Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Veterinarians (SOC 29-1131) employed 83,900 people in May 2025. The median pay is $130,100 a year ($62.55 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $73,920 and the highest-paid 10% more than $215,700. BLS projects its employment to change by +9.4% between 2025 and 2035 (about 3,100 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Doctoral or professional degree.
Highest median pay: California ($163,920), Maryland ($163,170), Washington ($160,510). Most jobs: California (9,170), Texas (6,270), Florida (5,360).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,920 | $35.54 |
| 25th percentile | $101,460 | $48.78 |
| Median | $130,100 | $62.55 |
| Mean | $142,680 | $68.60 |
| 75th percentile | $166,120 | $79.87 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $215,700 | $103.70 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 91,100 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 99,600 |
| Change in jobs | 8,600 |
| Percent change | +9.4% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 3,100 |
| Self-employed share | 7.2% |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1,020 | 0.89 | $105,630 | $65,430 | $172,290 | -19% | 12% |
| Alaska | 160 | 0.90 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Arizona | 2,080 | 1.19 | $152,020 | $81,990 | $262,990 | +17% | 13% |
| Arkansas | 540 | 0.77 | $107,710 | $38,870 | $153,370 | -17% | 11% |
| California | 9,170 | 0.93 | $163,920 | $74,850 | $286,330 | +26% | 15% |
| Colorado | 2,340 | 1.51 | $130,840 | $77,710 | $211,930 | +1% | 17% |
| Connecticut | 950 | 1.04 | $126,190 | $46,960 | $218,720 | -3% | 15% |
| Delaware | 230 | 0.89 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| District of Columbia | 190 | 0.49 | $134,530 | $69,990 | $294,160 | +3% | 17% |
| Florida | 5,360 | 1.00 | $131,660 | $62,430 | $209,520 | +1% | 17% |
| Georgia | 2,670 | 1.01 | $126,590 | $66,710 | $167,620 | -3% | 14% |
| Hawaii | 370 | 1.10 | $130,120 | $62,460 | $188,130 | +0% | 18% |
| Idaho | 540 | 1.18 | $116,170 | $43,290 | $168,840 | -11% | 14% |
| Illinois | 2,330 | 0.71 | $133,580 | $74,840 | $280,380 | +3% | 12% |
| Indiana | 1,500 | 0.87 | $124,530 | $63,630 | $173,810 | -4% | 11% |
| Iowa | 1,000 | 1.19 | $124,610 | $72,800 | $168,950 | -4% | 9% |
| Kansas | 1,000 | 1.29 | $107,080 | $71,200 | $177,110 | -18% | 12% |
| Kentucky | 1,190 | 1.10 | $104,100 | $44,200 | $169,220 | -20% | 12% |
| Louisiana | 950 | 0.91 | $124,370 | $64,690 | $165,560 | -4% | 10% |
| Maine | 600 | 1.72 | $130,600 | $81,780 | $194,680 | +0% | 11% |
| Maryland | 1,430 | 0.96 | $163,170 | $104,030 | $214,960 | +25% | 13% |
| Massachusetts | 1,920 | 0.98 | $140,260 | $96,320 | $260,010 | +8% | 16% |
| Michigan | 2,030 | 0.86 | $125,390 | $75,900 | $192,800 | -4% | 11% |
| Minnesota | 2,140 | 1.34 | $133,110 | $83,280 | $217,580 | +2% | 12% |
| Mississippi | 480 | 0.76 | $105,370 | $70,050 | $163,040 | -19% | 11% |
| Missouri | 1,920 | 1.21 | $114,660 | $61,270 | $193,860 | -12% | 11% |
| Montana | 510 | 1.84 | $99,390 | $51,390 | $183,190 | -24% | 14% |
| Nebraska | 780 | 1.41 | $103,500 | $60,630 | $165,660 | -20% | 13% |
| Nevada | 680 | 0.82 | $125,550 | $98,860 | $189,620 | -3% | 16% |
| New Hampshire | 650 | 1.75 | $128,190 | $74,780 | $283,460 | -1% | 15% |
| New Jersey | 1,910 | 0.82 | $160,140 | $103,720 | $274,850 | +23% | 13% |
| New Mexico | 460 | 0.99 | $129,390 | $79,450 | $212,850 | -1% | 10% |
| New York | 3,390 | 0.65 | $131,830 | $89,130 | $251,000 | +1% | 15% |
| North Carolina | 2,940 | 1.10 | $129,240 | $77,650 | $209,340 | -1% | 12% |
| North Dakota | 270 | 1.17 | $102,180 | $81,420 | $153,720 | -21% | 12% |
| Ohio | 3,430 | 1.15 | $125,060 | $54,050 | $207,190 | -4% | 10% |
| Oklahoma | 1,150 | 1.25 | $98,090 | $51,710 | $208,000 | -25% | 13% |
| Oregon | 1,660 | 1.57 | $128,880 | $78,420 | $205,850 | -1% | 15% |
| Pennsylvania | 3,490 | 1.07 | $133,520 | $79,780 | $268,870 | +3% | 11% |
| Rhode Island | 430 | 1.60 | $126,570 | $106,730 | $196,300 | -3% | 13% |
| South Carolina | 1,380 | 1.11 | $122,130 | $48,140 | $200,860 | -6% | 12% |
| South Dakota | 280 | 1.13 | $88,650 | $61,640 | $128,920 | -32% | 14% |
| Tennessee | 1,730 | 0.98 | $124,350 | $98,500 | $167,900 | -4% | 12% |
| Texas | 6,270 | 0.83 | $131,330 | $76,510 | $203,920 | +1% | 13% |
| Utah | 640 | 0.69 | $123,990 | $75,970 | $215,720 | -5% | 15% |
| Vermont | 280 | 1.74 | $131,820 | $91,290 | $213,060 | +1% | 12% |
| Virginia | 2,700 | 1.22 | $126,730 | $63,350 | $220,170 | -3% | 16% |
| Washington | 2,390 | 1.25 | $160,510 | $97,140 | $265,600 | +23% | 14% |
| West Virginia | 390 | 1.03 | $128,990 | $54,830 | $201,910 | -1% | 8% |
| Wisconsin | 1,830 | 1.15 | $108,780 | $79,350 | $159,940 | -16% | 13% |
