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The differences between veterinarians and nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a veterinarian and a nurse. Additionally, a veterinarian has an average salary of $109,524, which is higher than the $57,564 average annual salary of a nurse.
The top three skills for a veterinarian include PET, customer service and diagnostic tests. The most important skills for a nurse are patients, home health, and CPR.
| Veterinarian | Nurse | |
| Yearly salary | $109,524 | $57,564 |
| Hourly rate | $52.66 | $27.68 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 13,255 | 696,124 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 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.
Nurses are medical professionals assigned to a specific department in the hospital and provide their trusted department services. Nurses are in charge of taking patients' medical histories, getting vital signs, preparing patients for checkups or procedures, explaining upcoming practices, answering any questions, and communicating any concerns to the assigned doctor. Nurses should ensure that patients follow the medical advice given to them. They also assist patients in completing administrative requirements, such as filling out forms, validating details, and endorsing payments.
Veterinarians and nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Veterinarian | Nurse | |
| Average salary | $109,524 | $57,564 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $205,000 | Between $38,000 And $86,000 |
| Highest paying City | Portland, ME | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maine | California |
| Best paying company | Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium | Conviva |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Government |
There are a few differences between a veterinarian and a nurse in terms of educational background:
| Veterinarian | Nurse | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Veterinary Medicine | Nursing |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | Duke University |
Here are the differences between veterinarians' and nurses' demographics:
| Veterinarian | Nurse | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.1% Female, 62.9% | Male, 14.0% Female, 86.0% |
| 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, 11.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 9% |