Veterinarian Salary in San Diego, CA
Veterinarians in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $159,750 a year — 23% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $107,751 take-home, or $8,979 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median veterinarian salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$27,074
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,905
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,316
- California income tax$10,627
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,077
- Take-home pay$107,751
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Veterinarian pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,540 | $32.47 | $53,275 | $4,440 |
| 25th percentile | $124,530 | $59.87 | $87,412 | $7,284 |
| Median (50th) | $159,750 | $76.80 | $107,751 | $8,979 |
| 75th percentile | $199,580 | $95.95 | $131,688 | $10,974 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $276,230+ | $132.80 | $175,234 | $14,603 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $159,750 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median veterinarian's $107,751 take-home pay has the buying power of $96,304 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA has 1.3× the national concentration of veterinarian jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for veterinarians, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #29 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 |
| 29 | San Diego, CA | $159,750 | $107,751 | $96,304 |
*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
- Riverside, CA — $160,860
- Los Angeles, CA — $160,080
Frequently asked questions
How much does a veterinarian make in San Diego, CA?
The median veterinarian salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $159,750 a year, or about $76.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $124,530 and $199,580.
What is a veterinarian’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $159,750 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $107,751 a year ($8,979 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $12,704 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a veterinarian?
Pay here is 23% above the national median of $130,100. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $96,304 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #29 of 40 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a veterinarian afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 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 San Diego, CA
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Pediatricians, General — $239,200+
- Physician Assistant — $165,160
- Pharmacist — $165,130
- Nurse Practitioner — $163,860
- Dentists, General — $158,160
- Registered Nurse — $139,520
- Optometrist — $133,280
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $129,630
- Dental Hygienist — $123,790
- Occupational Therapist — $121,680