Best cities for a veterinary surgeon
The best cities for veterinary surgeons are Anchorage, AK, Minneapolis, MN, and Fort Wayne, IN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for veterinary surgeons vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for veterinary surgeons in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a veterinary surgeon or considering a move, this list of the best cities for veterinary surgeons to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for veterinary surgeons. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a veterinary surgeon. While the absolute best city for veterinary surgeons is Anchorage, AK, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for veterinary surgeons in 2024.
If you're looking for a veterinary surgeon job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for veterinary surgeons in 2025
1. Anchorage, AK
Total veterinary surgeon jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $415,011 Lowest 10 percent warn: $199,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $863,000 Location quotient: 3.36 2. Minneapolis, MN
Total veterinary surgeon jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $380,397 Lowest 10 percent warn: $199,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $723,000 Location quotient: 0.45 3. Fort Wayne, IN
Total veterinary surgeon jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $283,874 Lowest 10 percent warn: $152,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $527,000 Location quotient: 2.93 4. Saint Paul, MN
Total veterinary surgeon jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $379,787 Lowest 10 percent warn: $199,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $722,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Seattle, WA
Total veterinary surgeon jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $396,886 Lowest 10 percent warn: $202,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $779,000 Location quotient: 0.20 6. Toledo, OH
Total veterinary surgeon jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $306,603 Lowest 10 percent warn: $165,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $566,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Nashville, TN
Total veterinary surgeon jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $265,681 Lowest 10 percent warn: $146,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $481,000 Location quotient: 0.65 8. Portland, OR
Total veterinary surgeon jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $379,568 Lowest 10 percent warn: $195,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $738,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Detroit, MI
Total veterinary surgeon jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $304,939 Lowest 10 percent warn: $165,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $562,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Indianapolis, IN
Total veterinary surgeon jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $273,798 Lowest 10 percent warn: $147,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $507,000 Location quotient: 0.43
Best cities for veterinary surgeons
- Anchorage, AK
- Minneapolis, MN
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Saint Paul, MN
- Seattle, WA
- Toledo, OH
- Nashville, TN
- Portland, OR
- Detroit, MI
- Indianapolis, IN
- (1 veterinary surgeon jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a veterinary surgeon
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage, AK | $415,011 | $199,000 | 298,192 | 1 |
| 2 | Minneapolis, MN | $380,397 | $199,000 | 413,651 | 1 |
| 3 | Fort Wayne, IN | $283,874 | $152,000 | 264,488 | 1 |
| 4 | Saint Paul, MN | $379,787 | $199,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $396,886 | $202,000 | 704,352 | 1 |
| 6 | Toledo, OH | $306,603 | $165,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 7 | Nashville, TN | $265,681 | $146,000 | 660,388 | 1 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $379,568 | $195,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 9 | Detroit, MI | $304,939 | $165,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 10 | Indianapolis, IN | $273,798 | $147,000 | 855,164 | 1 |
| 11 | Pittsburgh, PA | $311,024 | $170,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 12 | Cleveland, OH | $299,312 | $163,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 13 | Columbus, OH | $289,938 | $157,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 14 | Reno, NV | $270,715 | $146,000 | 245,255 | 1 |
| 15 | Colorado Springs, CO | $304,547 | $161,000 | 465,101 | 1 |
| 16 | Cincinnati, OH | $285,186 | $154,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 17 | Buffalo, NY | $350,295 | $191,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 18 | Denver, CO | $316,105 | $165,000 | 693,060 | - |
| 19 | Philadelphia, PA | $287,945 | $161,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 20 | Aurora, CO | $315,390 | $165,000 | 361,710 | - |
| 21 | Chicago, IL | $295,834 | $157,000 | 2,704,958 | 2 |
| 22 | Memphis, TN | $259,967 | $143,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 23 | Omaha, NE | $270,243 | $141,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 24 | Madison, WI | $269,348 | $142,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 25 | Kansas City, MO | $277,726 | $147,000 | 481,420 | - |
| 26 | Milwaukee, WI | $267,076 | $142,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 27 | Raleigh, NC | $251,364 | $142,000 | 458,880 | 1 |
| 28 | Oyster Bay, NY | $307,021 | $172,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 29 | New York, NY | $306,692 | $172,000 | 8,537,673 | 2 |
| 30 | Lincoln, NE | $266,064 | $139,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 31 | Brookhaven, NY | $306,284 | $172,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 32 | Boston, MA | $299,146 | $168,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 33 | Saint Louis, MO | $270,196 | $145,000 | 311,404 | - |
| 34 | Hempstead, NY | $305,437 | $172,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 35 | Islip, NY | $305,243 | $172,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 36 | Winston-Salem, NC | $256,794 | $143,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 37 | Greensboro, NC | $255,633 | $143,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 38 | Durham, NC | $253,153 | $142,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 39 | Charlotte, NC | $252,199 | $141,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 40 | Baltimore, MD | $294,352 | $165,000 | 614,664 | 1 |
| 41 | North Las Vegas, NV | $248,111 | $137,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 42 | Dallas, TX | $245,583 | $137,000 | 1,317,929 | 2 |
| 43 | Las Vegas, NV | $247,591 | $137,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 44 | Wichita, KS | $248,665 | $133,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 45 | Lubbock, TX | $247,067 | $138,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 46 | Newark, NJ | $289,255 | $162,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 47 | Plano, TX | $246,655 | $137,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 48 | Jersey City, NJ | $288,713 | $162,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 49 | Lexington, KY | $223,705 | $122,000 | 318,449 | 3 |
| 50 | Garland, TX | $246,198 | $137,000 | 234,943 | - |
Highest paying cities for veterinary surgeons
| Rank | City | Avg. veterinary surgeon salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, OR | $379,568 |
| 2 | Vancouver, WA | $361,865 |
| 3 | Longmont, CO | $320,806 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $306,692 |
| 5 | Salt Lake City, UT | $306,404 |
| 6 | Andover, MA | $303,314 |
| 7 | Frederick, MD | $298,188 |
| 8 | Elk Grove Village, IL | $298,154 |
| 9 | Akron, OH | $295,234 |
| 10 | Fort Wayne, IN | $283,874 |
| 11 | Clarksville, TN | $269,739 |
| 12 | Clearwater, FL | $252,279 |
| 13 | Cary, NC | $251,784 |
| 14 | Los Angeles, CA | $248,626 |
| 15 | Charleston, SC | $245,880 |
| 16 | Dallas, TX | $245,583 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $239,910 |
| 18 | Albuquerque, NM | $235,291 |
| 19 | Birmingham, AL | $228,279 |
| 20 | Scottsdale, AZ | $223,061 |
Veterinary surgeon best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025