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): $45,967
Early Career (1-2 years): $46,223
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $46,994
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $49,290
Expert (over 8 years): $50,435
Levels
Salary
Entry Level Veterinary Nurse
$45,967
Intermediate Level Veterinary Nurse
$46,223
Senior Level Veterinary Nurse
$46,994
Specialist Level Veterinary Nurse
$49,290
Expert Level Veterinary Nurse
$50,435
$45,9670 yr
$46,223< 2 yrs
$46,9942-4 yrs
$49,2905-8 yrs
$50,435> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Veterinary Nurse 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 Nurses.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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: $59,693
San Francisco: $59,033
Oakland: $57,793
San Jose, CA$59,693
San Francisco, CA$59,033
Oakland, CA$57,793
New York, NY$54,493
Paramus, NJ$53,833
Queens Village, NY$53,823
Passaic, NJ$53,783
Bergenfield, NJ$53,773
Stamford, CT$53,673
Huntington, NY$53,653
Newark, NJ$53,303
Bridgeport, CT$53,203
Vallejo, CA$53,113
New Brunswick, NJ$53,093
Petaluma, CA$53,063
Middlesex, NJ$52,973
Somerset, NJ$52,943
Santa Cruz, CA$52,883
Boston, MA$52,593
Monterey, CA$52,423
Seattle, WA$52,313
Santa Rosa, CA$52,303
Los Angeles, CA$52,293
Juneau, AK$52,173
Washington, DC$52,113
Orange, CA$51,953
Santa Ana, CA$51,823
Long Beach, CA$51,773
Anaheim, CA$51,763
Anchorage, AK$51,743
Santa Maria, CA$51,603
Everett, WA$51,593
Danbury, CT$51,423
Bremerton, WA$51,363
Tacoma, WA$51,193
New Suffolk, NY$51,193
Sacramento, CA$51,173
Santa Barbara, CA$51,123
Trenton, NJ$51,073
San Diego, CA$51,073
Brockton, MA$51,023
Fairbanks, AK$50,903
Lompoc, CA$50,783
Lowell, MA$50,743
Ventura, CA$50,733
Nashua, NH$50,723
Stockton, CA$50,723
Modesto, CA$50,373
Poughkeepsie, NY$50,273
Kennewick, WA$50,183
Olympia, WA$50,183
New Haven, CT$50,163
Lawrence, MA$49,993
Hartford, CT$49,943
Riverside, CA$49,933
New Bedford, MA$49,893
Richland, WA$49,893
Bakersfield, CA$49,823
Atlantic City, NJ$49,803
San Bernardino, CA$49,803
New Britain, CT$49,803
New London, CT$49,783
Norwich, CT$49,763
Portsmouth, NH$49,753
Boulder, CO$49,653
Portland, OR$49,593
Worcester, MA$49,583
Minneapolis, MN$49,443
Philadelphia, PA$49,373
Honolulu, HI$49,213
Saint Paul, MN$49,193
Vineland, NJ$49,183
Providence, RI$49,043
Chicago, IL$48,913
Bellingham, WA$48,853
Springfield, MA$48,813
Baltimore, MD$48,803
Chico, CA$48,683
Pittsfield, MA$48,553
Manchester, NH$48,463
Spokane, WA$48,253
Denver, CO$48,253
Albany, NY$48,033
Troy, NY$48,013
Nassau, NY$47,963
Schenectady, NY$47,913
Wilmington, DE$47,873
Burlington, VT$47,803
Salem, OR$47,783
Portland, ME$47,643
Yakima, WA$47,593
Rochester, MN$47,443
Reno, NV$47,423
Fresno, CA$47,423
Milwaukee, WI$47,383
Detroit, MI$47,333
Allentown, PA$47,323
Ann Arbor, MI$47,323
Colorado Springs, CO$47,243
Syracuse, NY$47,213
Carson City, NV$47,213
Houston, TX$47,153
Eugene, OR$47,123
Gary, IN$47,073
Springfield, OR$47,033
Bismarck, ND$47,023
Galveston, TX$46,993
Medford, OR$46,913
Fort Collins, CO$46,903
Concord, NH$46,873
Austin, TX$46,863
Mesa, AZ$46,763
Reading, PA$46,753
Phoenix, AZ$46,753
Dallas, TX$46,733
Saint Cloud, MN$46,693
Madison, WI$46,633
Utica, NY$46,503
Rochester, NY$46,423
Des Moines, IA$46,423
Raleigh, NC$46,413
Atlanta, GA$46,343
Battle Creek, MI$46,333
Salt Lake City, UT$46,313
Lancaster, PA$46,243
Harrisburg, PA$46,183
Kansas City, MO$46,133
Kansas City, KS$46,123
Champaign, IL$46,123
Fort Worth, TX$46,113
Columbus, OH$46,113
Boca Raton, FL$46,103
Pittsburgh, PA$46,083
Richmond, VA$46,063
Indianapolis, IN$46,053
Cleveland, OH$46,043
