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Veterinary surgeon salary
Average veterinary surgeon salary
$360,645
Understanding Veterinary Surgeon Salaries
A Veterinary Surgeon plays a critical role in animal health, and their compensation reflects the expertise required. The average salary of $360,645 can vary based on several factors:
- Location: States such as California and New York often offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for veterinary services.
- Experience: Entry-level surgeons may earn significantly less, with salaries increasing with experience and specialization.
- Specialization: Surgeons focusing on critical care or exotic animals typically earn more than general practitioners.
Additionally, industry trends and advancements in veterinary practices can affect salary ranges. It's advisable for current and aspiring veterinary surgeons to stay informed about these factors to effectively advance their careers.
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Where can a Veterinary Surgeon earn more?
Veterinary surgeon salary estimates from across the web
Average veterinary surgeon salary by state
The average veterinary surgeon salary in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Washington are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average veterinary surgeon salary states are Arizona, Kentucky, and Mississippi.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for veterinary surgeons
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $215,103 | $103.41 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $218,626 | $105.11 |
| 3 | Vermont | $213,655 | $102.72 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $226,666 | $108.97 |
| 5 | Alaska | $213,918 | $102.85 |
| 6 | Washington | $216,978 | $104.32 |
| 7 | Michigan | $208,558 | $100.27 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $209,190 | $100.57 |
| 9 | Oregon | $214,853 | $103.29 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $211,473 | $101.67 |
| 11 | Iowa | $210,503 | $101.20 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $211,397 | $101.63 |
| 13 | New York | $213,610 | $102.70 |
| 14 | Idaho | $213,224 | $102.51 |
| 15 | Ohio | $205,781 | $98.93 |
| 16 | Colorado | $206,493 | $99.28 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $203,971 | $98.06 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $207,351 | $99.69 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $206,861 | $99.45 |
| 20 | Illinois | $203,736 | $97.95 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $196,675 | $94.56 |
| 22 | Arkansas | $206,016 | $99.05 |
| 23 | Utah | $204,321 | $98.23 |
| 24 | Indiana | $199,911 | $96.11 |
| 25 | Florida | $198,826 | $95.59 |
| 26 | Montana | $207,554 | $99.79 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $208,056 | $100.03 |
| 28 | Maryland | $209,882 | $100.90 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $197,403 | $94.91 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $198,670 | $95.51 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $200,058 | $96.18 |
| 32 | Delaware | $199,081 | $95.71 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $197,258 | $94.84 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $194,770 | $93.64 |
| 35 | Missouri | $197,958 | $95.17 |
| 36 | Kansas | $193,024 | $92.80 |
| 37 | Nevada | $194,712 | $93.61 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $194,247 | $93.39 |
| 39 | Texas | $191,842 | $92.23 |
| 40 | Virginia | $197,470 | $94.94 |
| 41 | California | $196,255 | $94.35 |
| 42 | Georgia | $191,683 | $92.16 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | $202,549 | $97.38 |
| 44 | Arizona | $185,001 | $88.94 |
| 45 | Alabama | $186,793 | $89.80 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $183,271 | $88.11 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $138,792 | $66.73 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $187,887 | $90.33 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $160,697 | $77.26 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $175,388 | $84.32 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $161,667 | $77.72 |
Highest paying cities for veterinary surgeons
The highest-paying cities for veterinary surgeons are Portland, OR, Vancouver, WA, and Longmont, CO.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, OR | $379,568 | $182.48 |
| 2 | Vancouver, WA | $361,865 | $173.97 |
| 3 | Longmont, CO | $320,806 | $154.23 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $306,692 | $147.45 |
| 5 | Salt Lake City, UT | $306,404 | $147.31 |
