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Doctor of veterinary medicine salary
Average doctor of veterinary medicine salary
$136,242
Understanding Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Salaries
As of October 2025, Doctors of Veterinary Medicine earn an average salary of $136,242 per year, translating to about $66 per hour. Factors influencing salary include geographic location, years of experience, and area of specialization. For instance, veterinarians focusing on specialized fields such as surgery or internal medicine may command higher salaries.
In addition to experience, the state of employment significantly impacts earnings. For example, states like California and New York typically offer higher compensation due to the cost of living and demand for veterinary services. Furthermore, larger cities often present more opportunities for career advancement and specialization.
Salary Trends Over Time
Historically, the salary for veterinarians has shown a steady increase as the demand for animal healthcare rises. Recent trends indicate that those entering the field can expect competitive starting salaries, with opportunities for growth as they gain experience and pursue additional qualifications.
In summary, a career as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine not only provides an opportunity to work closely with animals but also offers a rewarding financial outlook that can be enhanced through experience and specialization.
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Where can a Doctor Of Veterinary Medicine earn more?
Doctor of veterinary medicine salary estimates from across the web
Average doctor of veterinary medicine salary by state
The highest-paying states for doctors of veterinary medicine are Maine, Maryland, and North Dakota. The lowest average doctor of veterinary medicine salary states are Mississippi, Arizona, and South Dakota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for doctors of veterinary medicine
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $156,200 | $75.10 |
| 2 | Vermont | $151,983 | $73.07 |
| 3 | Oregon | $150,368 | $72.29 |
| 4 | Texas | $148,827 | $71.55 |
| 5 | Colorado | $150,071 | $72.15 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $155,148 | $74.59 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $148,103 | $71.20 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $148,866 | $71.57 |
| 9 | Washington | $145,614 | $70.01 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $142,575 | $68.55 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $150,948 | $72.57 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $145,868 | $70.13 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $145,031 | $69.73 |
| 14 | Arkansas | $148,163 | $71.23 |
| 15 | Maryland | $155,407 | $74.71 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $145,199 | $69.81 |
| 17 | New York | $148,370 | $71.33 |
| 18 | Michigan | $140,869 | $67.73 |
| 19 | Ohio | $142,751 | $68.63 |
| 20 | South Carolina | $142,672 | $68.59 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $142,405 | $68.46 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $141,881 | $68.21 |
| 23 | California | $145,335 | $69.87 |
| 24 | Delaware | $142,135 | $68.33 |
| 25 | Iowa | $141,090 | $67.83 |
| 26 | Virginia | $142,635 | $68.57 |
| 27 | Indiana | $134,562 | $64.69 |
| 28 | Illinois | $137,584 | $66.15 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $136,097 | $65.43 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $140,534 | $67.56 |
| 31 | Georgia | $135,111 | $64.96 |
| 32 | Idaho | $142,266 | $68.40 |
| 33 | Florida | $127,488 | $61.29 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $146,046 | $70.21 |
| 35 | Kansas | $124,892 | $60.04 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $120,682 | $58.02 |
| 37 | Missouri | $132,657 | $63.78 |
| 38 | Utah | $131,707 | $63.32 |
| 39 | Nevada | $125,960 | $60.56 |
| 40 | Alabama | $128,031 | $61.55 |
| 41 | Arizona | $114,968 | $55.27 |
| 42 | Alaska | $120,438 | $57.90 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $121,901 | $58.61 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $118,678 | $57.06 |
| 45 | Montana | $121,500 | $58.41 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $119,421 | $57.41 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $97,718 | $46.98 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $115,095 | $55.33 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $97,780 | $47.01 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $110,346 | $53.05 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $100,816 | $48.47 |
Highest paying cities for doctors of veterinary medicine
The highest-paying cities for doctors of veterinary medicine are Burlington, VT, Keller, TX, and Antioch, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burlington, VT | $175,876 | $84.56 |
| 2 | Keller, TX | $172,841 | $83.10 |
| 3 | Antioch, CA | $168,608 | $81.06 |
| 4 | Providence, RI | $168,293 | $80.91 |
| 5 | Manchester, CT | $168,071 | $80.80 |
| 6 | Boulder, CO | $166,985 | $80.28 |
| 7 | Jacksonville, NC | $164,850 | $79.25 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $161,413 | $77.60 |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $157,902 | $75.91 |
| 10 | Clinton, MI | $156,891 | $75.43 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $151,903 | $73.03 |
| 12 | Tucker, GA | $149,263 | $71.76 |
| 13 | Gainesville, FL | $149,134 | $71.70 |
| 14 | Marion, IN | $147,719 | $71.02 |
| 15 | Las Vegas, NV | $129,335 | $62.18 |
| 16 | Albuquerque, NM | $122,739 | $59.01 |
| 17 | Bullhead City, AZ | $120,856 | $58.10 |
Doctor of veterinary medicine salary details
A doctor of veterinary medicine's salary ranges from $66,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $277,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a doctor of veterinary medicine's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $277,000 | $23,083 | $133 |
| 75th Percentile | $198,000 | $16,500 | $95 |
| Average | $136,242 | $11,354 | $66 |
| 25th Percentile | $93,000 | $7,750 | $45 |
| 10th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
Highest paying doctor of veterinary medicine jobs
The highest paying types of doctors of veterinary medicine are animal doctor, doctor, and veterinarian.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctor | $208,582 | $17,382 | $100.28 | 14,571 |
| Public Health Veterinarian | $62,550 | $5,212 | $30.07 | 63,067 |
| Emergency Veterinarian | $94,518 | $7,877 | $45.44 | 34,931 |
| Veterinarian | $109,524 | $9,127 | $52.66 | 13,255 |
Top companies hiring doctors of veterinary medicine now:
Which companies pay doctors of veterinary medicine the most?
