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Hourly Wage for Research Veterinarian Salary in the United States

How much does a Research Veterinarian make hourly?

As of August 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Research Veterinarian in the United States is $67, which translates to an annual salary of about $139,564.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $85 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $61 to $77 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $55 per hour
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Research Veterinarian Salaries

A Research Veterinarian'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Research Veterinarian Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Research Veterinarian'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): $133,424
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $134,448
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $136,494
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $139,564
  • Expert (over 8 years): $147,031
Levels Salary
Entry Level Research Veterinarian$133,424
Intermediate Level Research Veterinarian$134,448
Senior Level Research Veterinarian$136,494
Specialist Level Research Veterinarian$139,564
Expert Level Research Veterinarian$147,031
View as Graph

How Do Research Veterinarians 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 Research Veterinarians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $154,525.
  • California: $153,939.
  • Massachusetts: $151,888.

Top Paying Cities for Research Veterinarian

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: $176,032
  • San Francisco: $174,105
  • Oakland: $170,436

What Skills Can Increase a Research Veterinarian's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Communication Skills (Mentioned in 13.25% Job Postings): Communication skills are your ability to share or understand information, ideas, and feelings successfully.
  • Radiology (Mentioned in 1.2% Job Postings): Recording, analyzing, and measuring brain activities through electroencephalogram tests to detect, diagnose, and treat brain disorders.
  • Animal Welfare (Mentioned in 0.4% Job Postings): A well-being of non-human animals. Formal standards vary between contexts, but are debated mostly by animal welfare groups, legislators and academics.
Skills Demand Percentage
Communication Skills 13.25%
Radiology 1.2%
Animal Welfare 0.4%
See More Skills

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 Research Veterinarian's salary.

  • Dedication: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Partnering: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Dedication $147,938
6%
Commitment $145,147
4%
Partnering $143,751
3%
Get Latest Data

Research Veterinarian Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Research Veterinarian salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $154,123. While startup companies pay approximate $130,923.

Research Veterinarian Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $130,923
Growth Stage 51~500 $138,331
Established 501~5000 $148,976
Enterprise 5000+ $154,123

Research Veterinarian Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Research Veterinarian roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 25% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Pharmaceuticals, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Research Veterinarian positions in Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Research Veterinarian as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Research Veterinarian

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$153,520$74.010%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$146,542$70.05%

How Education impacts an Research Veterinarian's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Research Veterinarian enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Research Veterinarian with a Bachelor's Degree is between $0 and $0.

Research Veterinarian Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Research Veterinarian
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 6.2%
High School 12.7%
Associates 10.5%
Bachelors 16.4%
Masters 15.8%
Doctorate 38.4%
View as Graph

Research Veterinarian Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Research Veterinarian'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.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$125,852
Average $139,564/year
$159,575
$10,488
Average $11,630/month
$13,298
$2,420
Average $2,684/week
$3,069
$61
Average $67/hour
$77
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $159,575 $13,298 $3,069 $77
Average $139,564 $11,630 $2,684 $67
25th Percentile $125,852 $10,488 $2,420 $61

Most common benefits for Research Veterinarian

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Research Veterinarian

Here are companies hiring for Research Veterinarian and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Research Veterinarian

1. What are the responsibilities of Research Veterinarian?

Provides medical services in support of the health of animals that are part of medical research and studies. Prescribes medications, establishes and administers treatment plans, and performs surgeries on animals. Provides oversight of animal care and laboratory protocols to ensure compliance with veterinary standards and statutory requirements. Requires a doctorate degree in veterinary medicine. Requires State License. Typically reports to a director. Years of experience may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement.

2. What are the skills of Research Veterinarian

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Communication Skills: Communication skills are your ability to share or understand information, ideas, and feelings successfully.

2.)

Radiology: Recording, analyzing, and measuring brain activities through electroencephalogram tests to detect, diagnose, and treat brain disorders.

3.)

Animal Welfare: A well-being of non-human animals. Formal standards vary between contexts, but are debated mostly by animal welfare groups, legislators and academics.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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