How Much Do Veterinarians Make? Vet Salary Guide

Humans and pets need vets. Like humans, pets have health and grooming needs that require substantial investments of time and money. Pet products and services are a global billion-dollar industry worth $261 billion, and Americans are responsible for nearly half that figure.

In 2022, Americans will spend $109.6 billion on processed and raw premium food, treats, preventative medications for flea control, grooming, pet-sitting, daycare services, and veterinary care. Fueling this spending is an uptick in animal ownership which has skyrocketed since 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A record high of 70 percent of American homes own a pet, which is about 90.5 million families. As a result, veterinarians are predicted to be in demand in the coming decade, with average annual salaries nearly double the national average.

Veterinarians are responsible for providing healthcare to domesticated and wild animals. They use various medical equipment to diagnose and treat injuries and illnesses and perform surgery. Some veterinarians specialize in treating a particular species or breeds such as companion animals, exotic, or farm animals. Vets may work in food safety and inspection, or advise on general care and preventive public healthcare measures.

• Typical veterinarian responsibilities include:
• Assessing health in routine examinations
• Diagnosing acute or chronic health problems
• Taking temperature, weight, and vital signs
• Treating and dressing wounds
• Advising animal preventative health measures
• Performing routine procedures (such as spaying and neutering) or complicated surgeries (such as tumor removal)
• Testing for the presence or absence of diseases
• Administering vaccines to protect against diseases such as parvo, rabies, and feline leukemia
• Operating medical equipment
• Prescribing medication
• Euthanizing animals

To become a veterinarian, one must spend at least eight years in school: four years for an undergraduate degree and four years in a DVM (or similar) program. While a bachelor’s degree in any field is typically accepted, to be considered for admission into competitive veterinary programs, undergraduates should take classes in hard sciences, animal anatomy and physiology, and earn experience in extracurricular veterinary clubs. After earning a bachelor’s degree, aspiring vets apply for vet school, which requires four years of study and confers DMV or doctorate of veterinary medicine degrees. After graduation, vets much take and pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE) and meet any state-specific requirements to practice legally.

After spending significant time in school, veterinarians can begin their careers and earn money. Veterinarians earned an average annual salary of $109,920, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS May 2021)—the latest data available as of November 2022. This amount is nearly twice the national average for all occupations, which was $58,260. Salaries vary depending on years of experience, place of employment, and the cost of living in a specific area.

What types of salaries can veterinarians expect to earn? Read on for detailed salary data for veterinarians, including the number of veterinarians employed, salary percentiles, top-paying cities and industries, and the states which pay top salaries for pet and animal healthcare.