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Associate veterinarian salary
Average associate veterinarian salary
$78,407
Understanding the Salary of Associate Veterinarians
As of October 2025, the average salary for an Associate Veterinarian in the United States is approximately $78,407 per year. Factors influencing this salary include geographic location, years of experience, and specific areas of veterinary medicine. For instance, those practicing in metropolitan areas tend to earn higher salaries compared to their rural counterparts. Additionally, veterinarians with specialized training, such as surgery or internal medicine, may command a premium due to their advanced skills.
Salary Variation by State
Salary ranges significantly by state. States like California and New York often report the highest average salaries, while regions with fewer veterinary practices may offer lower compensation. Understanding these variations can help prospective veterinarians make informed career decisions, particularly when considering relocation or specialization.
Career Opportunities
The demand for veterinarians remains strong, with a steady growth in job opportunities. Associate Veterinarians can pursue various roles, including working in private practices, animal hospitals, or research settings. This diversity not only offers different salary potential but also enhances the overall career experience.
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Where can an Associate Veterinarian earn more?
Associate veterinarian salary estimates from across the web
Average associate veterinarian salary by state
The average associate veterinarian salary in New Mexico, Maryland, and New Jersey are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average associate veterinarian salary states are Kentucky, Montana, and Nebraska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for associate veterinarians
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $96,122 | $46.21 |
| 2 | Texas | $92,122 | $44.29 |
| 3 | California | $99,525 | $47.85 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $100,718 | $48.42 |
| 5 | Delaware | $91,423 | $43.95 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $94,130 | $45.25 |
| 7 | Maryland | $104,524 | $50.25 |
| 8 | Maine | $94,177 | $45.28 |
| 9 | New York | $97,730 | $46.99 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $104,929 | $50.45 |
| 11 | Arizona | $86,919 | $41.79 |
| 12 | Oregon | $90,676 | $43.59 |
| 13 | Michigan | $86,467 | $41.57 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $88,309 | $42.46 |
| 15 | Virginia | $90,033 | $43.29 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $88,791 | $42.69 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $86,501 | $41.59 |
| 18 | Vermont | $91,883 | $44.17 |
| 19 | Ohio | $86,152 | $41.42 |
| 20 | Florida | $84,027 | $40.40 |
| 21 | Nevada | $87,193 | $41.92 |
| 22 | Washington | $84,650 | $40.70 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $86,231 | $41.46 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $94,458 | $45.41 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $84,434 | $40.59 |
| 26 | Connecticut | $79,919 | $38.42 |
| 27 | Alaska | $79,273 | $38.11 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $84,041 | $40.40 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $80,878 | $38.88 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $79,890 | $38.41 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $81,528 | $39.20 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $76,915 | $36.98 |
| 33 | Illinois | $76,174 | $36.62 |
| 34 | Colorado | $73,783 | $35.47 |
| 35 | Idaho | $79,700 | $38.32 |
| 36 | Utah | $74,229 | $35.69 |
| 37 | Georgia | $73,272 | $35.23 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $73,653 | $35.41 |
| 39 | Iowa | $75,739 | $36.41 |
| 40 | Indiana | $73,870 | $35.51 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $65,188 | $31.34 |
| 42 | Missouri | $69,322 | $33.33 |
| 43 | Alabama | $70,052 | $33.68 |
| 44 | Kansas | $64,709 | $31.11 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $63,565 | $30.56 |
| 46 | Montana | $63,125 | $30.35 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $63,778 | $30.66 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $60,643 | $29.16 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $60,299 | $28.99 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $51,650 | $24.83 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $54,933 | $26.41 |
Highest paying cities for associate veterinarians
The highest-paying cities for associate veterinarians are San Francisco, CA, Clovis, NM, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $103,109 | $49.57 |
| 2 | Clovis, NM | $103,003 | $49.52 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $97,888 | $47.06 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $94,540 | $45.45 |
| 5 | San Antonio, TX | $93,208 | $44.81 |
| 6 | Raleigh, NC | $91,288 | $43.89 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $89,904 | $43.22 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $88,258 | $42.43 |
| 9 | Phoenix, AZ | $87,051 | $41.85 |
| 10 | Las Vegas, NV | $86,944 | $41.80 |
| 11 | Vancouver, WA | $86,700 | $41.68 |
| 12 | Tampa, FL | $85,185 | $40.95 |
| 13 | Cincinnati, OH | $80,211 | $38.56 |
| 14 | Anchorage, AK | $79,863 | $38.40 |
| 15 | Rochester, MN | $79,797 | $38.36 |
| 16 | Fort Wayne, IN | $77,149 | $37.09 |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $76,732 | $36.89 |
| 18 | Memphis, TN | $75,864 | $36.47 |
| 19 | Denver, CO | $73,572 | $35.37 |
Associate veterinarian salary details
An associate veterinarian's salary ranges from $41,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $149,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an associate veterinarian's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $149,000 | $12,417 | $72 |
| 75th Percentile | $110,000 | $9,167 | $53 |
| Average | $78,407 | $6,534 | $38 |
| 25th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| 10th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
Highest paying associate veterinarian jobs
The highest paying types of associate veterinarians are animal doctor, doctor of veterinary medicine, and veterinarian.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Technician | $31,378 | $2,615 | $15.09 | 39,917 |
| Veterinary Technician | $38,441 | $3,203 | $18.48 | 41,022 |
| Licensed Veterinary Technician | $40,369 | $3,364 | $19.41 | 29,983 |
| Doctor Of Veterinary Medicine | $136,242 | $11,354 | $65.50 | 27,902 |
| Emergency Veterinarian | $94,518 | $7,877 | $45.44 | 34,931 |
| Public Health Veterinarian | $62,550 | $5,212 | $30.07 | 63,067 |
Top companies hiring associate veterinarians now:
Which companies pay associate veterinarians the most?
