Veterinary Salary in the United States

How much does a Veterinary make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Veterinary in the United States is $45,346 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $22.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $54,818
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $41,751 to $50,304
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $38,477
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View as table View as graph 25% $41,751 10% $38,477 90% $54,818 75% $50,304 $45,346 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Veterinary Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $50,304 $4,192 $967 $24
Average $45,346 $3,779 $872 $22
25th Percentile $41,751 $3,479 $803 $20
Check out Veterinary Job Openings in the United States
Registered Veterinary Technician

Darby Creek Veterinary Clinic - Columbus, OH

Registered Veterinary Technician

National Veterinary Association - Columbus, OH

Credentialed Veterinary Technician

Heartland Veterinary Partners LLC - Columbus, OH

Credentialed Veterinary Technician

Heartland Veterinary Partners - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Veterinary Salaries

A Veterinary'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 Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Veterinary'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): $44,747
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $44,997
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $45,746
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $47,985
  • Expert (over 8 years): $49,102
Levels Salary
Entry Level Veterinary$44,747
Intermediate Level Veterinary$44,997
Senior Level Veterinary$45,746
Specialist Level Veterinary$47,985
Expert Level Veterinary$49,102
$44,747 0 yr
$44,997 < 2 yrs
$45,746 2-4 yrs
$47,985 5-8 yrs
$49,102 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Veterinaries

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: $57,195
  • San Francisco: $56,569
  • Oakland: $55,377

What Skills Can Increase a Veterinary'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'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
$66,659
47%
Critical Care
$65,298
44%
Patient Care
$56,229
24%
Anesthesia
$53,962
19%
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Veterinary Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

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

The top paying industries for a Veterinary

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$58,950$28.030%
Hospitality & Leisure$54,415$26.020%
Healthcare$49,881$24.010%

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

Understanding how a Veterinary'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 Veterinary

Salaries for a Veterinary can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $48,752 in 2023 to around $48,292 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Veterinary salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Veterinary Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$48,752
2024
$48,697
2025
$48,292
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $48,752
2024 $48,697
2025 $48,292
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Veterinary

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

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

Find Your Next Veterinary Job

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

United States
  • Emergency Veterinary Care Center

    Columbus, OH

    Emergency Veterinary Care Center | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. WHO WE ARE. Emergency Veterinary Care Centers (EVCC) is a rapidly growing group of emergency veterinary hospitals with 5 ... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Carevet

    Columbus, OH

    Carevet | Columbus, OH

    Veterinary Assistant CareVet of Columbus. Join a team committed to the highest standards of veterinary medicine. CareVet of Columbus is growing, and we're ... more

    3 Days Ago

  • Banfield Pet Hospital

    Columbus, OH

    Banfield Pet Hospital | Columbus, OH

    Veterinary Assistant Careers at Banfield Pet Hospital. For those who want to put their love of pets into action, there are few jobs more rewarding than tha... more

    3 Days Ago

  • Mission Pet Health

    Columbus, OH

    Mission Pet Health | Columbus, OH

    Veterinary Assistant Position. Upper Arlington Veterinary Hospital, located in Columbus, Ohio, has proudly served the community since 2008 and is driven by... more

    4 Days Ago

  • MedVet

    Columbus, OH

    MedVet | Columbus, OH

    Internist Position. MedVet is currently seeking a fourth Internist (board-certified or residency-trained) to join our established Internal Medicine departm... more

    5 Days Ago

  • MedVet

    Columbus, OH

    MedVet | Columbus, OH

    Board-Certified Or Residency-Trained Anesthesiologist. MedVet is currently seeking a board-certified or residency-trained anesthesiologist to join our team... more

    6 Days Ago

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FAQ about Veterinary

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Veterinary?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Veterinary roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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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