Veterinarian Salary in Seattle, WA
Veterinarians in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $163,810 a year — 26% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $123,230 take-home, or $10,269 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$28,048
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,156
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,375
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$123,230
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Veterinarian pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $99,260 | $47.72 | $78,659 | $6,555 |
| 25th percentile | $128,930 | $61.99 | $99,390 | $8,282 |
| Median (50th) | $163,810 | $78.75 | $123,230 | $10,269 |
| 75th percentile | $202,000 | $97.12 | $150,400 | $12,533 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $274,030+ | $131.75 | $198,907 | $16,576 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $163,810 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median veterinarian's $123,230 take-home pay has the buying power of $110,885 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 Seattle, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.18).
Best-paying cities for veterinarians, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #3 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 Seattle, WA?
The median veterinarian salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $163,810 a year, or about $78.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $128,930 and $202,000.
What is a veterinarian’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $163,810 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $123,230 a year ($10,269 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a veterinarian?
Pay here is 26% above the national median of $130,100. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $110,885 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #3 of 40 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a veterinarian afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 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 Seattle, WA
- Anesthesiologist — $239,200+
- General Internal Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Radiologist — $239,200+
- Physician Assistant — $167,290
- Pharmacist — $162,870
- Dentists, General — $161,270
- Dental Hygienist — $133,740
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist — $130,460
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $129,960
- Registered Nurse — $128,260