Cincinnati, OH$45,993
Las Vegas, NV$45,993
Petersburg, VA$45,923
Huntsville, AL$45,853
Lansing, MI$45,813
Lebanon, PA$45,813
Pueblo, CO$45,803
Appleton, WI$45,793
Buffalo, NY$45,773
Dayton, OH$45,763
Racine, WI$45,753
Charlotte, NC$45,743
Saint Louis, MO$45,733
York, PA$45,703
Elkhart, IN$45,703
Gastonia, NC$45,693
Billings, MT$45,683
Beaumont, TX$45,673
Lorain, OH$45,663
Benton Harbor, MI$45,653
Toledo, OH$45,643
Rock Hill, SC$45,613
Binghamton, NY$45,613
Rockford, IL$45,583
Springfield, IL$45,573
Elyria, OH$45,563
Fargo, ND$45,563
Flagstaff, AZ$45,533
Fort Lauderdale, FL$45,503
Duluth, MN$45,473
Miami, FL$45,473
Cheyenne, WY$45,443
Grand Forks, ND$45,443
Bangor, ME$45,333
Cedar Rapids, IA$45,283
Durham, NC$45,263
Louisville, KY$45,263
Grand Rapids, MI$45,253
Hialeah, FL$45,243
Casper, WY$45,183
Scranton, PA$45,123
New Orleans, LA$45,113
Virginia Beach, VA$45,103
Akron, OH$45,083
Peoria, IL$45,023
Sarasota, FL$45,013
Nashville, TN$44,973
Omaha, NE$44,973
Green Bay, WI$44,973
Baton Rouge, LA$44,953
Charleston, SC$44,943
Jamestown, NY$44,923
Davenport, IA$44,923
Tucson, AZ$44,893
Saint Petersburg, FL$44,873
Tampa, FL$44,863
Evansville, IN$44,833
Port Arthur, TX$44,833
Bradenton, FL$44,813
Santa Fe, NM$44,723
Orlando, FL$44,643
Clearwater, FL$44,623
La Crosse, WI$44,533
Canton, OH$44,533
Albuquerque, NM$44,503
Newport News, VA$44,493
High Point, NC$44,483
Ogden, UT$44,463
Corpus Christi, TX$44,423
Norfolk, VA$44,393
Laramie, WY$44,393
Rock Island, IL$44,363
Saginaw, MI$44,353
Jacksonville, FL$44,353
Salisbury, NC$44,343
Boise, ID$44,333
Moline, IL$44,313
Fort Myers, FL$44,293
Memphis, TN$44,283
Tulsa, OK$44,263
Waterloo, IA$44,233
Spartanburg, SC$44,183
Lincoln, NE$44,163
Fort Wayne, IN$44,153
Provo, UT$44,153
Cedar Falls, IA$44,093
San Antonio, TX$44,073
Greensboro, NC$44,053
South Bend, IN$44,053
Savannah, GA$44,003
Muskegon, MI$43,983
Birmingham, AL$43,973
Winston Salem, NC$43,953
Lake Charles, LA$43,833
Anderson, IN$43,823
Lexington, KY$43,813
Augusta, GA$43,803
Greenville, SC$43,803
Lima, OH$43,763
Wichita, KS$43,753
Tuscaloosa, AL$43,753
Columbia, SC$43,713
Springfield, OH$43,703
Asheville, NC$43,633
Bloomington, IN$43,593
Knoxville, TN$43,423
Shreveport, LA$43,423
Wilmington, NC$43,363
Roanoke, VA$43,363
Topeka, KS$43,273
Frankfort, KY$43,273
Oklahoma City, OK$43,233
Chillicothe, OH$43,213
Longview, TX$43,213
Melbourne, FL$43,213
Sioux Falls, SD$43,133
Mobile, AL$43,123
Terre Haute, IN$43,113
Altoona, PA$43,083
Amarillo, TX$43,043
Killeen, TX$43,033
Fayetteville, AR$42,993
Chattanooga, TN$42,983
Sioux City, IA$42,943
Idaho Falls, ID$42,933
Lynchburg, VA$42,893
Gainesville, FL$42,833
Portsmouth, OH$42,803
Little Rock, AR$42,793
Lafayette, LA$42,773
Youngstown, OH$42,773
Daytona Beach, FL$42,753
Clarksville, TN$42,743
Pensacola, FL$42,743
Temple, TX$42,733
Hopkinsville, KY$42,593
Erie, PA$42,593
Florence, SC$42,573
Charleston, WV$42,493
Great Falls, MT$42,473
Tallahassee, FL$42,403
Macon, GA$42,403
Fayetteville, NC$42,393
Waco, TX$42,383
Helena, MT$42,343
Pine Bluff, AR$42,333
Vincennes, IN$42,273
Lubbock, TX$42,253
Alamogordo, NM$42,223
Twin Falls, ID$42,183
Rapid City, SD$42,163
Jackson, MS$42,083
Huntington, WV$42,083
Greenville, MS$42,073
Parkersburg, WV$42,033
Montgomery, AL$42,023
Wichita Falls, TX$41,973
Springfield, MO$41,973
Biloxi, MS$41,953
Monroe, LA$41,903
Johnstown, PA$41,873
Sumter, SC$41,853
Columbus, GA$41,843
Pascagoula, MS$41,753
Abilene, TX$41,753
Kingsport, TN$41,633
Albany, GA$41,633
Gulfport, MS$41,623
Alexandria, LA$41,463
Fort Smith, AR$41,343
El Paso, TX$41,213
Las Cruces, NM$41,003
Harlingen, TX$40,883
Pocatello, ID$40,873
