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Job outlook for doctors of veterinary medicine in the United States
Are doctor of veterinary medicine jobs in demand?
Doctor of veterinary medicine job and salary trends over time
Doctor of veterinary medicine jobs over time
Doctor of veterinary medicine job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,480 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 3,321 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 3,358 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 3,201 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 3,125 | 0.00% |
Average doctor of veterinary medicine salary over time
Doctor of veterinary medicine salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $136,242 | $65.50 | +4.0% |
| 2025 | $131,040 | $63.00 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $128,802 | $61.92 | +3.8% |
| 2023 | $124,121 | $59.67 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $121,856 | $58.58 | +0.3% |
Doctor of veterinary medicine jobs by state
Most common states for doctors of veterinary medicine
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 119 | 9% |
| 2 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 103 | 8% |
| 3 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 484 | 7% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 476 | 7% |
| 5 | Vermont | 623,657 | 41 | 7% |
| 6 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 335 | 6% |
| 7 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 330 | 6% |
| 8 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 322 | 6% |
| 9 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 239 | 6% |
| 10 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 200 | 6% |
| 11 | Delaware | 961,939 | 53 | 6% |
| 12 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 978 | 5% |
| 13 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 588 | 5% |
| 14 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 336 | 5% |
| 15 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 137 | 5% |
| 16 | Alaska | 739,795 | 39 | 5% |
| 17 | Texas | 28,304,596 | 1,041 | 4% |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 450 | 4% |
| 19 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 318 | 4% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 44 | 4% |
Most common cities for doctors of veterinary medicine
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doral | 1 | 2% | $127,153 |
| 2 | Rancho Santa Margarita | 1 | 2% | $152,092 |
| 3 | Gainesville | 1 | 1% | $149,134 |
| 4 | Miramar | 1 | 1% | $128,281 |
| 5 | San Leandro | 1 | 1% | $167,672 |
| 6 | Westminster | 1 | 1% | $166,996 |
| 7 | Jacksonville | 1 | 0% | $153,688 |
| 8 | New Orleans | 1 | 0% | $101,658 |
Doctor Of Veterinary Medicine job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of doctor of veterinary medicine experts
Stanford University
University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine
Donna Bouley DVM, PhD
PROFESSOR OF COMPARATIVE MEDICINEStanford University
Veterinary Biomedical And Clinical Sciences
What general advice would you give to a Doctor Of Veterinary Medicine?
Donna Bouley DVM, PhD: In addition to everything scientific and technical that they learn in vet school, they will need to have good people skills, patience and understanding (pet owners may not be able to afford to treat their animals and this can be stressful for vets), therefore a creative mind - especially if there are alternative ways to treat an animal if the proposed treatment is beyond the owner's reach. A vet must have a strong work ethic, be willing to work in a team, should be willing to give back (ie - volunteer to work with the homeless community's pets), be a lifelong learner (vets must attend continuing education to maintain their licenses). And the passion to still want to work as a veterinarian, despite the fact that they most likely have tremendous debt due to the outrageous tuition costs of veterinary school, and this debt will impact their lives for decades after graduation. Since veterinarians in general will never make the salary that MDs do, this potential financial burden can lead many young people to decide against going to vet school in the 1st place.
What skills stand out on Doctor Of Veterinary Medicine resumes?
Peggy Root Kustritz DVM, PhD, MMedEd: Communications! This is always the skill set that alumni report was of greatest value to them as a new veterinarian, and the need for clear communication is heightened by the provision of service through indirect forms of communication, such as talking to clients on the phone or via text or email, instead of face-to-face and providing telemedicine. Other skills that everyone badly needs right now are teamwork (especially the ability to communicate clearly within teams) and adaptability. I know that veterinary graduates like to stress the coursework they've done, but every graduate of an AVMA-COE accredited school is a great student and has to have demonstrated knowledge and specific clinical competencies to finish their training. It is the 'softer' skills that set candidates apart.