Veterinarian Salary in Boston, MA
Veterinarians in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $138,900 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $99,479 take-home, or $8,290 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median veterinarian salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$22,070
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,612
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,014
- Massachusetts income tax$6,725
- Take-home pay$99,479
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Veterinarian pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $83,230 | $40.01 | $63,441 | $5,287 |
| 25th percentile | $124,690 | $59.95 | $90,477 | $7,540 |
| Median (50th) | $138,900 | $66.78 | $99,479 | $8,290 |
| 75th percentile | $177,920 | $85.54 | $124,198 | $10,350 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $281,100+ | $135.14 | $189,501 | $15,792 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $138,900 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median veterinarian's $99,479 take-home pay has the buying power of $91,884 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Veterinarian jobs are about as common in Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.06).
Best-paying cities for veterinarians, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #36 of 40 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $208,080 | $137,051 | $118,543 |
| 2 | Phoenix, AZ | $161,060 | $117,533 | $113,760 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $163,810 | $123,230 | $110,885 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $162,930 | $115,018 | $110,079 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $158,200 | $109,810 | $104,759 |
| 6 | San Antonio, TX | $128,550 | $99,130 | $104,660 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $133,250 | $102,342 | $104,361 |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $165,260 | $110,933 | $103,997 |
| 36 | Boston, MA | $138,900 | $99,479 | $91,884 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 40 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a veterinarian make in Boston, MA?
The median veterinarian salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $138,900 a year, or about $66.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $124,690 and $177,920.
What is a veterinarian’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $138,900 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $99,479 a year ($8,290 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,725 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a veterinarian?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $130,100. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $91,884 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #36 of 40 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a veterinarian afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 27% of a median veterinarian’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Surgeons, All Other — $239,200+
- Emergency Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- General Internal Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Nurse Anesthetist — $239,200+
- Obstetrician and Gynecologist — $235,460
- Physicians, All Other — $229,870
- Pediatricians, General — $221,170
- Dentists, General — $181,150
- Optometrist — $154,970
- Nurse Practitioner — $147,480
- Physician Assistant — $142,410