Florence, AL$40,813
Brownsville, TX$40,803
Mcallen, TX$40,703
Dothan, AL$40,643
Columbus, MS$40,363
Altus, OK$40,133
Lawton, OK$40,043
Pierre, SD$39,873
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
$69,580
47%
Critical Care
$68,160
44%
Patient Care
$58,693
24%
Anesthesia
$56,326
19%
Get Latest Data
Veterinary Nurse Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Veterinary Nurse salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $51,944.
While startup companies pay approximate $44,031.
Veterinary Nurse Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$44,031
Growth Stage
51~500
$46,542
Established
501~5000
$50,184
Enterprise
5000+
$51,944
Veterinary Nurse Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Veterinary Nurse 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 Nurse positions in Retail & Wholesale or Business Services typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Veterinary Nurse as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Veterinary Nurse
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals
$61,533
$30.0
30%
Hospitality & Leisure
$56,800
$27.0
20%
Healthcare
$52,066
$25.0
10%
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.
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)
For Employers
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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.
K
$114,295/per year
Kpmg Us LLP
Business Services
the United States
W
$114,096/per year
Warner Bros Discovery
Business Services
the United States
D
$111,927/per year
Dentsu International Ltd
Business Services
the United States
G
$111,873/per year
GroupM Worldwide Inc
Business Services
the United States
C
$111,651/per year
CoWorx Staffing
Business Services
the United States
C
$110,194/per year
Contemporary Services Corp
Business Services
the United States
S
$107,128/per year
Showcase Cinemas
Business Services
the United States
A
$106,429/per year
Amentum Services Inc
Business Services
the United States
A
$106,199/per year
Allied Universal Security Services LLC
Business Services
the United States
S
$106,104/per year
Sodexo USA
Business Services
the United States
J
$105,192/per year
JLL Technologies
Business Services
the United States
I
$104,478/per year
Intact Insurance Group USA LLC
Business Services
the United States
N
$101,619/per year
NielsenIQ
Business Services
the United States
T
$101,470/per year
The Leading Edge Alliance
Business Services
the United States
H
$101,308/per year
Honeywell UOP
Business Services
the United States
R
$97,720/per year
Reeve & Associates
Business Services
the United States
M
$97,584/per year
ManpowerGroup Global Inc
Business Services
the United States
F
$95,980/per year
Financial Sys Nco
Business Services
the United States
A
$95,314/per year
Arrow Global Ltd
Business Services
the United States
C
$94,777/per year
CarMax Enterprise Services LLC
Business Services
the United States
D
$94,479/per year
DZConneX
Business Services
the United States
A
$93,802/per year
Adecco Staffing, USA
Business Services
the United States
R
$92,937/per year
Resource MFG
Business Services
the United States
Z
$92,774/per year
Zachry Brands Inc
Business Services
the United States
G
$88,138/per year
Greystar Worldwide LLC
Business Services
the United States
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FAQ about Veterinary Nurse
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Veterinary Nurse?
The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Veterinary Nurse 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.
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