Veterinarian Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$126,000
estimated national base salary
$98,000 to $162,000. Last updated September 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $130,100 for Veterinarians (SOC 29-1131) across the United States, based on 83,900 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$73,920
25th percentile
$101,460
Median
$130,100
75th percentile
$166,120
90th percentile
$215,700
Workers surveyed
83,900
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$125,510
May 2025 release
$130,100
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Veterinarians (SOC 29-1131) rather than Veterinarian specifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 29-1131Highest Paying
$169,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$131,000
Seattle, WA
Lowest Paying
$97,000
Jackson, MS
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated September 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 29-1131. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Veterinarian salary in the United States at $126,000 in 2026, within a range of $98,000 to $162,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $169,000, while Seattle offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Practice type is the primary differentiator, with emergency, specialty, and equine or large animal vets earning above companion animal general practitioners.
Veterinarian salary by city.
Skills that increase Veterinarian pay.
The premiums below are Orbyt's modelled scenarios for Veterinarians, not effects measured from job postings: each is a fixed percentage applied to the estimated base. At the top premium that works out to $17,640 a year.
≈ +$17,640 per year
≈ +$16,380 per year
≈ +$15,120 per year
≈ +$13,860 per year
≈ +$13,860 per year
≈ +$12,600 per year
≈ +$12,600 per year
≈ +$11,340 per year
What you should know.
Practice type is the primary differentiator, with emergency, specialty, and equine or large animal vets earning above companion animal general practitioners. Board certification in specialties like surgery, internal medicine, or oncology adds 30 to 60% over general practice. Geographic areas with vet shortages offer signing bonuses and premium salaries.
New graduate vets start at $88,000 to $100,000 in general practice. Mid-career vets with strong client bases earn $115,000 to $140,000. Practice owners or board-certified specialists can reach $160,000 to $250,000 depending on specialty and practice revenue.
Veterinarians commonly receive production bonuses of 18 to 22% of personal production above a base salary. Benefits include CE allowances of $2,500 to $5,000, DEA license reimbursement, professional liability coverage, and increasingly, student loan repayment assistance programs.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Veterinarians typically earn $113,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Veterinarian pay.
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