Veterinarian Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Veterinarians in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $161,060 a year — 24% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $117,533 take-home, or $9,794 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$27,388
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,986
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,335
- Arizona income tax$3,818
- Take-home pay$117,533
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 2.50% state
Veterinarian pay by experience in Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,580 | $39.70 | $65,069 | $5,422 |
| 25th percentile | $128,830 | $61.94 | $96,309 | $8,026 |
| Median (50th) | $161,060 | $77.43 | $117,533 | $9,794 |
| 75th percentile | $209,080 | $100.52 | $150,596 | $12,550 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $304,630+ | $146.46 | $210,670 | $17,556 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $161,060 buys in Phoenix, AZ
Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median veterinarian's $117,533 take-home pay has the buying power of $113,760 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 Phoenix, AZ as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.15).
Best-paying cities for veterinarians, adjusted for cost of living
Phoenix, AZ ranks #2 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 |
*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 Phoenix, AZ?
The median veterinarian salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $161,060 a year, or about $77.43 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $128,830 and $209,080.
What is a veterinarian’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $161,060 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $117,533 a year ($9,794 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,818 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ a good place to work as a veterinarian?
Pay here is 24% above the national median of $130,100. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $113,760 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #2 of 40 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a veterinarian afford rent in Phoenix, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is $1,583 a month ($1,839 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 Phoenix, AZ
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- General Internal Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Pediatricians, General — $233,950
- Dentists, General — $194,180
- Pharmacist — $144,490
- Nurse Practitioner — $136,270
- Physician Assistant — $134,650
- Optometrist — $115,960
- Occupational Therapist — $105,060
- Physical Therapist — $103,220
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $102,810