Median Salary
$130,100
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$62.55
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$215,700
entry level starts ~$73,920
Pay Grade
A
excellent pay · 84,000 employed
How much does a Veterinarian make?
Veterinarians in the United States bring home a median salary of $130,100 a year, or around $62.55 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $73,920, while the top 10% earn $215,700.
That is $68,710 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Veterinarian salary range by percentile
Half of all Veterinarians earn between $101,460 and $166,120 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,920 | $35.54 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $101,460 | $48.78 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $130,100 | $62.55 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $166,120 | $79.87 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $215,700 | $103.70 |
|
Highest-paying states for Veterinarian
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Veterinarian pay at $163,920 a year, followed by Maryland ($163,170) and Washington ($160,510). At the other end, South Dakota posts the lowest median at $88,650 — a gap of $75,270 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Veterinarian salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 49 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
California $163,920Maryland $163,170Washington $160,510New Jersey $160,140Arizona $152,020Massachusetts $140,260District of Columbia $134,530Illinois $133,580Pennsylvania $133,520Minnesota $133,110New York $131,830Vermont $131,820Florida $131,660Texas $131,330Colorado $130,840Maine $130,600Hawaii $130,120New Mexico $129,390North Carolina $129,240West Virginia $128,990Oregon $128,880New Hampshire $128,190Virginia $126,730Georgia $126,590Rhode Island $126,570Connecticut $126,190Nevada $125,550Michigan $125,390Ohio $125,060Iowa $124,610Indiana $124,530Louisiana $124,370Tennessee $124,350Utah $123,990South Carolina $122,130Idaho $116,170Missouri $114,660Wisconsin $108,780Arkansas $107,710Kansas $107,080Alabama $105,630Mississippi $105,370Kentucky $104,100Nebraska $103,500North Dakota $102,180Montana $99,390Oklahoma $98,090Wyoming $97,240South Dakota $88,650
Workforce and education
About 84,000 people work as Veterinarians in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $142,680 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Veterinarian make in the United States?
The median Veterinarian salary in the United States is $130,100 per year, or about $62.55 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $73,920, while the top 10% of earners make $215,700 or more.
How does Veterinarian pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of A (excellent pay), the Veterinarian median of $130,100 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Veterinarians the most?
California is the highest-paying state for Veterinarians, with a median salary of $163,920 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Veterinarian?
Becoming a Veterinarian typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Veterinarians work in the United States?
About 84,000 people were employed as Veterinarians in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.