Average Veterinarian Yearly Salary in the United States

Veterinarians earn an average yearly salary of $101,682. Salaries typically start from $51,435 and go up to $167,841.

Average Veterinarian Hourly Wage in the United States

Veterinarians earn an average hourly wage of $48.89. Hourly wages typically start from $24.73 and go up to $80.69.

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)

These numbers may vary depending on several factors, like level of education, amount of experience, industry, company size and location.

Learn more about the Veterinarian job market for salaries of real jobs in your area.

According to the 2011 figures released by the American Veterinary Medicine Association, new veterinarians saw a wide variance in salaries - 40% earned $31,000 or less, while others reported salaries in excess of $90,000 (however 52% of those respondents were in residency or post-graduate programs). When those are removed from the equation, the 48% who'd formally entered practice earned an average of $66,469. Veterinarians pay almost as much for their schooling as medical doctors, but have much less earning power to compensate for their debt load (doctors easily earn two to three times as much).

The type of practice has a great deal to do with a new veterinarian's income. Roughly three-quarters of all vets in private practice treat pets or companion animals. In 2011, first-year salaries for vets in exclusively pet-oriented practices were $69,789. Exclusively food-animal practices paid $71,096. Equine practices paid the least, at $43,405, while general mixed-animal practices averaged $62,655.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, veterinarians in research facilities were paid the best, at an average income of $124,610, while those working for pharmaceutical companies earned $113,270. Veterinarians in private practice averaged $91,160.

Geographically, the state with the highest average salary for veterinarians was Connecticut, at $125,810. New Jersey, Hawaii, the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania were also among the highest-paid jurisdictions. Montana had the lowest average salary, at $60,590.

Top End Veterinarian Earnings The highest earning Veterinarians in the United States earn:	$80.69 an hour	$167,841.3 per year
Senior Veterinarian Earnings Senior Veterinarians in the United States earn:	$57.96 an hour	$120,548.2 per year
Experienced Veterinarian Earnings Experienced Veterinarians in the United States earn:	$43.00 an hour	$89,436.9 per year
Junior Veterinarian Earnings Junior Veterinarians in the United States earn:	$33.33 an hour	$69,318.4 per year
Starting Veterinarian Earnings Starting Veterinarians in the United States earn:	$24.73 an hour	$51,434.6 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Veterinarians earn more than 57% percent of similar careers in the United States.

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Podiatrist Salary	$148k
Doctor Salary	$139k
Hospitalist Salary	$103k
Veterinarian Salary	$101k
Naturopathic Physician Salary	$84k
Chiropractor Salary	$82k
Aquacultural Manager Salary	$80k
Coroner Salary	$71k

Click on a state to learn more

State	Hourly Wage	Annual Salary	Rank
Veterinarian Salary in California	$53.56	$111,414	# 1
Veterinarian Salary in United States	$48.89	$101,681.9	# 2