The average salary for a veterinarian in California is around $163,920 per year.
Avg Salary
Veterinarians earn an average yearly salary of $163,920.
Wages typically start from $74,850 and go up to $286,330.
108% above national average Updated in 2025
Veterinarian earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level veterinarian earnings begin at:
$137.66 per hour
$286,330 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level veterinarian earnings begin at:
$101.85 per hour
$211,840 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level veterinarian earnings begin at:
$78.81 per hour
$163,920 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level veterinarian earnings begin at:
$60.32 per hour
$125,460 per year
10th percentile
Starting level veterinarian earnings begin at:
$35.98 per hour
$74,850 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Veterinarian salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Montana | $99,390 |
| Alaska | $98,910 |
| Oklahoma | $98,090 |
| Wyoming | $97,240 |
| South Dakota | $88,650 |
| Puerto Rico | $60,530 |
| California | $163,920 |
| Maryland | $163,170 |
| Washington | $160,510 |
| New Jersey | $160,140 |
| Arizona | $152,020 |
| Massachusetts | $140,260 |
| District of Columbia | $134,530 |
| Illinois | $133,580 |
| Pennsylvania | $133,520 |
| Minnesota | $133,110 |
| New York | $131,830 |
| Vermont | $131,820 |
| Florida | $131,660 |
| Texas | $131,330 |
| Colorado | $130,840 |
| Maine | $130,600 |
| Hawaii | $130,120 |
| New Mexico | $129,390 |
| North Carolina | $129,240 |
| West Virginia | $128,990 |
| Oregon | $128,880 |
| New Hampshire | $128,190 |
| Virginia | $126,730 |
| Georgia | $126,590 |
| Rhode Island | $126,570 |
| Connecticut | $126,190 |
| Nevada | $125,550 |
| Michigan | $125,390 |
| Ohio | $125,060 |
| Iowa | $124,610 |
| Indiana | $124,530 |
| Louisiana | $124,370 |
| Tennessee | $124,350 |
| Utah | $123,990 |
| South Carolina | $122,130 |
| Idaho | $116,170 |
| Missouri | $114,660 |
| Wisconsin | $108,780 |
| Arkansas | $107,710 |
| Kansas | $107,080 |
| Alabama | $105,630 |
| Mississippi | $105,370 |
| Kentucky | $104,100 |
| Nebraska | $103,500 |
| North Dakota | $102,180 |
| Delaware | $101,350 |
How do veterinarian salaries compare to similar careers?
Veterinarians earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than podiatrists but more than nuclear medicine technologists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Podiatrist salary | $201K |
| Certified nurse midwife salary | $204K |
| Nurse practitioner salary | $169K |
| Dentist salary | $166K |
| Veterinarian salary | $164K |
| Anesthesiologist assistant salary | $166K |
| Physician assistant salary | $166K |
| Pharmacist salary | $165K |
| Radiation therapist salary | $166K |
| Nuclear medicine technologist salary | $162K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)