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Staff veterinarian salary
Average staff veterinarian salary
$70,533
Understanding Staff Veterinarian Salaries
The average salary for a Staff Veterinarian in the U.S. stands at $70,533 annually. This figure can vary considerably based on various factors including geographic location, years of experience, and the type of employers. For instance, veterinarians working in metropolitan areas typically earn more than those in rural settings.
Salary Variation by State
States with the highest average salaries for staff veterinarians include:
- California: $90,000
- New York: $85,000
- Texas: $75,000
In addition, those with specialized skills or advanced degrees can command higher salaries. Understanding these dynamics helps prospective veterinarians make informed career decisions, ensuring they pursue opportunities that align with their financial goals and expertise.
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Where can a Staff Veterinarian earn more?
Staff veterinarian salary estimates from across the web
Average staff veterinarian salary by state
The highest-paying states for staff veterinarians are New York, California, and Maryland. The lowest average staff veterinarian salary states are Montana, Mississippi, and Nebraska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for staff veterinarians
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $96,585 | $46.44 |
| 2 | New York | $102,117 | $49.09 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $93,476 | $44.94 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $91,548 | $44.01 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $92,379 | $44.41 |
| 6 | Maine | $88,196 | $42.40 |
| 7 | Maryland | $98,441 | $47.33 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $96,182 | $46.24 |
| 9 | Vermont | $86,505 | $41.59 |
| 10 | Oregon | $86,313 | $41.50 |
| 11 | Nevada | $82,896 | $39.85 |
| 12 | Delaware | $87,494 | $42.06 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $89,955 | $43.25 |
| 14 | Ohio | $80,516 | $38.71 |
| 15 | California | $100,553 | $48.34 |
| 16 | Virginia | $84,658 | $40.70 |
| 17 | Texas | $77,433 | $37.23 |
| 18 | Washington | $79,369 | $38.16 |
| 19 | Arizona | $77,079 | $37.06 |
| 20 | Michigan | $80,763 | $38.83 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $81,928 | $39.39 |
| 22 | Arkansas | $76,792 | $36.92 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $78,792 | $37.88 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $81,013 | $38.95 |
| 25 | Florida | $76,481 | $36.77 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $76,123 | $36.60 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $77,370 | $37.20 |
| 28 | Alaska | $78,610 | $37.79 |
| 29 | Illinois | $72,096 | $34.66 |
| 30 | Colorado | $70,591 | $33.94 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $70,481 | $33.89 |
| 32 | Idaho | $74,980 | $36.05 |
| 33 | Utah | $69,385 | $33.36 |
| 34 | Iowa | $70,931 | $34.10 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $78,297 | $37.64 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $72,774 | $34.99 |
| 37 | Alabama | $63,804 | $30.68 |
| 38 | Indiana | $69,108 | $33.23 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $73,248 | $35.22 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $67,975 | $32.68 |
| 41 | Georgia | $66,657 | $32.05 |
| 42 | Missouri | $64,057 | $30.80 |
| 43 | Wisconsin | $60,999 | $29.33 |
| 44 | Kansas | $59,668 | $28.69 |
| 45 | Montana | $59,088 | $28.41 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $55,981 | $26.91 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $59,102 | $28.41 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $58,416 | $28.08 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $56,275 | $27.06 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $47,395 | $22.79 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $51,149 | $24.59 |
Highest paying cities for staff veterinarians
The highest-paying cities for staff veterinarians are Davis, CA, Plainview, NY, and Philadelphia, PA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davis, CA | $104,718 | $50.35 |
| 2 | Plainview, NY | $102,738 | $49.39 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $97,281 | $46.77 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $93,528 | $44.97 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $89,991 | $43.26 |
| 6 | Reno, NV | $85,344 | $41.03 |
| 7 | Cleveland, OH | $84,653 | $40.70 |
| 8 | Houston, TX | $77,338 | $37.18 |
| 9 | Ames, IA | $70,115 | $33.71 |
| 10 | Baton Rouge, LA | $56,179 | $27.01 |
| 11 | Oklahoma City, OK | $47,546 | $22.86 |
Staff veterinarian salary details
A staff veterinarian's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $141,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a staff veterinarian's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $141,000 | $11,750 | $68 |
| 75th Percentile | $101,000 | $8,417 | $49 |
| Average | $70,533 | $5,878 | $34 |
| 25th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
Highest paying staff veterinarian jobs
The highest paying types of staff veterinarians are animal doctor, doctor of veterinary medicine, and veterinarian.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctor Of Veterinary Medicine | $136,242 | $11,354 | $65.50 | 27,902 |
| 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 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for staff veterinarians, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Jamie Rauscher RVT
Medical Manager, Animal Hospital of Towne Lake and Cat Clinic of Woodstock
Top companies hiring staff veterinarians now:
Which companies pay staff veterinarians the most?