Doctor of veterinary medicine salaries at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and Sanford Health are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average doctor of veterinary medicine salary at companies like Montrose Memorial Hospital and University of Florida are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbus Zoo and Aquarium | $361,728 | $173.91 |
| 2 | Sanford Health | $287,621 | $138.28 |
| 3 | Montrose Memorial Hospital | $241,018 | $115.87 |
| 4 | University of Florida | $201,232 | $96.75 |
| 5 | Unm Medical Group, Inc. | $195,891 | $94.18 |
| 6 | All Medical Personnel | $193,127 | $92.85 |
| 7 | NEPHROLOGY AND HYPERTENSION ASSOCIATES | $175,917 | $84.58 |
| 8 | City of Antioch | $173,621 | $83.47 |
| 9 | Sutter Medical Foundation | $170,541 | $81.99 |
| 10 | Medical Management International | $169,088 | $81.29 |
| 11 | NextLevel Health | $165,998 | $79.81 |
| 12 | National Medical Association | $148,237 | $71.27 |
| 13 | MedVet | $130,317 | $62.65 |
| 14 | GPAC | $129,547 | $62.28 |
| 15 | Banfield Pet Hospital | $125,958 | $60.56 |
| 16 | Bastyr University | $120,625 | $57.99 |
| 17 | Connecticut Veterinary Center | $116,470 | $56.00 |
| 18 | VCA Animal Hospitals | $110,413 | $53.08 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Doctor of veterinary medicine salary trends
The average doctor of veterinary medicine salary has risen by $22,444 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average doctor of veterinary medicine earned $113,798 annually, but today, they earn $136,242 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for doctors of veterinary medicine over the last decade.
Compare doctor of veterinary medicine salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average doctor of veterinary medicine salary over time
Compare doctor of veterinary medicine salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Doctor of veterinary medicine salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $136,000 | $65.50 | +3.8% |
| 2025 | $131,000 | $63.00 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $129,000 | $61.92 | +3.6% |
| 2023 | $124,000 | $59.67 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $122,000 | $58.58 | +0.3% |
Recently added doctor of veterinary medicine salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Destination Pet | Doctor of Veterinary Medicine | Fine, NY | 06/29/2025 | $120,000 |
| Lap of Love | Veterinarian-Doctor of Veterinary Medicine | Richmond, VA | 06/26/2025 | $65,000 |
| Thevetrecruiter.com | Head of Veterinary Medicine-New York | Colonie, NY | 06/10/2025 | $250,000 |
| Anaheim Animal Care | Doctor of Veterinary Medicine-Anaheim Animal Care and Pet Hospital | Pope, MS | 03/30/2025 | $120,000 |
| Thevetrecruiter.com | Head of Veterinary Medicine-New York | Colonie, NY | 03/27/2025 | $250,000 |
| Pico Rivera Animal Hospital | Doctor of Veterinary Medicine-DVM-Pico Rivera Animal Hospital . | Pico Rivera, CA | 03/05/2025 | $130,000 |
| Anaheim Animal Care & Pet Hospital | Doctor of Veterinary Medicine-Aacvh | Anaheim, CA | 03/04/2025 | $140,000 |
| Thevetrecruiter.com | Head of Veterinary Medicine-New York | Colonie, NY | 02/19/2025 | $250,000 |
| Oregon Veterinary Medical Association | Associate Doctor of Veterinary Medicine | Sandusky, MI | 02/18/2025 | $100,000 |
| Wyvma | Associate Doctor of Veterinary Medicine | Sandusky, MI | 02/18/2025 | $100,000 |
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