Best states for a veterinary surgeon

Q: What is the best state for veterinary surgeons?

The best state to be a veterinary surgeon is Maine based on veterinary surgeon salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for veterinary surgeons?

The highest paying state for veterinary surgeons is Hawaii based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for veterinary surgeons?

The worst state for veterinary surgeons is Louisiana, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for veterinary surgeons in the United States. Veterinary surgeon positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for veterinary surgeons.In order to help you decide which state is the best for veterinary surgeons, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for veterinary surgeon jobs.

Maine is the best state for jobs for veterinary surgeons, and Louisiana is the worst. The most common pay in Maine is $215,103, while the median pay in Louisiana is $161,667.We found that the South is best for veterinary surgeons, and the Northeast is the worst. Portland, OR is the best city in the country for veterinary surgeon jobs, where as Maine is the best state in the country.

10 best states for veterinary surgeons in 2026

1. Maine
Total veterinary surgeon jobs: 48
Average annual salary: $215,103
Lowest 10 percent earn: $160,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $289,000
Location Quotient:
1.74
Veterinary surgeon jobs in Maine
2. Minnesota
Total veterinary surgeon jobs: 153
Average annual salary: $218,626
Lowest 10 percent earn: $163,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $292,000
Location Quotient:
1.11
Veterinary surgeon jobs in Minnesota
3. Vermont
Total veterinary surgeon jobs: 20
Average annual salary: $213,655
Lowest 10 percent earn: $158,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $288,000
Location Quotient:
1.25
Veterinary surgeon jobs in Vermont
4. North Dakota
Total veterinary surgeon jobs: 10
Average annual salary: $226,666
Lowest 10 percent earn: $173,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $296,000
Location Quotient:
0.52
Veterinary surgeon jobs in North Dakota
5. Alaska
Total veterinary surgeon jobs: 22
Average annual salary: $213,918
Lowest 10 percent earn: $156,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $292,000
Location Quotient:
1.27
Veterinary surgeon jobs in Alaska
6. Washington
Total veterinary surgeon jobs: 171
Average annual salary: $216,978
Lowest 10 percent earn: $161,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $292,000
Location Quotient:
1.13
Veterinary surgeon jobs in Washington
7. Michigan
Total veterinary surgeon jobs: 155
Average annual salary: $208,558
Lowest 10 percent earn: $151,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $286,000
Location Quotient:
0.96
Veterinary surgeon jobs in Michigan
8. Pennsylvania
Total veterinary surgeon jobs: 245
Average annual salary: $209,190
Lowest 10 percent earn: $153,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $285,000
Location Quotient:
1.01
Veterinary surgeon jobs in Pennsylvania
9. Oregon
Total veterinary surgeon jobs: 80
Average annual salary: $214,853
Lowest 10 percent earn: $158,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $291,000
Location Quotient:
0.93
Veterinary surgeon jobs in Oregon
10. Massachusetts
Total veterinary surgeon jobs: 265
Average annual salary: $211,473
Lowest 10 percent earn: $155,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $286,000
Location Quotient:
1.39
Veterinary surgeon jobs in Massachusetts

Veterinary surgeon jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a veterinary surgeon

