Key Factors That Influence Veterinary Nurse Salaries
A Veterinary Nurse's salary isn't a fixed number.
It's shaped by several important factors.
Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Veterinary Nurse Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Veterinary Nurse's salary.
As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases.
Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $45,961
Early Career (1-2 years): $46,217
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $46,985
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $49,284
Expert (over 8 years): $50,430
Levels
Salary
Entry Level Veterinary Nurse
$45,961
Intermediate Level Veterinary Nurse
$46,217
Senior Level Veterinary Nurse
$46,985
Specialist Level Veterinary Nurse
$49,284
Expert Level Veterinary Nurse
$50,430
$45,9610 yr
$46,217< 2 yrs
$46,9852-4 yrs
$49,2845-8 yrs
$50,430> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Veterinary Nurse Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work.
States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors
often pay more to attract Veterinary Nurses.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities.
Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay.
Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
San Jose: $59,683
San Francisco: $59,033
Oakland: $57,793
San Jose, CA$59,683
San Francisco, CA$59,033
Oakland, CA$57,793
New York, NY$54,483
Paramus, NJ$53,823
Queens Village, NY$53,823
Passaic, NJ$53,773
Bergenfield, NJ$53,773
Stamford, CT$53,663
Huntington, NY$53,653
Newark, NJ$53,303
Bridgeport, CT$53,203
Vallejo, CA$53,103
New Brunswick, NJ$53,083
Petaluma, CA$53,053
Middlesex, NJ$52,963
Somerset, NJ$52,933
Santa Cruz, CA$52,873
Boston, MA$52,583
Monterey, CA$52,423
Seattle, WA$52,313
Santa Rosa, CA$52,303
Los Angeles, CA$52,283
Juneau, AK$52,163
Washington, DC$52,113
Orange, CA$51,943
Santa Ana, CA$51,823
Long Beach, CA$51,773
Anaheim, CA$51,763
Anchorage, AK$51,733
Santa Maria, CA$51,593
Everett, WA$51,583
Danbury, CT$51,423
Bremerton, WA$51,353
Tacoma, WA$51,183
New Suffolk, NY$51,183
Sacramento, CA$51,173
Santa Barbara, CA$51,113
Trenton, NJ$51,063
San Diego, CA$51,063
Brockton, MA$51,013
Fairbanks, AK$50,893
Lompoc, CA$50,773
Lowell, MA$50,743
Ventura, CA$50,733
Nashua, NH$50,723
Stockton, CA$50,713
Modesto, CA$50,373
Poughkeepsie, NY$50,263
Olympia, WA$50,173
Kennewick, WA$50,173
New Haven, CT$50,153
Lawrence, MA$49,983
Hartford, CT$49,943
Riverside, CA$49,933
New Bedford, MA$49,883
Richland, WA$49,883
Bakersfield, CA$49,813
San Bernardino, CA$49,803
New Britain, CT$49,793
Atlantic City, NJ$49,793
New London, CT$49,773
Norwich, CT$49,763
Portsmouth, NH$49,753
Boulder, CO$49,653
Portland, OR$49,583
Worcester, MA$49,583
Minneapolis, MN$49,433
Philadelphia, PA$49,363
Honolulu, HI$49,213
Saint Paul, MN$49,193
Vineland, NJ$49,183
Providence, RI$49,043
Chicago, IL$48,903
Bellingham, WA$48,843
Springfield, MA$48,813
Baltimore, MD$48,793
Chico, CA$48,673
Pittsfield, MA$48,553
Manchester, NH$48,463
Spokane, WA$48,253
Denver, CO$48,243
Albany, NY$48,023
Troy, NY$48,003
Nassau, NY$47,953
Schenectady, NY$47,903
Wilmington, DE$47,873
Burlington, VT$47,803
Salem, OR$47,783
Portland, ME$47,633
Yakima, WA$47,593
Rochester, MN$47,443
Reno, NV$47,423
Fresno, CA$47,423
Milwaukee, WI$47,373
Detroit, MI$47,333
Ann Arbor, MI$47,323
Allentown, PA$47,313
Colorado Springs, CO$47,233
Syracuse, NY$47,213
Carson City, NV$47,213
Houston, TX$47,143
Eugene, OR$47,123
Gary, IN$47,063
Springfield, OR$47,023
Bismarck, ND$47,013
Galveston, TX$46,983
Medford, OR$46,913
Fort Collins, CO$46,893
Concord, NH$46,873
Austin, TX$46,853
Mesa, AZ$46,753
Reading, PA$46,753
Phoenix, AZ$46,743
Dallas, TX$46,733
Saint Cloud, MN$46,683
Madison, WI$46,623
Utica, NY$46,493
Rochester, NY$46,423
Des Moines, IA$46,413
Raleigh, NC$46,413
Atlanta, GA$46,343
Battle Creek, MI$46,323
Salt Lake City, UT$46,313
Lancaster, PA$46,243
Harrisburg, PA$46,173
Kansas City, MO$46,123
Fort Worth, TX$46,113
Champaign, IL$46,113
Kansas City, KS$46,113
Columbus, OH$46,103
Boca Raton, FL$46,093
Pittsburgh, PA$46,073
Richmond, VA$46,053
Indianapolis, IN$46,043
