Veterinarian Salary
Veterinarians earn a median $130,100 a year nationally. Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
U.S. median
$130,100
$62.55 per hour
Range
$73,920 – $215,700
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
83,900
across the U.S.
Veterinarian take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$100,189
per year · effective tax rate 23.0%
$8,349Monthly
$4,175Twice a month
$3,853Every 2 weeks
$48.17Hourly
- Federal income tax$19,958
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,066
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,886
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$100,189
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,920 | $35.54 | $60,833 |
| 25th percentile | $101,460 | $48.78 | $80,207 |
| Median (50th) | $130,100 | $62.55 | $100,189 |
| 75th percentile | $166,120 | $79.87 | $124,809 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $215,700 | $103.70 | $160,490 |
Best cities for veterinarians (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $208,080 | $137,051 | $118,543 | 1,350 |
| 2 | Phoenix, AZ | $161,060 | $117,533 | $113,760 | 1,480 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $163,810 | $123,230 | $110,885 | 1,330 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $162,930 | $115,018 | $110,079 | 700 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $158,200 | $109,810 | $104,759 | 1,470 |
| 6 | San Antonio, TX | $128,550 | $99,130 | $104,660 | 550 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $133,250 | $102,342 | $104,361 | 700 |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $165,260 | $110,933 | $103,997 | 830 |
| 9 | Jacksonville, FL | $133,810 | $102,725 | $103,258 | 470 |
| 10 | Houston, TX | $132,280 | $101,679 | $103,093 | 1,340 |
| 11 | Cleveland, OH | $128,610 | $96,417 | $102,655 | 560 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $148,730 | $105,706 | $102,037 | 1,530 |
| 13 | Riverside, CA | $160,860 | $108,392 | $101,832 | 660 |
| 14 | Nashville, TN | $126,230 | $97,544 | $101,252 | 500 |
| 15 | Cincinnati, OH | $127,670 | $95,800 | $100,451 | 650 |
| 16 | Orlando, FL | $132,440 | $101,789 | $100,366 | 570 |
| 17 | Pittsburgh, PA | $128,290 | $95,014 | $100,362 | 640 |
| 18 | Tampa, FL | $131,190 | $100,934 | $100,044 | 1,060 |
| 19 | Philadelphia, PA | $139,810 | $102,534 | $99,980 | 1,790 |
| 20 | Dallas, TX | $133,550 | $102,547 | $99,474 | 1,760 |
| 21 | Indianapolis, IN | $127,850 | $94,909 | $99,178 | 520 |
| 22 | Washington, DC | $154,350 | $106,613 | $97,914 | 1,740 |
| 23 | New York, NY | $156,150 | $109,822 | $97,565 | 3,150 |
| 24 | Raleigh, NC | $130,350 | $95,668 | $97,464 | 520 |
| 25 | Charlotte, NC | $129,080 | $94,851 | $97,435 | 750 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Francisco, CA — $208,080
- Sacramento, CA — $165,260
- Seattle, WA — $163,810
- Baltimore, MD — $162,930
- Phoenix, AZ — $161,060
- Riverside, CA — $160,860
- Los Angeles, CA — $160,080
- San Diego, CA — $159,750
- Minneapolis, MN — $158,200
- New York, NY — $156,150
- Washington, DC — $154,350
- Chicago, IL — $148,730
- Philadelphia, PA — $139,810
- Boston, MA — $138,900
- Denver, CO — $135,090
Veterinarian salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $163,920 | $110,159 | $74,850 – $239,200+ | 9,170 |
| Maryland | $163,170 | $115,169 | $104,030 – $214,960 | 1,430 |
| Washington | $160,510 | $120,975 | $97,140 – $239,200+ | 2,390 |
| New Jersey | $160,140 | $112,711 | $103,720 – $239,200+ | 1,910 |
| Arizona | $152,020 | $111,580 | $81,990 – $239,200+ | 2,080 |
| Massachusetts | $140,260 | $100,341 | $96,320 – $239,200+ | 1,920 |
| District of Columbia | $134,530 | $94,751 | $69,990 – $239,200+ | 190 |
| Illinois | $133,580 | $96,101 | $74,840 – $239,200+ | 2,330 |