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a veterinary surgeon

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Maine	$215,103	$160,000	1,335,907	48
2	Minnesota	$218,626	$163,000	5,576,606	153
3	Vermont	$213,655	$158,000	623,657	20
4	North Dakota	$226,666	$173,000	755,393	10
5	Alaska	$213,918	$156,000	739,795	22
6	Washington	$216,978	$161,000	7,405,743	171
7	Michigan	$208,558	$151,000	9,962,311	155
8	Pennsylvania	$209,190	$153,000	12,805,537	245
9	Oregon	$214,853	$158,000	4,142,776	80
10	Massachusetts	$211,473	$155,000	6,859,819	265
11	Iowa	$210,503	$153,000	3,145,711	45
12	Wyoming	$211,397	$154,000	579,315	6
13	New York	$213,610	$158,000	19,849,399	301
14	Idaho	$213,224	$156,000	1,716,943	17
15	Ohio	$205,781	$148,000	11,658,609	149
16	Colorado	$206,493	$149,000	5,607,154	173
17	New Hampshire	$203,971	$147,000	1,342,795	49
18	Rhode Island	$207,351	$151,000	1,059,639	18
19	Connecticut	$206,861	$150,000	3,588,184	89
20	Illinois	$203,736	$146,000	12,802,023	337
21	Wisconsin	$196,675	$138,000	5,795,483	166
22	Arkansas	$206,016	$149,000	3,004,279	21
23	Utah	$204,321	$146,000	3,101,833	45
24	Indiana	$199,911	$142,000	6,666,818	106
25	Florida	$198,826	$142,000	20,984,400	598
26	Montana	$207,554	$149,000	1,050,493	7
27	New Jersey	$208,056	$151,000	9,005,644	154
28	Maryland	$209,882	$154,000	6,052,177	97
29	North Carolina	$197,403	$140,000	10,273,419	223
30	Tennessee	$198,670	$141,000	6,715,984	72
31	West Virginia	$200,058	$142,000	1,815,857	7
32	Delaware	$199,081	$142,000	961,939	29
33	South Carolina	$197,258	$140,000	5,024,369	62
34	Nebraska	$194,770	$136,000	1,920,076	31
35	Missouri	$197,958	$139,000	6,113,532	81
36	Kansas	$193,024	$134,000	2,913,123	48
37	Nevada	$194,712	$136,000	2,998,039	35
38	South Dakota	$194,247	$135,000	869,666	8
39	Texas	$191,842	$134,000	28,304,596	412
40	Virginia	$197,470	$140,000	8,470,020	160
41	California	$196,255	$138,000	39,536,653	630
42	Georgia	$191,683	$134,000	10,429,379	222
43	District of Columbia	$202,549	$145,000	693,972	14
44	Arizona	$185,001	$127,000	7,016,270	134
45	Alabama	$186,793	$129,000	4,874,747	46
46	Kentucky	$183,271	$124,000	4,454,189	42
47	Hawaii	$138,792	$78,000	1,427,538	21
48	New Mexico	$187,887	$129,000	2,088,070	21
49	Oklahoma	$160,697	$103,000	3,930,864	43
50	Mississippi	$175,388	$117,000	2,984,100	15
51	Louisiana	$161,667	$105,000	4,684,333	31

Highest paying states for veterinary surgeons

Rank	State	Avg. Veterinary Surgeon Salary
1	Maine	$215,103
2	Minnesota	$218,626
3	Vermont	$213,655
4	North Dakota	$226,666
5	Alaska	$213,918
6	Washington	$216,978
7	Michigan	$208,558
8	Pennsylvania	$209,190
9	Oregon	$214,853
10	Massachusetts	$211,473
11	Iowa	$210,503
12	Wyoming	$211,397
13	New York	$213,610
14	Idaho	$213,224
15	Ohio	$205,781
16	Colorado	$206,493
17	New Hampshire	$203,971
18	Rhode Island	$207,351
19	Connecticut	$206,861
20	Illinois	$203,736
21	Wisconsin	$196,675
22	Arkansas	$206,016
23	Utah	$204,321
24	Indiana	$199,911
25	Florida	$198,826
26	Montana	$207,554
27	New Jersey	$208,056
28	Maryland	$209,882
29	North Carolina	$197,403
30	Tennessee	$198,670
31	West Virginia	$200,058
32	Delaware	$199,081
33	South Carolina	$197,258
34	Nebraska	$194,770
35	Missouri	$197,958
36	Kansas	$193,024
37	Nevada	$194,712
38	South Dakota	$194,247
39	Texas	$191,842
40	Virginia	$197,470
41	California	$196,255
42	Georgia	$191,683
43	District of Columbia	$202,549
44	Arizona	$185,001
45	Alabama	$186,793
46	Kentucky	$183,271
47	Hawaii	$138,792
48	New Mexico	$187,887
49	Oklahoma	$160,697
50	Mississippi	$175,388
51	Louisiana	$161,667

Veterinary surgeon best states FAQs

What is the best state for veterinary surgeons?

What is the highest paying state for veterinary surgeons?

What is the worst state for veterinary surgeons?

Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.

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Veterinary Surgeon
Best states for Veterinary Surgeons

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total veterinary surgeon jobs:	48
Average annual salary:	$215,103
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$160,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$289,000
Location Quotient:	1.74

Best states for a veterinary surgeon

10 best states for veterinary surgeons in 2026

1. Maine

2. Minnesota

3. Vermont

4. North Dakota

5. Alaska

6. Washington

7. Michigan

8. Pennsylvania

9. Oregon

10. Massachusetts