Cleveland, OH$46,043
Las Vegas, NV$45,983
Cincinnati, OH$45,983
Petersburg, VA$45,913
Huntsville, AL$45,843
Lansing, MI$45,813
Lebanon, PA$45,803
Pueblo, CO$45,803
Appleton, WI$45,783
Buffalo, NY$45,763
Dayton, OH$45,753
Racine, WI$45,743
Charlotte, NC$45,743
Saint Louis, MO$45,723
York, PA$45,693
Elkhart, IN$45,693
Gastonia, NC$45,683
Billings, MT$45,673
Beaumont, TX$45,663
Lorain, OH$45,653
Benton Harbor, MI$45,643
Toledo, OH$45,633
Binghamton, NY$45,613
Rock Hill, SC$45,603
Rockford, IL$45,583
Springfield, IL$45,563
Elyria, OH$45,563
Fargo, ND$45,563
Flagstaff, AZ$45,523
Fort Lauderdale, FL$45,493
Duluth, MN$45,473
Miami, FL$45,473
Cheyenne, WY$45,433
Grand Forks, ND$45,433
Bangor, ME$45,333
Cedar Rapids, IA$45,283
Durham, NC$45,263
Louisville, KY$45,253
Grand Rapids, MI$45,243
Hialeah, FL$45,243
Casper, WY$45,173
Scranton, PA$45,123
Virginia Beach, VA$45,103
New Orleans, LA$45,103
Akron, OH$45,073
Peoria, IL$45,013
Sarasota, FL$45,003
Nashville, TN$44,973
Omaha, NE$44,973
Green Bay, WI$44,973
Baton Rouge, LA$44,953
Charleston, SC$44,943
Jamestown, NY$44,913
Davenport, IA$44,913
Tucson, AZ$44,893
Saint Petersburg, FL$44,863
Tampa, FL$44,853
Evansville, IN$44,823
Port Arthur, TX$44,823
Bradenton, FL$44,803
Santa Fe, NM$44,723
Orlando, FL$44,633
Clearwater, FL$44,623
Canton, OH$44,523
La Crosse, WI$44,523
Albuquerque, NM$44,493
Newport News, VA$44,493
High Point, NC$44,473
Ogden, UT$44,453
Corpus Christi, TX$44,423
Norfolk, VA$44,393
Laramie, WY$44,393
Rock Island, IL$44,363
Jacksonville, FL$44,353
Saginaw, MI$44,353
Salisbury, NC$44,343
Boise, ID$44,333
Moline, IL$44,303
Fort Myers, FL$44,293
Memphis, TN$44,283
Tulsa, OK$44,263
Waterloo, IA$44,233
Spartanburg, SC$44,183
Lincoln, NE$44,163
Fort Wayne, IN$44,153
Provo, UT$44,143
Cedar Falls, IA$44,093
San Antonio, TX$44,073
Greensboro, NC$44,053
South Bend, IN$44,043
Savannah, GA$43,993
Muskegon, MI$43,973
Birmingham, AL$43,973
Winston Salem, NC$43,943
Lake Charles, LA$43,833
Anderson, IN$43,823
Lexington, KY$43,813
Augusta, GA$43,793
Greenville, SC$43,793
Lima, OH$43,753
Wichita, KS$43,753
Tuscaloosa, AL$43,753
Columbia, SC$43,713
Springfield, OH$43,703
Asheville, NC$43,623
Bloomington, IN$43,593
Knoxville, TN$43,423
Shreveport, LA$43,413
Wilmington, NC$43,353
Roanoke, VA$43,353
Topeka, KS$43,273
Frankfort, KY$43,263
Oklahoma City, OK$43,233
Longview, TX$43,213
Chillicothe, OH$43,213
Melbourne, FL$43,203
Sioux Falls, SD$43,123
Mobile, AL$43,123
Terre Haute, IN$43,103
Altoona, PA$43,073
Amarillo, TX$43,043
Killeen, TX$43,033
Fayetteville, AR$42,993
Chattanooga, TN$42,973
Sioux City, IA$42,933
Idaho Falls, ID$42,923
Lynchburg, VA$42,883
Gainesville, FL$42,823
Portsmouth, OH$42,803
Little Rock, AR$42,793
Lafayette, LA$42,773
Youngstown, OH$42,773
Clarksville, TN$42,743
Daytona Beach, FL$42,743
Pensacola, FL$42,733
Temple, TX$42,733
Hopkinsville, KY$42,593
Erie, PA$42,583
Florence, SC$42,563
Charleston, WV$42,493
Great Falls, MT$42,463
Macon, GA$42,403
Tallahassee, FL$42,393
Fayetteville, NC$42,383
Waco, TX$42,373
Helena, MT$42,343
Pine Bluff, AR$42,323
Vincennes, IN$42,263
Lubbock, TX$42,253
Alamogordo, NM$42,223
Twin Falls, ID$42,173
Rapid City, SD$42,163
Greenville, MS$42,073
Jackson, MS$42,073
Huntington, WV$42,073
Parkersburg, WV$42,023
Montgomery, AL$42,013
Wichita Falls, TX$41,973
Springfield, MO$41,973
Biloxi, MS$41,943
Monroe, LA$41,903
Johnstown, PA$41,863
Columbus, GA$41,843
Sumter, SC$41,843
Pascagoula, MS$41,753
Abilene, TX$41,753
Kingsport, TN$41,633
Albany, GA$41,633
Gulfport, MS$41,613
Alexandria, LA$41,463
Fort Smith, AR$41,343
El Paso, TX$41,213
Las Cruces, NM$41,003
Harlingen, TX$40,883
Pocatello, ID$40,873
Florence, AL$40,813
Brownsville, TX$40,803
Mcallen, TX$40,703
Dothan, AL$40,633
Columbus, MS$40,353
Altus, OK$40,133
Lawton, OK$40,043
Pierre, SD$39,873
What Skills Can Increase a Veterinary Nurse's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Customer Service (Mentioned in 7.46% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
Animal Care (Mentioned in 3.48% Job Postings): Providing animals' physical and mental needs to protect their welfare by treating them all with care.