Associate veterinarian salaries at Providence Hospital and Madison Community Hospital are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average associate veterinarian salary at companies like Shannon Medical Center and Hurley Medical Center are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence Hospital | $162,941 | $78.34 |
| 2 | Madison Community Hospital | $113,006 | $54.33 |
| 3 | Shannon Medical Center | $111,213 | $53.47 |
| 4 | Hurley Medical Center | $110,477 | $53.11 |
| 5 | Vail Health | $109,122 | $52.46 |
| 6 | Riverside Community Hospital | $103,753 | $49.88 |
| 7 | Columbia Hospital | $103,581 | $49.80 |
| 8 | BRP US Inc | $102,070 | $49.07 |
| 9 | Brookville Hospital | $100,410 | $48.27 |
| 10 | Castro Valley Health Inc. | $99,789 | $47.98 |
| 11 | SB & Company | $98,266 | $47.24 |
| 12 | St Francis | $98,062 | $47.15 |
| 13 | Ethos Veterinary Health | $97,772 | $47.01 |
| 14 | Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital | $96,622 | $46.45 |
| 15 | Medical Management International | $95,917 | $46.11 |
| 16 | UC Merced | $94,092 | $45.24 |
| 17 | National Veterinary Associates | $93,981 | $45.18 |
| 18 | University of California-Berkeley | $93,921 | $45.15 |
| 19 | GPAC | $93,827 | $45.11 |
| 20 | American Animal Hospital Association | $93,706 | $45.05 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Associate veterinarian salary trends
The average associate veterinarian salary has risen by $12,917 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average associate veterinarian earned $65,490 annually, but today, they earn $78,407 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for associate veterinarians over the last decade.
Compare associate veterinarian salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average associate veterinarian salary over time
Compare associate veterinarian salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Associate veterinarian salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $78,400 | $37.70 | +3.8% |
| 2024 | $75,400 | $36.26 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $74,100 | $35.64 | +3.6% |
| 2022 | $71,400 | $34.34 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $70,100 | $33.72 | +0.3% |
Recently added associate veterinarian salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petvet Care Centers | Associate Veterinarian | Gillette, WY | 06/30/2025 | $100,000 |
| Destination Pet | Associate Veterinarian | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $130,000 |
| Destination Pet | Associate Veterinarian | Columbia, SC | 06/29/2025 | $120,000 |
| Destination Pet | Associate Veterinarian | Humble, TX | 06/29/2025 | $120,000 |
| Destination Pet | Associate Veterinarian | Rockville, MD | 06/29/2025 | $140,000 |
| Thevetrecruiter.com | Associate Veterinarian- | Kansas City, MO | 06/29/2025 | $100,000 |
| Thevetrecruiter.com | Associate Veterinarian-Detroit Metro | Detroit, MI | 06/29/2025 | $100,000 |
| National Veterinary Associates | Associate Veterinarian | San Marcos, CA | 06/28/2025 | $110,000 |
| Amerivet | Associate Veterinarian-All Paws Veterinary Center-Upper Marlboro MD | Upper Marlboro, MD | 06/28/2025 | $120,000 |
| Yorktown Veterinary Associates | Associate Veterinarian | Yorktown Heights, NY | 06/28/2025 | $80,000 |
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