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Veterinarian salary
Average veterinarian salary
$109,524
Understanding Veterinarian Salaries
Veterinarians play a critical role in healthcare for animals, and their compensation reflects this responsibility. As of October 2025, the average salary for a veterinarian is approximately $109,524 per year, or about $53 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the type of veterinary practice.
Salary Variations by State
In states like California and New York, veterinarians often earn higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for services. For example, veterinarians in these states can earn upwards of $120,000 annually. Conversely, states with a lower cost of living may offer starting salaries around $90,000.
Career Opportunities
As the demand for veterinary services grows, opportunities in specialized fields such as emergency care or animal behavior can lead to even higher earnings. Additionally, veterinarians with advanced degrees or certifications often command higher salaries. Exploring these options can provide a fulfilling career path while maximizing earning potential.
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Where can a Veterinarian earn more?
Veterinarian salary estimates from across the web
Average veterinarian salary by state
The highest-paying states for veterinarians are Maine, New Mexico, and Vermont. The lowest average veterinarian salary states are Kansas, Mississippi, and Nebraska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for veterinarians
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $116,665 | $56.09 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $107,862 | $51.86 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $107,585 | $51.72 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $110,946 | $53.34 |
| 5 | New York | $110,501 | $53.13 |
| 6 | Oregon | $105,895 | $50.91 |
| 7 | Vermont | $113,030 | $54.34 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $107,414 | $51.64 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $113,328 | $54.48 |
| 10 | Texas | $102,430 | $49.25 |
| 11 | Arizona | $102,186 | $49.13 |
| 12 | California | $110,657 | $53.20 |
| 13 | Maryland | $111,834 | $53.77 |
| 14 | Delaware | $104,715 | $50.34 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $110,753 | $53.25 |
| 16 | Utah | $105,159 | $50.56 |
| 17 | Nevada | $100,280 | $48.21 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $101,407 | $48.75 |
| 19 | Ohio | $103,974 | $49.99 |
| 20 | Washington | $102,235 | $49.15 |
| 21 | Michigan | $97,868 | $47.05 |
| 22 | Montana | $106,137 | $51.03 |
| 23 | Virginia | $102,565 | $49.31 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $98,307 | $47.26 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $100,386 | $48.26 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $97,914 | $47.07 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $98,201 | $47.21 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $99,455 | $47.81 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $100,209 | $48.18 |
| 30 | Illinois | $96,430 | $46.36 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $108,136 | $51.99 |
| 32 | Indiana | $97,022 | $46.65 |
| 33 | Florida | $91,716 | $44.09 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $94,557 | $45.46 |
| 35 | Georgia | $92,959 | $44.69 |
| 36 | Idaho | $96,310 | $46.30 |
| 37 | Alaska | $93,118 | $44.77 |
| 38 | Iowa | $94,117 | $45.25 |
| 39 | Colorado | $84,895 | $40.81 |
| 40 | Alabama | $91,089 | $43.79 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $88,138 | $42.37 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | $84,118 | $40.44 |
| 43 | Missouri | $83,042 | $39.92 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $89,823 | $43.18 |
| 45 | Kansas | $77,756 | $37.38 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $80,867 | $38.88 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $61,224 | $29.43 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $72,814 | $35.01 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $75,330 | $36.22 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $68,593 | $32.98 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $68,059 | $32.72 |
Highest paying cities for veterinarians
The highest-paying cities for veterinarians are Portland, ME, Davis, CA, and Baltimore, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, ME | $118,496 | $56.97 |
| 2 | Davis, CA | $115,733 | $55.64 |
| 3 | Baltimore, MD | $112,500 | $54.09 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $110,807 | $53.27 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $108,091 | $51.97 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $107,771 | $51.81 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $105,792 | $50.86 |
| 8 | Fort Worth, TX | $104,117 | $50.06 |
| 9 | Reno, NV | $104,029 | $50.01 |
| 10 | Seattle, WA | $103,365 | $49.69 |
| 11 | Richmond, VA | $102,643 | $49.35 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $102,391 | $49.23 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $100,057 | $48.10 |
| 14 | Lincoln Park, MI | $97,980 | $47.11 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $97,368 | $46.81 |
| 16 | Memphis, TN | $96,562 | $46.42 |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $96,381 | $46.34 |
| 18 | Tallahassee, FL | $94,914 | $45.63 |
| 19 | Marietta, GA | $93,206 | $44.81 |
| 20 | Denver, CO | $84,647 | $40.70 |
Veterinarians are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Veterinarian salary details
A veterinarian's salary ranges from $58,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $205,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a veterinarian's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $205,000 | $17,083 | $99 |
| 75th Percentile | $152,000 | $12,667 | $73 |
| Average | $109,524 | $9,127 | $53 |
| 25th Percentile | $78,000 | $6,500 | $38 |
| 10th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
Highest paying veterinarian jobs
The highest paying types of veterinarians are animal doctor, doctor of veterinary medicine, and emergency 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 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for 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 veterinarians now:
Which companies pay veterinarians the most?
