How much does a veterinarian make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $62.55 an hour or $10,840 a month.
- Hourly
- $62.55
- Average (mean)
- $142,700
- Jobs
- 83,900
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $73,920 | $35.54 | |
| 25th | $101,500 | $48.78 | |
| Median | $130,100 | $62.55 | |
| 75th | $166,100 | $79.87 | |
| 90th | $215,700 | $103.70 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| California | $163,900 |
| Maryland | $163,200 |
| Washington | $160,500 |
| New Jersey | $160,100 |
| Arizona | $152,000 |
| Massachusetts | $140,300 |
| District of Columbia | $134,500 |
| Illinois | $133,600 |
| Pennsylvania | $133,500 |
| Minnesota | $133,100 |
| New York | $131,800 |
| Vermont | $131,800 |
| Florida | $131,700 |
| Texas | $131,300 |
| Colorado | $130,800 |
| Maine | $130,600 |
| Hawaii | $130,100 |
| New Mexico | $129,400 |
| North Carolina | $129,200 |
| West Virginia | $129,000 |
| Oregon | $128,900 |
| New Hampshire | $128,200 |
| Virginia | $126,700 |
| Georgia | $126,600 |
| Rhode Island | $126,600 |
| Connecticut | $126,200 |
| Nevada | $125,600 |
| Michigan | $125,400 |
| Ohio | $125,100 |
| Iowa | $124,600 |
| Indiana | $124,500 |
| Louisiana | $124,400 |
| Tennessee | $124,400 |
| Utah | $124,000 |
| South Carolina | $122,100 |
| Idaho | $116,200 |
| Missouri | $114,700 |
| Wisconsin | $108,800 |
| Arkansas | $107,700 |
| Kansas | $107,100 |
| Alabama | $105,600 |
| Mississippi | $105,400 |
| Kentucky | $104,100 |
| Nebraska | $103,500 |
| North Dakota | $102,200 |
| Montana | $99,390 |
| Oklahoma | $98,090 |
| Wyoming | $97,240 |
| South Dakota | $88,650 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Francisco, CA | $208,100 |
| San Jose, CA | $192,200 |
| Napa, CA | $172,600 |
| Sacramento, CA | $165,300 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $164,800 |
| Atlantic City, NJ | $164,600 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $164,100 |
| Seattle, WA | $163,800 |
| Amherst Town, MA | $163,600 |
| Kennewick, WA | $163,500 |
| Salinas, CA | $163,100 |
| Baltimore, MD | $162,900 |
| Modesto, CA | $162,200 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $161,100 |
| Riverside, CA | $160,900 |
In other countries
Veterinarian belongs to the international group "Veterinarians".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Occupational Therapist$100,300
- Physical Therapist$102,800
- Radiation Therapist$105,300
- Recreational Therapist$61,960
- Respiratory Therapist$82,280
- Speech-Language Pathologist$97,870
- Exercise Physiologist$59,460
- Therapist$77,930
- Registered Nurse$97,550
- Nurse Anesthetist$236,600
Frequently asked questions
How much does a veterinarian make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $62.55 ($130,100 a year).
How much does a veterinarian make a month?
About $10,840 a month before tax, based on a median of $130,100 a year.
How much does a veterinarian make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $73,920 or less a year ($35.54 an hour); the top 10% make $215,700 or more.
Which state pays veterinarians the most?
California, with a median of $163,900 a year, followed by Maryland ($163,200) and Washington ($160,500).
Which city pays veterinarians the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, with a median of $208,100 a year.
How many veterinarians are there in the United States?
About 83,900 people work as veterinarians.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.