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Best states for a veterinarian
Quoted expert
Dr. Scott Hygnstrom
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for veterinarians? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for veterinarian jobs.This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for veterinarian jobs.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for veterinarians.If you are currently seeking employment as a veterinarian, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for veterinarians in 2026
1. Maine
Total veterinarian jobs: 28 Average annual salary: $116,665 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $196,000 Location Quotient: 0.71
2. Rhode Island
Total veterinarian jobs: 39 Average annual salary: $107,862 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $178,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
3. Massachusetts
Total veterinarian jobs: 371 Average annual salary: $107,585 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
4. New Jersey
Total veterinarian jobs: 252 Average annual salary: $110,946 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
5. New York
Total veterinarian jobs: 414 Average annual salary: $110,501 Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
6. Oregon
Total veterinarian jobs: 167 Average annual salary: $105,895 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $177,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
7. Vermont
Total veterinarian jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $113,030 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location Quotient: 0.57
8. Pennsylvania
Total veterinarian jobs: 316 Average annual salary: $107,414 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
9. New Mexico
Total veterinarian jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $113,328 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $180,000 Location Quotient: 0.34
10. Texas
Total veterinarian jobs: 780 Average annual salary: $102,430 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
Veterinarian jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a veterinarian
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a veterinarian
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $116,665 | $69,000 | 1,335,907 | 28 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $107,862 | $65,000 | 1,059,639 | 39 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $107,585 | $64,000 | 6,859,819 | 371 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $110,946 | $67,000 | 9,005,644 | 252 |
| 5 | New York | $110,501 | $67,000 | 19,849,399 | 414 |
| 6 | Oregon | $105,895 | $63,000 | 4,142,776 | 167 |
| 7 | Vermont | $113,030 | $66,000 | 623,657 | 13 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $107,414 | $65,000 | 12,805,537 | 316 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $113,328 | $70,000 | 2,088,070 | 20 |
| 10 | Texas | $102,430 | $64,000 | 28,304,596 | 780 |
| 11 | Arizona | $102,186 | $63,000 | 7,016,270 | 250 |
| 12 | California | $110,657 | $68,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,017 |
| 13 | Maryland | $111,834 | $68,000 | 6,052,177 | 173 |
| 14 | Delaware | $104,715 | $63,000 | 961,939 | 46 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $110,753 | $66,000 | 755,393 | 0 |
| 16 | Utah | $105,159 | $63,000 | 3,101,833 | 80 |
| 17 | Nevada | $100,280 | $61,000 | 2,998,039 | 74 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $101,407 | $59,000 | 1,342,795 | 63 |
| 19 | Ohio | $103,974 | $62,000 | 11,658,609 | 235 |
| 20 | Washington | $102,235 | $60,000 | 7,405,743 | 284 |
| 21 | Michigan | $97,868 | $58,000 | 9,962,311 | 262 |
| 22 | Montana | $106,137 | $63,000 | 1,050,493 | 14 |
| 23 | Virginia | $102,565 | $63,000 | 8,470,020 | 306 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $98,307 | $60,000 | 6,715,984 | 142 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $100,386 | $61,000 | 1,815,857 | 6 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $97,914 | $59,000 | 10,273,419 | 267 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $98,201 | $60,000 | 5,024,369 | 116 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $99,455 | $59,000 | 3,588,184 | 103 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $100,209 | $61,000 | 3,004,279 | 20 |
| 30 | Illinois | $96,430 | $57,000 | 12,802,023 | 383 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $108,136 | $66,000 | 693,972 | 13 |
| 32 | Indiana | $97,022 | $58,000 | 6,666,818 | 124 |
| 33 | Florida | $91,716 | $56,000 | 20,984,400 | 704 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $94,557 | $55,000 | 5,576,606 | 208 |
| 35 | Georgia | $92,959 | $57,000 | 10,429,379 | 308 |
| 36 | Idaho | $96,310 | $56,000 | 1,716,943 | 25 |
| 37 | Alaska | $93,118 | $55,000 | 739,795 | 25 |
| 38 | Iowa | $94,117 | $56,000 | 3,145,711 | 36 |
| 39 | Colorado | $84,895 | $51,000 | 5,607,154 | 209 |
| 40 | Alabama | $91,089 | $56,000 | 4,874,747 | 53 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $88,138 | $53,000 | 579,315 | 12 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $84,118 | $48,000 | 5,795,483 | 126 |
| 43 | Missouri | $83,042 | $50,000 | 6,113,532 | 158 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $89,823 | $57,000 | 1,427,538 | 18 |
| 45 | Kansas | $77,756 | $47,000 | 2,913,123 | 77 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $80,867 | $48,000 | 4,454,189 | 36 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $61,224 | $37,000 | 3,930,864 | 90 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $72,814 | $44,000 | 1,920,076 | 27 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $75,330 | $46,000 | 2,984,100 | 16 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $68,593 | $42,000 | 4,684,333 | 38 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $68,059 | $40,000 | 869,666 | 0 |
Highest paying states for veterinarians
| Rank | State | Avg. Veterinarian Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $116,665 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $107,862 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $107,585 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $110,946 |
| 5 | New York | $110,501 |
| 6 | Oregon | $105,895 |
| 7 | Vermont | $113,030 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $107,414 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $113,328 |
| 10 | Texas | $102,430 |
| 11 | Arizona | $102,186 |
| 12 | California | $110,657 |
| 13 | Maryland | $111,834 |
| 14 | Delaware | $104,715 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $110,753 |
| 16 | Utah | $105,159 |
| 17 | Nevada | $100,280 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $101,407 |
| 19 | Ohio | $103,974 |
| 20 | Washington | $102,235 |
| 21 | Michigan | $97,868 |
| 22 | Montana | $106,137 |
| 23 | Virginia | $102,565 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $98,307 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $100,386 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $97,914 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $98,201 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $99,455 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $100,209 |
| 30 | Illinois | $96,430 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $108,136 |
| 32 | Indiana | $97,022 |
| 33 | Florida | $91,716 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $94,557 |
| 35 | Georgia | $92,959 |
| 36 | Idaho | $96,310 |
| 37 | Alaska | $93,118 |
| 38 | Iowa | $94,117 |
| 39 | Colorado | $84,895 |
| 40 | Alabama | $91,089 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $88,138 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $84,118 |
| 43 | Missouri | $83,042 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $89,823 |
| 45 | Kansas | $77,756 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $80,867 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $61,224 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $72,814 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $75,330 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $68,593 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $68,059 |
Expert opinions on the best states for veterinarians
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for veterinarians to find work opportunities?
Dr. Scott Hygnstrom
Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist, University of Wisconsin
Work in the wildlife field can be found across the country. The best opportunities for new graduates will be associated with programs that still are well funded. Programs that are mandated by state or federal legislation, such as environmental compliance, clean-up, and monitoring likely will be resistant to recent economic dips. Funds generated by the Pittman-Robertson Act actually have increased in the last decade, and associated state wildlife programs still are doing well.
In addition, many state agencies and organizations are investing in hunter and angler recruitment, retention, and revitalization, which opens doors for the right people. Those recent graduates who have done well in courses gained valuable work experience and established a professional network, while going to college, invariably do well getting entry-level jobs in the wildlife field. It may take a few temporary wildlife jobs before landing that permanent position, but graduates will have the time of their lives banding birds, burning prairie, running transects, and surveying landowners. They just have to keep an eye on the Texas A&M Jobs Board https://wfscjobs.tamu.edu/job-board/where nearly all wildlife jobs are posted.
Veterinarian best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025