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Veterinary Criticalist Salary in the United States

How much does a Veterinary Criticalist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Veterinary Criticalist in the United States is $115,136 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $55.

However, a Veterinary Criticalist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $129,184
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $102,283 to $122,489
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $90,581
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Veterinary Criticalist Salaries

A Veterinary Criticalist'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 Criticalist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Veterinary Criticalist'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): $112,458
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $113,351
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $114,779
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $116,564
  • Expert (over 8 years): $118,768
Levels Salary
Entry Level Veterinary Criticalist$112,458
Intermediate Level Veterinary Criticalist$113,351
Senior Level Veterinary Criticalist$114,779
Specialist Level Veterinary Criticalist$116,564
Expert Level Veterinary Criticalist$118,768
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How Do Veterinary Criticalist 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 Criticalists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $127,479.
  • California: $126,995.
  • Massachusetts: $125,303.

Top Paying Cities for Veterinary Criticalists

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: $145,221
  • San Francisco: $143,631
  • Oakland: $140,604

What Skills Can Increase a Veterinary Criticalist'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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 6.6%
Internal Medicine 3.38%
Animal Care 2.32%
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 Veterinary Criticalist'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 $126,650
10%
Business Acumen $124,347
8%
Client Communications $122,044
6%
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Veterinary Criticalist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Veterinary Criticalist 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, Veterinary Criticalist positions in Retail & Wholesale or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Veterinary Criticalist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Veterinary Criticalist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$184,218$89.060%
Healthcare$161,190$77.040%
MFG Durable$138,163$66.020%

Veterinary Criticalist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Veterinary Criticalist'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 September 01, 2026
$102,283
Average $115,136/year
$122,489
$8,524
Average $9,595/month
$10,207
$1,967
Average $2,214/week
$2,356
$49
Average $55/hour
$59
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $122,489 $10,207 $2,356 $59
Average $115,136 $9,595 $2,214 $55
25th Percentile $102,283 $8,524 $1,967 $49

Most common benefits for Veterinary Criticalist

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

Common company salaries for Veterinary Criticalist

Here are companies hiring for Veterinary Criticalist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Veterinary Criticalist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Veterinary Criticalist?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Veterinary Criticalist 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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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