Veterinarian Salary in Sacramento, CA
Veterinarians in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area earn a median $165,260 a year — 27% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $110,933 take-home, or $9,244 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$28,396
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,246
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,396
- California income tax$11,140
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,148
- Take-home pay$110,933
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Veterinarian pay by experience in Sacramento, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $87,220 | $41.93 | $65,174 | $5,431 |
| 25th percentile | $127,660 | $61.38 | $89,219 | $7,435 |
| Median (50th) | $165,260 | $79.45 | $110,933 | $9,244 |
| 75th percentile | $215,760 | $103.73 | $141,893 | $11,824 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $294,620+ | $141.64 | $184,806 | $15,401 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $165,260 buys in Sacramento, CA
Prices in Sacramento, CA are 6.7% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.30× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median veterinarian's $110,933 take-home pay has the buying power of $103,997 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Sacramento, CA has 1.4× the national concentration of veterinarian jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for veterinarians, adjusted for cost of living
Sacramento, CA ranks #8 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 →
Veterinarian salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $208,080
- Riverside, CA — $160,860
- San Diego, CA — $159,750
- Los Angeles, CA — $160,080
Frequently asked questions
How much does a veterinarian make in Sacramento, CA?
The median veterinarian salary in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area is $165,260 a year, or about $79.45 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $127,660 and $215,760.
What is a veterinarian’s take-home pay in Sacramento, CA?
On the median $165,260 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $110,933 a year ($9,244 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $13,288 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Sacramento, CA a good place to work as a veterinarian?
Pay here is 27% above the national median of $130,100. Local prices are 6.7% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $103,997 would in a typical U.S. city. Sacramento, CA ranks #8 of 40 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a veterinarian afford rent in Sacramento, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Sacramento, CA is $1,812 a month ($2,241 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 Sacramento, CA
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $172,680
- Nurse Practitioner — $172,010
- Registered Nurse — $171,460
- Dentists, General — $170,500
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $163,220
- Physician Assistant — $161,470
- Optometrist — $139,020
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $135,880
- Respiratory Therapist — $134,430
- Physical Therapist — $131,430