SOC 29-1131 · May 2025
Veterinarian Salary
Veterinarians in the US earn a median of $130,100 a year ($68.60 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Veterinarian pay climbed from $104,820 in 2019 to $142,680 in 2025, a +36.1% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$130,100
Half of all Veterinarians in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+36.1% since 2019 · +1.7% YoY
Hourly
$68.60
Job growth 2025-35
+9.4%
US workers
83,900
BLS series
Annual median wage for Veterinarians in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Veterinarians is $73,920 – $215,700.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$73,920
25th
$101,460
Median
$130,100
75th
$166,120
90th
$215,700
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Veterinarians. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $73,920 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $101,460 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $130,100 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $166,120 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $215,700 |
Geography
Veterinarian pay by state
Veterinarians earn the most in California ($163,920, +26% against the national median) and the least in South Dakota ($88,650). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 49 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$130,100
Highest-paying states for veterinarians
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $163,920 | +26% | 9,170 |
| Maryland | $163,170 | +25% | 1,430 |
| Washington | $160,510 | +23% | 2,390 |
| New Jersey | $160,140 | +23% | 1,910 |
| Arizona | $152,020 | +17% | 2,080 |
| Massachusetts | $140,260 | +8% | 1,920 |
| D.C. | $134,530 | +3% | 190 |
| Illinois | $133,580 | +3% | 2,330 |
| Pennsylvania | $133,520 | +3% | 3,490 |
| Minnesota | $133,110 | +2% | 2,140 |
All 49 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| D.C. | $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 |
| South Dakota | $88,650 | 280 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Veterinarians
Veterinarians diagnose and treat diseases and injuries in animals: companion animals, livestock, zoo animals, and wildlife. The role requires a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree plus state licensure.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $73,920 – $215,700. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are California, Maryland and Washington. Pay in California runs 1.8 times the level in South Dakota, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as doctoral or professional degree, and projects about 3,100 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 9.4% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Veterinarian salary in the US?
How much does a Veterinarian make an hour?
How much do Veterinarians make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Veterinarians the most?
Is the average Veterinarian salary higher than the median?
Is Veterinarian a growing career?
Open positions
Open Veterinarian roles hiring now
Browse current Veterinarian listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 29-1131. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.