Veterinarian Salary in St. Louis, MO
Veterinarians in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $122,460 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $90,149 take-home, or $7,512 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$18,124
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,593
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,776
- Missouri income tax$4,818
- Take-home pay$90,149
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.70% state
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Veterinarian pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,680 | $35.90 | $58,795 | $4,900 |
| 25th percentile | $103,690 | $49.85 | $77,840 | $6,487 |
| Median (50th) | $122,460 | $58.88 | $90,149 | $7,512 |
| 75th percentile | $153,450 | $73.77 | $109,874 | $9,156 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $195,480 | $93.98 | $137,307 | $11,442 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $122,460 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median veterinarian's $90,149 take-home pay has the buying power of $94,806 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 St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.11).
Best-paying cities for veterinarians, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #31 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 |
| 31 | St. Louis, MO | $122,460 | $90,149 | $94,806 |
*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 Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $122,490
Frequently asked questions
How much does a veterinarian make in St. Louis, MO?
The median veterinarian salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $122,460 a year, or about $58.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $103,690 and $153,450.
What is a veterinarian’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $122,460 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $90,149 a year ($7,512 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,818 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a veterinarian?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $130,100. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $94,806 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #31 of 40 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a veterinarian afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 13% of a median veterinarian’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Anesthetist — $232,300
- Dentists, General — $210,430
- Pharmacist — $138,530
- Physician Assistant — $136,120
- Nurse Practitioner — $131,580
- Physical Therapist — $100,600
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $98,990
- Dental Hygienist — $97,650
- Occupational Therapist — $95,770
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $86,480
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist — $83,330