Veterinarian salary in the U.S.
Veterinarians in the U.S. earn a median of $130,100 a year ($62.55 an hour), based on BLS data for 83,900 workers.
Pay ranges from $73,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $215,700 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $142,680, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for veterinarians in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,920 | $35.54 |
| 25th percentile | $101,460 | $48.78 |
| Median | $130,100 | $62.55 |
| 75th percentile | $166,120 | $79.87 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $215,700 | $103.70 |
| Average (mean) | $142,680 | $68.60 |
Half of veterinarians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,841.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,420.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,003.85 |
| Weekly | $2,501.92 |
| Hourly | $62.55 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Veterinarian salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $163,920 | 9,170 |
| Maryland | $163,170 | 1,430 |
| Washington | $160,510 | 2,390 |
| New Jersey | $160,140 | 1,910 |
| Arizona | $152,020 | 2,080 |
| Massachusetts | $140,260 | 1,920 |
| District of Columbia | $134,530 | 190 |
| Illinois | $133,580 | 2,330 |
| Pennsylvania | $133,520 | 3,490 |
| Minnesota | $133,110 | 2,140 |
| New York | $131,830 | 3,390 |
| Vermont | $131,820 | 280 |
| Florida | $131,660 | 5,360 |
| Texas | $131,330 | 6,270 |
| Colorado | $130,840 | 2,340 |
| Maine | $130,600 | 600 |
| Hawaii | $130,120 | 370 |
| New Mexico | $129,390 | 460 |
| North Carolina | $129,240 | 2,940 |
| West Virginia | $128,990 | 390 |
| Oregon | $128,880 | 1,660 |
| New Hampshire | $128,190 | 650 |
| Virginia | $126,730 | 2,700 |
| Georgia | $126,590 | 2,670 |
| Rhode Island | $126,570 | 430 |
| Connecticut | $126,190 | 950 |
| Nevada | $125,550 | 680 |
| Michigan | $125,390 | 2,030 |
| Ohio | $125,060 | 3,430 |
| Iowa | $124,610 | 1,000 |
| Indiana | $124,530 | 1,500 |
| Louisiana | $124,370 | 950 |
| Tennessee | $124,350 | 1,730 |
| Utah | $123,990 | 640 |
| South Carolina | $122,130 | 1,380 |
| Idaho | $116,170 | 540 |
| Missouri | $114,660 | 1,920 |
| Wisconsin | $108,780 | 1,830 |
| Arkansas | $107,710 | 540 |
| Kansas | $107,080 | 1,000 |
| Alabama | $105,630 | 1,020 |
| Mississippi | $105,370 | 480 |
| Kentucky | $104,100 | 1,190 |
| Nebraska | $103,500 | 780 |
| North Dakota | $102,180 | 270 |
| Montana | $99,390 | 510 |
| Oklahoma | $98,090 | 1,150 |
| Wyoming | $97,240 | 140 |
| Puerto Rico | $89,810 | 180 |
| South Dakota | $88,650 | 280 |
Best-paying metro areas for veterinarians
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $208,080 | 1,350 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $192,160 | 350 |
| Napa, CA | $172,600 | 30 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $165,260 | 830 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $164,820 | 130 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $164,620 | 60 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $164,060 | 100 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $163,810 | 1,330 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $163,630 | 60 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $163,520 | 60 |
| Salinas, CA | $163,080 | 120 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $162,930 | 700 |
| Modesto, CA | $162,160 | 120 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $161,060 | 1,480 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $160,860 | 660 |
Metro areas with the most veterinarians
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 3,150 | $156,150 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,740 | $160,080 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,790 | $139,810 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,760 | $133,550 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,740 | $154,350 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,610 | $128,980 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,540 | $138,900 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,530 | $148,730 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 1,480 | $161,060 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 1,470 | $158,200 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,350 | $208,080 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,340 | $132,280 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,330 | $163,810 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,160 | $135,090 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,150 | $129,890 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $97,550 | $46.90 |
| Physicians, All Other | $265,930 | $127.85 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 | $63.61 |
| Pharmacist | $140,910 | $67.75 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 | $49.40 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 | $47.16 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $97,870 | $47.05 |
| Occupational Therapist | $100,330 | $48.24 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 | $65.33 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $82,280 | $39.56 |
| Dentists, General | $170,950 | $82.19 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $244,180 | $117.39 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $76,400 | $36.73 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $256,560 | $123.35 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1131. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a veterinarian make in the U.S.?
The median salary for veterinarians in the U.S. is $130,100 a year, or $62.55 an hour. Pay ranges from $73,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $215,700 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid veterinarians make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of veterinarians in the U.S. earn at least $215,700 a year. The top 25% earn $166,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for veterinarians in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $73,920 a year, and a quarter of veterinarians earn $101,460 or less.
How many veterinarians work in the U.S.?
About 83,900 veterinarians are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.