Attending Veterinarian Salary in the United States

How much does an Attending Veterinarian make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Attending Veterinarian in the United States is $114,824 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $55.

However, an Attending Veterinarian's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $128,818
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $101,994 to $122,149
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $90,313
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View as table View as graph 25% $101,994 10% $90,313 90% $128,818 75% $122,149 $114,824 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Attending Veterinarian Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $122,149 $10,179 $2,349 $59
Average $114,824 $9,569 $2,208 $55
25th Percentile $101,994 $8,500 $1,961 $49
Check out Attending Veterinarian Job Openings in the United States
Chief AI Officer

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Associate Vice President Internal Communications

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Vice President Credit Risk Strategy&Data Science

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Regional Truck Driver Company

KreilKamp Trucking - Columbus, OH

Search More Attending Veterinarian Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Attending Veterinarian Salaries

An Attending 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Attending Veterinarian Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Attending 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): $112,151
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $113,042
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $114,467
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $116,249
  • Expert (over 8 years): $118,446
Levels Salary
Entry Level Attending Veterinarian$112,151
Intermediate Level Attending Veterinarian$113,042
Senior Level Attending Veterinarian$114,467
Specialist Level Attending Veterinarian$116,249
Expert Level Attending Veterinarian$118,446
$112,151 0 yr
$113,042 < 2 yrs
$114,467 2-4 yrs
$116,249 5-8 yrs
$118,446 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Attending Veterinarian 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 Attending Veterinarians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $127,133.
  • California: $126,651.
  • Massachusetts: $124,963.

Top Paying Cities for Attending Veterinarians

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: $144,828
  • San Francisco: $143,242
  • Oakland: $140,223

What Skills Can Increase an Attending Veterinarian's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 6.6% 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.
  • Internal Medicine (Mentioned in 3.38% Job Postings): Diagnose and provide non-surgical treatment of diseases and injuries of internal organ systems. Provide care mainly for adults who have a wide range of problems associated with the internal organs.
  • Animal Care (Mentioned in 2.32% Job Postings): Providing animals' physical and mental needs to protect their welfare by treating them all with care.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 6.6%
Internal Medicine 3.38%
Animal Care 2.32%
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 an Attending Veterinarian's salary.
  • Written Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Business Acumen: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Client Communications: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Written Communication
$126,306
10%
Business Acumen
$124,010
8%
Client Communications
$121,713
6%
Leadership
$121,713
6%
Patient Care
$121,713
6%
Innovation
$120,565
5%
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Attending Veterinarian Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Attending Veterinarian roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 120% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 60% above the average. In contrast, Attending Veterinarian positions in Retail & Wholesale or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Attending Veterinarian as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Attending Veterinarian

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$183,718$88.060%
Healthcare$160,754$77.040%
MFG Durable$137,789$66.020%

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

Understanding how an Attending 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

Salary Trends for Attending Veterinarian

Salaries for an Attending Veterinarian can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $108,021 in 2023 to around $103,578 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Attending Veterinarian salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Attending Veterinarian Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$108,021
2024
$106,532
2025
$103,578
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $108,021
2024 $106,532
2025 $103,578
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Attending Veterinarian

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Attending Veterinarian

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

Find Your Next Attending Veterinarian Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Attending Veterinarian job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    22 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery. About the Company. A multi-billion-dollar construction organization with collaborative, servant-minded leadershi... more

    22 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Chief of Staff. About the Company. Innovative travel platform for booking & managing work trips. Industry. Computer Software. Type. Privately Held, VC-back... more

    22 Days Ago

  • McDonalds

    Columbus, OH

    McDonalds | Columbus, OH

    McDonald’s is seeking Crew Team Members to assist with daily restaurant operations including customer service, food preparation, and maintaining restaurant... more

    29 Days Ago

  • Amazon Flex

    Columbus, OH

    Amazon Flex | Columbus, OH

    Amazon Flex Delivery Drivers use their own vehicle to deliver Amazon packages to customers on scheduled delivery blocks. Drivers are responsible for pickin... more

    29 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Commercial. About the Company. Globally-recognized manufacturer of packaging components & delivery systems for injectable drugs. Industry. ... more

    1 Month Ago

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FAQ about Attending Veterinarian

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Attending Veterinarian?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Attending Veterinarian roles, with salaries approximately 60% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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