Veterinarians salary
Veterinarians earn a median of $130,100 a year ($62.55/hr) in the U.S. – from $88,650 in South Dakota to $163,920 in California. Enter your pay below to see how you compare.
Median pay, United States$62.55/hr · $130,100 a year
Pay range
90% earn more$73,920$35.54/hr
75% earn more$101,460$48.78/hr
half earn more, half less$130,100$62.55/hr
25% earn more$166,120$79.87/hr
top 10% earn more$215,700$103.70/hr
pulled up by top earners$142,680$68.60/hr
How does my pay compare?
Enter your pay to see where you stand among veterinarians. Nothing you type leaves your device.
Pay by state
States ranked by median annual wage for veterinarians. Tap a state for its minimum wage.
9,170 jobs · $78.81/hr$163,920
1,430 jobs · $78.45/hr$163,170
2,390 jobs · $77.17/hr$160,510
1,910 jobs · $76.99/hr$160,140
2,080 jobs · $73.09/hr$152,020
1,920 jobs · $67.43/hr$140,260
190 jobs · $64.68/hr$134,530
2,330 jobs · $64.22/hr$133,580
3,490 jobs · $64.19/hr$133,520
2,140 jobs · $64.00/hr$133,110
3,390 jobs · $63.38/hr$131,830
280 jobs · $63.38/hr$131,820
5,360 jobs · $63.30/hr$131,660
6,270 jobs · $63.14/hr$131,330
2,340 jobs · $62.91/hr$130,840
600 jobs · $62.79/hr$130,600
370 jobs · $62.56/hr$130,120
460 jobs · $62.21/hr$129,390
2,940 jobs · $62.14/hr$129,240
390 jobs · $62.01/hr$128,990
1,660 jobs · $61.96/hr$128,880
650 jobs · $61.63/hr$128,190
2,700 jobs · $60.93/hr$126,730
2,670 jobs · $60.86/hr$126,590
430 jobs · $60.85/hr$126,570
950 jobs · $60.67/hr$126,190
680 jobs · $60.36/hr$125,550
2,030 jobs · $60.28/hr$125,390
3,430 jobs · $60.12/hr$125,060
1,000 jobs · $59.91/hr$124,610
1,500 jobs · $59.87/hr$124,530
950 jobs · $59.79/hr$124,370
1,730 jobs · $59.78/hr$124,350
640 jobs · $59.61/hr$123,990
1,380 jobs · $58.72/hr$122,130
540 jobs · $55.85/hr$116,170
1,920 jobs · $55.12/hr$114,660
1,830 jobs · $52.30/hr$108,780
540 jobs · $51.79/hr$107,710
1,000 jobs · $51.48/hr$107,080
1,020 jobs · $50.79/hr$105,630
480 jobs · $50.66/hr$105,370
1,190 jobs · $50.05/hr$104,100
780 jobs · $49.76/hr$103,500
270 jobs · $49.13/hr$102,180
510 jobs · $47.78/hr$99,390
1,150 jobs · $47.16/hr$98,090
140 jobs · $46.75/hr$97,240
180 jobs · $43.18/hr$89,810
280 jobs · $42.62/hr$88,650
No wage estimate published for: Alaska, Delaware.
Related jobs
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC code 29-1131. Wages exclude the self-employed. All jobs · Minimum wage by state
Questions & answers
How much do veterinarians make?
The median wage for veterinarians in the U.S. was $62.55 an hour or $130,100 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $101,460 and $166,120 a year.
Which state pays veterinarians the most?
California has the highest median wage for veterinarians: $163,920 a year. The lowest published median is in South Dakota at $88,650. Living costs also differ a lot between states.
How many veterinarians are there?
BLS estimates 83,900 veterinarians were employed in the U.S. in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
What is the difference between median and average pay?
The median is the middle wage: half of workers earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) adds everyone up and divides, so a few very high earners pull it up. The median is usually the better guide to typical pay.
What does the 10th or 90th percentile mean?
The 10th percentile is the wage that only 10% of workers earn less than – often entry-level pay. The 90th percentile is the wage that only 10% earn more than – usually the most experienced or highest-paid workers.