| 6 | Andover, MA | $303,314 | $145.82 |
| 7 | Frederick, MD | $298,188 | $143.36 |
| 8 | Elk Grove Village, IL | $298,154 | $143.34 |
| 9 | Akron, OH | $295,234 | $141.94 |
| 10 | Fort Wayne, IN | $283,874 | $136.48 |
| 11 | Clarksville, TN | $269,739 | $129.68 |
| 12 | Clearwater, FL | $252,279 | $121.29 |
| 13 | Cary, NC | $251,784 | $121.05 |
| 14 | Los Angeles, CA | $248,626 | $119.53 |
| 15 | Charleston, SC | $245,880 | $118.21 |
| 16 | Dallas, TX | $245,583 | $118.07 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $239,910 | $115.34 |
| 18 | Albuquerque, NM | $235,291 | $113.12 |
| 19 | Birmingham, AL | $228,279 | $109.75 |
| 20 | Scottsdale, AZ | $223,061 | $107.24 |
Veterinary surgeon salary details
A veterinary surgeon's salary ranges from $187,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $694,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a veterinary surgeon's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $694,000 | $57,833 | $334 |
| 75th Percentile | $509,000 | $42,417 | $245 |
| Average | $360,645 | $30,054 | $173 |
| 25th Percentile | $255,000 | $21,250 | $123 |
| 10th Percentile | $187,000 | $15,583 | $90 |
Highest paying veterinary surgeon jobs
The highest paying types of veterinary surgeons are foot and ankle surgeon, podiatric surgeon, and thoracic surgeon.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neurosurgeon | $365,411 | $30,451 | $175.68 | 2,412 |
| Orthopaedic Surgeon | $233,519 | $19,460 | $112.27 | 3,563 |
| Orthopedic Surgeon | $137,571 | $11,464 | $66.14 | 5,046 |
| Surgeon | $155,553 | $12,963 | $74.78 | 37,918 |
| Thoracic Surgeon | $437,281 | $36,440 | $210.23 | 3,460 |
| Hand Surgeon | $327,248 | $27,271 | $157.33 | 22,502 |
Top companies hiring veterinary surgeons now:
Which companies pay veterinary surgeons the most?
Veterinary surgeon salaries at Animal Friends of the Valleys and PCC Airfoils are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average veterinary surgeon salary at companies like Southern Veterinary Partners and National Veterinary Care are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Animal Friends of the Valleys | $496,178 | $238.55 |
| 2 | PCC Airfoils | $368,502 | $177.16 |
| 3 | Southern Veterinary Partners | $357,140 | $171.70 |
| 4 | National Veterinary Care | $347,485 | $167.06 |
| 5 | MedVet | $266,239 | $128.00 |
| 6 | CVS Health | $254,045 | $122.14 |
| 7 | National Veterinary Associates | $244,619 | $117.61 |
| 8 | Connecticut Veterinary Center | $229,455 | $110.31 |
| 9 | BluePearl Vet | $221,027 | $106.26 |
| 10 | County of Riverside | $188,423 | $90.59 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Veterinary surgeon salary trends
The average veterinary surgeon salary has risen by $59,411 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average veterinary surgeon earned $301,234 annually, but today, they earn $360,645 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for veterinary surgeons over the last decade.
Compare veterinary surgeon salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average veterinary surgeon salary over time
Compare veterinary surgeon salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Veterinary surgeon salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $361,000 | $173.39 | +3.8% |
| 2024 | $347,000 | $166.77 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $341,000 | $163.92 | +3.6% |
| 2022 | $329,000 | $157.96 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $323,000 | $155.08 | +0.3% |
Recently added veterinary surgeon salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Veterinary Associates | Board-Certified Veterinary Surgeon | Williston, VT | 06/29/2025 | $200,000 |
| Thevetrecruiter.com | Veterinary Surgeon-Sussex County | Newton, NJ | 06/29/2025 | $100,000 |
| University of Minnesota | Research Professional 4-Cardiovascular VET Surgeon | Minneapolis, MN | 06/26/2025 | $63,419 |
| Bridgepoint Associates | Veterinary Surgeon | Kansas City, MO | 06/21/2025 | $120,000 |
| Stafford Brooks Consulting | Veterinary Surgeon | Frederick, MD | 06/18/2025 | $300,000 |
| Thevetrecruiter.com | Veterinary Surgeon- | Edmond, OK | 06/15/2025 | $120,000 |
| National Veterinary Associates | Veterinary Surgeon | Colorado Springs, CO | 06/12/2025 | $220,000 |
| EVG Specialty Network | Veterinary Surgeon | New York, NY | 06/12/2025 | $250,000 |
| Medvet | Veterinary Surgeon | San Jose, CA | 06/10/2025 | $200,000 |
| Thevetrecruiter.com | Veterinary Surgeon- | Huntington, NY | 06/10/2025 | $250,000 |
Veterinary surgeon salary FAQs
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