Nursing Care (Mentioned in 2.39% Job Postings): Nursing Care means assistance provided for the health care needs of sick or disabled individuals, by or under the direction of licensed nursing personnel.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Customer Service
7.46%
Animal Care
3.48%
Nursing Care
2.39%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Veterinary Nurse's salary.
Internal Medicine: Can increase your salary by up to 47%.
Critical Care: Can increase your salary by up to 44%.
Patient Care: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Internal Medicine
$69,565
47%
Critical Care
$68,145
44%
Patient Care
$58,681
24%
Anesthesia
$56,314
19%
Get Latest Data
Veterinary Nurse Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Veterinary Nurse salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $51,915.
While startup companies pay approximate $43,986.
Veterinary Nurse Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$43,986
Growth Stage
51~500
$46,498
Established
501~5000
$50,156
Enterprise
5000+
$51,915
Veterinary Nurse Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Veterinary Nurse roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Hospitality & Leisure
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average.
In contrast, Veterinary Nurse positions in Retail & Wholesale or Business Services typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Veterinary Nurse as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Veterinary Nurse
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals
$61,520
$30.0
30%
Hospitality & Leisure
$56,788
$27.0
20%
Healthcare
$52,055
$25.0
10%
Veterinary Nurse Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Veterinary Nurse's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting.
Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role.
Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Salaries for a Veterinary Nurse can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $50,038 in 2023
to around $49,565 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Veterinary Nurse salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Veterinary Nurse Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$50,038
2024
$49,982
2025
$49,565
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$50,038
2024
$49,982
2025
$49,565
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Veterinary Nurse
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
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Common company salaries for Veterinary Nurse
Here are companies hiring for Veterinary Nurse and their salaries, click below for more details.
K
$114,295/per year
Kpmg Us LLP
Business Services
the United States
W
$114,096/per year
Warner Bros Discovery
Business Services
the United States
D
$111,927/per year
Dentsu International Ltd
Business Services
the United States
G
$111,873/per year
GroupM Worldwide Inc
Business Services
the United States
C
$111,651/per year
CoWorx Staffing
Business Services
the United States
C
$110,194/per year
Contemporary Services Corp
Business Services
the United States
S
$107,128/per year
Showcase Cinemas
Business Services
the United States
A
$106,429/per year
Amentum Services Inc
Business Services
the United States
A
$106,199/per year
Allied Universal Security Services LLC
Business Services
the United States
S
$106,104/per year
Sodexo USA
Business Services
the United States
J
$105,192/per year
JLL Technologies
Business Services
the United States
I
$104,478/per year
Intact Insurance Group USA LLC
Business Services
the United States
N
$101,619/per year
NielsenIQ
Business Services
the United States
T
$101,470/per year
The Leading Edge Alliance
Business Services
the United States
H
$101,308/per year
Honeywell UOP
Business Services
the United States
R
$97,720/per year
Reeve & Associates
Business Services
the United States
M
$97,584/per year
ManpowerGroup Global Inc
Business Services
the United States
F
$95,980/per year
Financial Sys Nco
Business Services
the United States
A
$95,314/per year
Arrow Global Ltd
Business Services
the United States
C
$94,777/per year
CarMax Enterprise Services LLC
Business Services
the United States
D
$94,479/per year
DZConneX
Business Services
the United States
A
$93,802/per year
Adecco Staffing, USA
Business Services
the United States
R
$92,937/per year
Resource MFG
Business Services
the United States
Z
$92,774/per year
Zachry Brands Inc
Business Services
the United States
G
$88,138/per year
Greystar Worldwide LLC
Business Services
the United States
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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
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