veterinarians?

What is the highest paying state for associate veterinarians?

What is the worst state for associate veterinarians?

Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.

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Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Associate Veterinarian
Best states for Associate Veterinarians

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs

Total associate veterinarian jobs:	31
Average annual salary:	$96,122
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$59,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$156,000
Location Quotient:	0.95

Best states for an associate veterinarian

10 best states for associate veterinarians in 2025

1. Rhode Island

2. Texas

3. California

4. New Jersey

5. Delaware

6. Pennsylvania

7. Maryland

8. Maine

9. New York

10. New Mexico