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The differences between veterinarians and doctors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a doctor has an average salary of $208,582, which is higher than the $109,524 average annual salary of a veterinarian.
The top three skills for a veterinarian include PET, customer service and diagnostic tests. The most important skills for a doctor are patients, customer service, and emergency medicine.
| Veterinarian | Doctor | |
| Yearly salary | $109,524 | $208,582 |
| Hourly rate | $52.66 | $100.28 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 13,255 | 14,571 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 44 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
Veterinarians are responsible for diagnosing the injuries and illnesses of animals through a variety of procedures. Veterinarians often perform vaccinations to protect animals from diseases, but they can also be involved with an animal's dental health as well. Some other duties include prescribing medication, performing surgical procedures, and dressing wounds. Veterinarians are concerned with all aspects of an animal's well-being, which inclues emergency procedures as well as long-term preventative healthcare. Veterinarians are also known as "vets," and most conduct their work in private clinics.
A doctor is a medical expert who diagnoses and treats illnesses and injuries, often specializing in particular areas. Their responsibilities revolve around conducting initial interviews and examinations, studying a patient's medical history and laboratory results, providing consultations and care advice, prescribing medication, and referring patients to specialists when necessary. They must also coordinate and maintain an active communication line with nurses, administrators, and technicians for a smooth workflow. Moreover, a doctor must educate patients about their health conditions, helping them understand their situation better.
Veterinarians and doctors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Veterinarian | Doctor | |
| Average salary | $109,524 | $208,582 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $205,000 | Between $106,000 And $408,000 |
| Highest paying City | Portland, ME | Green Bay, WI |
| Highest paying state | Maine | Ohio |
| Best paying company | Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium | Saint Luke's Health System |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a veterinarian and a doctor in terms of educational background:
| Veterinarian | Doctor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Veterinary Medicine | Medicine |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | Duke University |
Here are the differences between veterinarians' and doctors' demographics:
| Veterinarian | Doctor | |
| Average age | 44 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.1% Female, 62.9% | Male, 45.8% Female, 54.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 1.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 6.1% Asian, 4.8% White, 83.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 5.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 18.6% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 13% |