Veterinarian Salary in Riverside, CA
Veterinarians in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $160,860 a year — 24% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $108,392 take-home, or $9,033 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median veterinarian salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$27,340
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,973
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,332
- California income tax$10,730
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,091
- Take-home pay$108,392
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Veterinarian pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,240 | $39.54 | $62,198 | $5,183 |
| 25th percentile | $124,650 | $59.93 | $87,481 | $7,290 |
| Median (50th) | $160,860 | $77.34 | $108,392 | $9,033 |
| 75th percentile | $214,150 | $102.96 | $140,878 | $11,740 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $273,210+ | $131.35 | $173,662 | $14,472 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $160,860 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median veterinarian's $108,392 take-home pay has the buying power of $101,832 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 Riverside, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.72), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for veterinarians, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #13 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 |
| 13 | Riverside, CA | $160,860 | $108,392 | $101,832 |
*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 California
- San Francisco, CA — $208,080
- Sacramento, CA — $165,260
- San Diego, CA — $159,750
- Los Angeles, CA — $160,080
Frequently asked questions
How much does a veterinarian make in Riverside, CA?
The median veterinarian salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $160,860 a year, or about $77.34 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $124,650 and $214,150.
What is a veterinarian’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $160,860 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $108,392 a year ($9,033 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $12,822 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a veterinarian?
Pay here is 24% above the national median of $130,100. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $101,832 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #13 of 40 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a veterinarian afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 20% of a median veterinarian’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Psychiatrist — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Practitioner — $169,920
- Physician Assistant — $165,490
- Pharmacist — $161,870
- Registered Nurse — $133,940
- Optometrist — $129,990
- Dentists, General — $125,230
- Physical Therapist — $120,110
- Occupational Therapist — $119,530
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $118,560
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $105,860