Veterinarian Salary in Houston, TX
Veterinarians in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $132,280 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $101,679 take-home, or $8,473 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median veterinarian salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,481
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,201
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,918
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$101,679
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Veterinarian pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,390 | $39.13 | $66,088 | $5,507 |
| 25th percentile | $119,320 | $57.37 | $92,772 | $7,731 |
| Median (50th) | $132,280 | $63.60 | $101,679 | $8,473 |
| 75th percentile | $170,900 | $82.16 | $128,076 | $10,673 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $207,660 | $99.84 | $154,569 | $12,881 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $132,280 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median veterinarian's $101,679 take-home pay has the buying power of $103,093 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 less concentrated in Houston, TX than nationally (location quotient 0.76), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for veterinarians, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #10 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 |
| 10 | Houston, TX | $132,280 | $101,679 | $103,093 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 40 metros →
Veterinarian salaries elsewhere in Texas
- San Antonio, TX — $128,550
- Austin, TX — $133,250
- Dallas, TX — $133,550
Frequently asked questions
How much does a veterinarian make in Houston, TX?
The median veterinarian salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $132,280 a year, or about $63.60 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $119,320 and $170,900.
What is a veterinarian’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $132,280 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $101,679 a year ($8,473 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a veterinarian?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $130,100. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $103,093 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #10 of 40 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a veterinarian afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 16% of a median veterinarian’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Anesthetist — $239,200+
- General Internal Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Anesthesiologist — $210,230
- Cardiologist — $187,550
- Pharmacist — $140,470
- Physician Assistant — $137,240
- Nurse Practitioner — $134,560
- Radiologist — $131,470
- Optometrist — $124,640
- Pediatricians, General — $124,190
- Physical Therapist — $107,700