Veterinary Specialist Salary in the United States

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

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Veterinary Specialist in the United States is $48,368 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $23.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $59,970
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $44,754 to $54,441
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $41,464
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View as table View as graph 25% $44,754 10% $41,464 90% $59,970 75% $54,441 $48,368 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Veterinary Specialist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $54,441 $4,537 $1,047 $26
Average $48,368 $4,031 $930 $23
25th Percentile $44,754 $3,729 $861 $22
Check out Veterinary Specialist Job Openings in the United States
Veterinary Avian&amp Exotics Specialist

MedVet - Hilliard, OH

Sales Support Specialist

AAC INDEPENDENT - FREDERICK, MD

Supervising Physician

HeartSmart Inc - HUNTINGTON STATION, NY

Radiation Therapy Specialist

Valor Oncology - REDDING, CA

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Key Factors That Influence Veterinary Specialist Salaries

A Veterinary Specialist'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 Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Veterinary Specialist'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): $46,519
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $46,779
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $47,558
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $49,886
  • Expert (over 8 years): $51,047
Levels Salary
Entry Level Veterinary Specialist$46,519
Intermediate Level Veterinary Specialist$46,779
Senior Level Veterinary Specialist$47,558
Specialist Level Veterinary Specialist$49,886
Expert Level Veterinary Specialist$51,047
$46,519 0 yr
$46,779 < 2 yrs
$47,558 2-4 yrs
$49,886 5-8 yrs
$51,047 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Veterinary Specialists

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: $61,006
  • San Francisco: $60,338
  • Oakland: $59,066

What Skills Can Increase a Veterinary Specialist'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 Specialist'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
$71,100
47%
Critical Care
$69,649
44%
Patient Care
$59,976
24%
Anesthesia
$57,557
19%
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Veterinary Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

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

The top paying industries for a Veterinary Specialist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$62,878$30.030%
Hospitality & Leisure$58,041$28.020%
Healthcare$53,204$26.010%

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

Understanding how a Veterinary Specialist'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 July 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Veterinary Specialist

Salaries for a Veterinary Specialist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $50,688 in 2023 to around $50,210 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Veterinary Specialist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Veterinary Specialist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$50,688
2024
$50,632
2025
$50,210
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $50,688
2024 $50,632
2025 $50,210
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Veterinary Specialist

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

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

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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.)

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