| Pennsylvania | $133,520 | $98,428 | $79,780 – $239,200+ | 3,490 |
| Minnesota | $133,110 | $94,631 | $83,280 – $217,580 | 2,140 |
| New York | $131,830 | $94,634 | $89,130 – $239,200+ | 3,390 |
| Vermont | $131,820 | $95,125 | $91,290 – $213,060 | 280 |
| Florida | $131,660 | $101,256 | $62,430 – $209,520 | 5,360 |
| Texas | $131,330 | $101,030 | $76,510 – $203,920 | 6,270 |
| Colorado | $130,840 | $95,647 | $77,710 – $211,930 | 2,340 |
| Maine | $130,600 | $92,689 | $81,780 – $194,680 | 600 |
| Hawaii | $130,120 | $91,844 | $62,460 – $188,130 | 370 |
| New Mexico | $129,390 | $94,695 | $79,450 – $212,850 | 460 |
| North Carolina | $129,240 | $94,954 | $77,650 – $209,340 | 2,940 |
| West Virginia | $128,990 | $94,148 | $54,830 – $201,910 | 390 |
| Oregon | $128,880 | $88,897 | $78,420 – $205,850 | 1,660 |
| New Hampshire | $128,190 | $98,884 | $74,780 – $239,200+ | 650 |
| Virginia | $126,730 | $91,413 | $63,350 – $220,170 | 2,700 |
| Georgia | $126,590 | $91,843 | $66,710 – $167,620 | 2,670 |
| Rhode Island | $126,570 | $93,366 | $106,730 – $196,300 | 430 |
| Connecticut | $126,190 | $92,095 | $46,960 – $218,720 | 950 |
| Nevada | $125,550 | $97,079 | $98,860 – $189,620 | 680 |
| Michigan | $125,390 | $91,892 | $75,900 – $192,800 | 2,030 |
| Ohio | $125,060 | $94,088 | $54,050 – $207,190 | 3,430 |
| Iowa | $124,610 | $92,354 | $72,800 – $168,950 | 1,000 |
| Indiana | $124,530 | $92,738 | $63,630 – $173,810 | 1,500 |
| Louisiana | $124,370 | $92,928 | $64,690 – $165,560 | 950 |
| Tennessee | $124,350 | $96,259 | $98,500 – $167,900 | 1,730 |
| Utah | $123,990 | $91,400 | $75,970 – $215,720 | 640 |
| South Carolina | $122,130 | $88,571 | $48,140 – $200,860 | 1,380 |
| Idaho | $116,170 | $85,507 | $43,290 – $168,840 | 540 |
| Missouri | $114,660 | $85,042 | $61,270 – $193,860 | 1,920 |
| Wisconsin | $108,780 | $80,972 | $79,350 – $159,940 | 1,830 |
| Arkansas | $107,710 | $80,616 | $38,870 – $153,370 | 540 |
| Kansas | $107,080 | $78,985 | $71,200 – $177,110 | 1,000 |
| Alabama | $105,630 | $78,124 | $65,430 – $172,290 | 1,020 |
| Mississippi | $105,370 | $79,475 | $70,050 – $163,040 | 480 |
| Kentucky | $104,100 | $78,538 | $44,200 – $169,220 | 1,190 |
| Nebraska | $103,500 | $77,813 | $60,630 – $165,660 | 780 |
| North Dakota | $102,180 | $79,980 | $81,420 – $153,720 | 270 |
| Montana | $99,390 | $74,496 | $51,390 – $183,190 | 510 |
| Oklahoma | $98,090 | $73,968 | $51,710 – $208,000 | 1,150 |
| Wyoming | $97,240 | $77,238 | $55,420 – $149,070 | 140 |
| South Dakota | $88,650 | $71,195 | $61,640 – $128,920 | 280 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a veterinarian make?
The national median salary for veterinarians is $130,100 a year ($62.55 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $73,920 and the top 10% earn over $215,700. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays veterinarians the most?
California has the highest median pay at $163,920. After taxes and local prices, San Francisco, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many veterinarians are there in the U.S.?
About 83,900 people work as veterinarians nationwide.
All 40 cities
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Baltimore, MD
- Boston, MA
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Houston, TX
- Indianapolis, IN
- Jacksonville, FL
- Kansas City, MO
- Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- Miami, FL
- Minneapolis, MN
- Nashville, TN
- New York, NY
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Orlando, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Portland, OR
- Providence, RI
- Raleigh, NC
- Riverside, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- St. Louis, MO
- Tampa, FL
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Washington, DC