Staff veterinarian salaries at University of California, Berkeley and University of California are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average staff veterinarian salary at companies like Massachusetts Society For The Prevention Cruelty Animals and Connecticut Veterinary Center are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley | $92,751 | $44.59 |
| 2 | University of California | $92,535 | $44.49 |
| 3 | Massachusetts Society For The Prevention Cruelty Animals | $86,931 | $41.79 |
| 4 | Connecticut Veterinary Center | $83,833 | $40.30 |
| 5 | Charles River Labs | $79,553 | $38.25 |
| 6 | Iowa State University | $79,041 | $38.00 |
| 7 | The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania | $76,594 | $36.82 |
| 8 | Pike | $75,654 | $36.37 |
| 9 | Best Friends Animal Society | $73,870 | $35.51 |
| 10 | University of Pennsylvania | $72,560 | $34.88 |
| 11 | LA State University Continuing | $70,415 | $33.85 |
| 12 | University of Oklahoma | $67,527 | $32.46 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania SPCA | $65,397 | $31.44 |
| 14 | City of Houston | $60,191 | $28.94 |
| 15 | Alexandria Animals | $58,956 | $28.34 |
| 16 | Charles River Center | $56,880 | $27.35 |
| 17 | Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.c. Or Aza | $47,849 | $23.00 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Staff veterinarian salary trends
The average staff veterinarian salary has risen by $11,620 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average staff veterinarian earned $58,913 annually, but today, they earn $70,533 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for staff veterinarians over the last decade.
Compare staff veterinarian salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average staff veterinarian salary over time
Compare staff veterinarian salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Staff veterinarian salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $70,500 | $33.91 | +3.8% |
| 2025 | $67,800 | $32.62 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $66,700 | $32.06 | +3.6% |
| 2023 | $64,300 | $30.89 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $63,100 | $30.33 | +0.3% |
Recently added staff veterinarian salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company | Staff Veterinarian | Kanab, UT | 06/27/2025 | $132,000 |
| Oregon Humane Society | Staff Veterinarian, CVH | Portland, OR | 06/15/2025 | $110,000 |
| Charles River Laboratories | Senior Staff Veterinarian | Reno, NV | 06/13/2025 | $180,000 |
| University of Pennsylvania | Primary Care Staff Veterinarian | Philadelphia, PA | 06/13/2025 | $130,000 |
| Small Door Veterinary | Staff Veterinarian | Washington, DC | 06/11/2025 | $130,000 |
| Aza | Staff Veterinarian | Minot, ND | 06/10/2025 | $76,026 |
| Thevetrecruiter.com | Staff Veterinarian- | Des Moines, IA | 06/10/2025 | $100,000 |
| Thevetrecruiter.com | Staff Veterinarian- | Frisco, TX | 06/10/2025 | $169,047 |
| Thevetrecruiter.com | Staff Veterinarian-Upper | New York, NY | 06/10/2025 | $140,000 |
| Thevetrecruiter.com | Poultry Staff Veterinarian-Barron County | Clayton, WI | 06/10/2025 | $144,000 |
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