Veterinarian salaries at Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium and SPCA of Wake County are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average veterinarian salary at companies like Valley Community Healthcare and Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium | $195,081 | $93.79 |
| 2 | SPCA of Wake County | $192,479 | $92.54 |
| 3 | Valley Community Healthcare | $185,820 | $89.34 |
| 4 | Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center | $177,411 | $85.29 |
| 5 | University of Maryland, Baltimore | $174,338 | $83.82 |
| 6 | Massachusetts General Hospital | $163,318 | $78.52 |
| 7 | Madera Community Hospital | $163,200 | $78.46 |
| 8 | New Day | $160,169 | $77.00 |
| 9 | Private Practice | $148,814 | $71.55 |
| 10 | City of El Dorado | $148,050 | $71.18 |
| 11 | Central Florida Health Care, Inc. | $143,806 | $69.14 |
| 12 | City of Farmington | $143,159 | $68.83 |
| 13 | Edmond Oklahoma | $139,900 | $67.26 |
| 14 | Brookville Hospital | $138,931 | $66.79 |
| 15 | Adobe | $136,671 | $65.71 |
| 16 | Boehringer Ingelheim | $135,915 | $65.34 |
| 17 | Mission Regional Medical Center | $135,834 | $65.30 |
| 18 | Saratoga Hospital | $134,189 | $64.51 |
| 19 | Sona MedSpa | $133,377 | $64.12 |
| 20 | Riverside Community Hospital | $130,735 | $62.85 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Veterinarian salary trends
The average veterinarian salary has risen by $18,042 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average veterinarian earned $91,482 annually, but today, they earn $109,524 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for veterinarians over the last decade.
Compare veterinarian salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average veterinarian salary over time
Compare veterinarian salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Veterinarian salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $110,000 | $52.66 | +3.8% |
| 2024 | $105,000 | $50.65 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $104,000 | $49.78 | +3.6% |
| 2022 | $99,800 | $47.97 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $98,000 | $47.10 | +0.3% |
Recently added veterinarian salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Destination Pet | Experienced Veterinarian | San Diego, CA | 06/29/2025 | $80,000 |
| Destination Pet | Experienced Veterinarian | San Antonio, TX | 06/29/2025 | $70,000 |
| Modern Animal | Relief Veterinarian | Los Angeles, CA | 06/29/2025 | $67,828 |
| Clackamas County, or | Veterinarian | Oregon City, OR | 06/29/2025 | $105,809 |
| Lap of Love | Veterinarian | King of Prussia, PA | 06/29/2025 | $85,000 |
| Thevetrecruiter.com | Veterinarian Denovo Partner- | Jacksonville, FL | 06/29/2025 | $150,000 |
| Petco Animal Supplies Inc. | Hospital Veterinarian II | Los Angeles, CA | 06/29/2025 | $95,600 |
| Bond Vet | Veterinarian-Gold Coast | Chicago, IL | 06/29/2025 | $130,000 |
| Thevetrecruiter.com | Avian Veterinarian-Detroit Metro | Detroit, MI | 06/29/2025 | $100,000 |
| Thevetrecruiter.com | Veterinarian Surgeon- | Los Angeles, CA | 06/29/2025 | $100,000 |
Veterinarian salary FAQs
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