| Wyoming | 140 | 0.91 | $97,240 | $55,420 | $149,070 | -25% | 12% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,350 | $208,080 | $89,130 | $295,420 | 1.05 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 350 | $192,160 | $83,370 | $323,260 | 0.57 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 830 | $165,260 | $87,220 | $294,620 | 1.42 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,330 | $163,810 | $99,260 | $274,030 | 1.18 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 700 | $162,930 | $103,830 | $211,500 | 0.96 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 1,480 | $161,060 | $82,580 | $304,630 | 1.15 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 660 | $160,860 | $82,240 | $273,210 | 0.72 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,740 | $160,080 | $67,410 | $284,050 | 0.81 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,080 | $159,750 | $67,540 | $276,230 | 1.30 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 1,470 | $158,200 | $86,560 | $218,830 | 1.40 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 3,150 | $156,150 | $101,450 | $293,790 | 0.61 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,740 | $154,350 | $79,360 | $271,770 | 1.03 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,530 | $148,730 | $80,770 | $289,310 | 0.63 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,790 | $139,810 | $89,130 | $281,730 | 1.15 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,540 | $138,900 | $83,230 | $281,100 | 1.06 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,160 | $135,090 | $86,250 | $217,950 | 1.34 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 470 | $133,810 | $63,050 | $211,980 | 1.14 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,760 | $133,550 | $85,660 | $209,210 | 0.80 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 700 | $133,250 | $85,340 | $211,770 | 1.00 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 570 | $132,440 | $62,430 | $205,710 | 0.74 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,340 | $132,280 | $81,390 | $207,660 | 0.76 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 1,010 | $131,720 | $83,670 | $218,900 | 1.54 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 1,060 | $131,190 | $62,400 | $207,920 | 1.36 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 520 | $130,350 | $79,830 | $213,960 | 1.31 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,150 | $129,890 | $62,100 | $212,180 | 0.76 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 710 | $129,730 | $74,450 | $202,500 | 0.69 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 520 | $129,390 | $102,960 | $199,240 | 1.35 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 750 | $129,080 | $78,940 | $214,370 | 1.02 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,610 | $128,980 | $76,590 | $167,620 | 1.03 |
| Cleveland, OH | 560 | $128,610 | $50,390 | $212,580 | 1.01 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 550 | $128,550 | $80,620 | $202,960 | 0.91 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 640 | $128,290 | $90,470 | $291,150 | 1.07 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 520 | $127,850 | $64,500 | $169,810 | 0.87 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 650 | $127,670 | $57,870 | $209,000 | 1.09 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 500 | $126,230 | $104,190 | $166,120 | 0.84 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 320 | $125,750 | $55,980 | $214,610 | 0.98 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 480 | $125,640 | $98,860 | $189,620 | 0.78 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 310 | $125,130 | $100,750 | $174,260 | 0.94 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | 320 | $123,920 | $47,470 | $177,710 | 1.36 |
| Columbus, OH | 850 | $123,270 | $47,990 | $208,390 | 1.42 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 750 | $122,490 | $76,910 | $199,910 | 1.26 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 810 | $122,460 | $74,680 | $195,480 | 1.11 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 330 | $122,130 | $39,310 | $178,260 | 1.54 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 500 | $122,010 | $54,850 | $212,610 | 1.22 |
| Richmond, VA | 420 | $121,670 | $81,070 | $216,120 | 1.17 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 430 | $117,780 | $80,210 | $161,240 | 0.96 |
| Madison, WI | 420 | $115,210 | $82,080 | $161,870 | 1.90 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 300 | $112,450 | $41,410 | $163,860 | 3.26 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 330 | $109,050 | $50,660 | $214,870 | 2.14 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 360 | $108,000 | $44,200 | $167,890 | 0.99 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 300 | $107,280 | $71,310 | $174,060 | 1.11 |
| Birmingham, AL | 310 | $106,890 | $77,990 | $176,330 | 1.12 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 450 | $98,750 | $51,710 | $201,800 | 1.22 |
| Tulsa, OK | 330 | $98,240 | $52,180 | $156,460 | 1.32 |
The median is $130,100 a year ($62.55 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $73,920 and the highest-paid tenth over $215,700 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
83,900 in May 2025, and BLS projects +9.4% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Doctoral or professional degree (BLS).
California, with a median of $163,920 (among states with published figures).