What vet makes the most money?
Average salaries for a veterinarian vary, but we found that the highest paid specialty in the industry is Ophthalmology, with AVMA reporting annual incomes of $199K+.
How Much Does a Veterinarian Make? Veterinarians made a median salary of $100,370 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $128,410 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $78,920.
| State | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay |
|---|---|---|
| California | $101,674 | $8,472 |
| South Carolina | $101,304 | $8,442 |
| Vermont | $100,296 | $8,358 |
| Tennessee | $99,549 | $8,295 |
| Annual Salary | Weekly Pay | |
|---|---|---|
| Top Earners | $151,500 | $2,913 |
| 75th Percentile | $120,500 | $2,317 |
| Average | $108,297 | $2,082 |
| 25th Percentile | $84,500 | $1,625 |
Veterinarian salaries typically range between $58,000 and $205,000 a year. The average hourly rate for veterinarians is $52.66 per hour. Location, education, and experience impacts how much a veterinarian can expect to make.
- Zoo veterinarian. National average salary: $59,986 per year. ...
- Veterinary practice manager. ...
- Veterinary hospital manager. ...
- Public health veterinarian. ...
- Regulatory medicine veterinarian. ...
- Small animal veterinarian. ...
- Military veterinarian. ...
- Veterinary research scientist.
While salaries vary widely, veterinarians rarely become wealthy. As long as there are animals, there will be a need for veterinarians to care for them. The emotional and intellectual rewards of veterinary medicine are rich and diverse.
Some studies show that veterinarians enjoy their jobs more than the average worker. It's also a profession that comes with a great deal of job security and solid pay. But earning a veterinarian degree takes substantial time, effort and money. Tuition isn't cheap, sometimes costing as much as $160,000 per year.
From low acceptance rates at vet colleges to the number of years necessary to practice the profession, becoming a veterinarian is one of the most difficult career goals to achieve. There are approximately thirty accredited vet schools in the United States, while there are 155 accredited medical schools in the country.
Veterinarians have the second-highest monthly debt-to-income ratio among graduate degree holders, according to the American Veterinary Medical Assn., which reports that veterinary graduates' debt is growing by nearly $6,000 each year.
Why are vets paid so much in Hawaii?
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data shows that supply and demand could be one of the reasons why salaries are so high in Hawaii, with roughly . 5 veterinarians per 1,000 people and around 270 veterinarians employed.
- Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc)
- BVSc Livestock Production and Management.
- BVSc Veterinary Surgery and Radiology.
- BVSc Veterinary Microbiology.
- BVSc Animal Genetics and Breeding.
However, the numbers suggest that animal health, CROs, and pharmaceutical companies may be the primary employers of veterinarians in private industry.
| OCCUPATION | 2022 MEDIAN PAY | PERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER NATIONAL MEDIAN |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Executives | $189,520 | 309.20% |
| Orthodontists | $174,360 | 276.50% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $164,070 | 254.30% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $159,920 | 245.30% |
Profit and operations play a significant role. Veterinary practices are businesses, and like any business, they aim to make a profit. This means that prices may be higher than what it costs them to provide the service. Additionally, practices must cover overhead expenses such as rent, utilities, and staff salaries.
- You can have as much variety as you want. ...
- There's considerable job security. ...
- You can effect real change. ...
- You'll likely have fantastic colleagues. ...
- Learning is part of the job. ...
- You have the opportunity to shape your own career. ...
- You may have a hand in educating the next generation of vets.
- Do not bring up the subject of money until the employer does. Why? ...
- Do not provide a specific salary figure when the subject is initially broached. ...
- Do not accept the first offer (with a caveat).
| Percentile | 10% | 25% |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $ 29.98 | $ 39.70 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $ 62,350 | $ 82,580 |
- Lay your financial cards on the table when talking to your vet. ...
- Request a written estimate for veterinary services before they're provided. ...
- Kick the once-a-year vaccine habit. ...
- Don't neglect preventive health care. ...
- Feed your pet less. ...
- Be a savvy consumer of supplements for your pet.
If you don't have money but need to take your cat to the vet, you can always talk to your veterinarian (or their billing department) to find out more about the payment options they offer. Just because you're taking your cat to the vet doesn't mean you have to pay the entire bill that day.
Why are so many veterinarians quitting?
Not Feeling Rewarded/Valued (In Non-Financial Terms) There are many unappreciated and unhappy veterinary professionals out there. According to the RCVS, 55.2% of veterinarians want to leave the profession because they don't feel rewarded or valued.
98.8% of students successfully complete the program and graduate as veterinarians.