Veterinary Nurse Salary in the United States

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

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Veterinary Nurse in the United States is $47,313 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $23.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $58,585
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $43,873 to $53,213
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $40,741
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View as table View as graph 25% $43,873 10% $40,741 90% $58,585 75% $53,213 $47,313 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Veterinary Nurse Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $53,213 $4,434 $1,023 $26
Average $47,313 $3,943 $910 $23
25th Percentile $43,873 $3,656 $844 $21
Check out Veterinary Nurse Job Openings in the United States
Registered veterinary Nurse

Medivet Group - Bexley, OH

Casual Veterinary Nurse Clyde North

PETstock NZ Limited - Clyde, OH

Veterinary Nurse Assistant Critical Care

MedVet Medical & Cancer Centers for Pets - Cincinnati, OH

Emergency Veterinary Nurse Trainer&amp Growth Coach

VEG ER for Pets - Cincinnati, OH

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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): $45,947
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $46,203
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $46,974
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $49,270
  • Expert (over 8 years): $50,415
Levels Salary
Entry Level Veterinary Nurse$45,947
Intermediate Level Veterinary Nurse$46,203
Senior Level Veterinary Nurse$46,974
Specialist Level Veterinary Nurse$49,270
Expert Level Veterinary Nurse$50,415
$45,947 0 yr
$46,203 < 2 yrs
$46,974 2-4 yrs
$49,270 5-8 yrs
$50,415 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Veterinary Nurses

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: $59,663
  • San Francisco: $59,083
  • Oakland: $57,773

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
$69,550
47%
Critical Care
$68,131
44%
Patient Care
$58,668
24%
Anesthesia
$56,302
19%
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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.

Last Updated on April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Veterinary Nurse

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)
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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.

Find Your Next Veterinary Nurse Job

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

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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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