What is the average starting salary for a veterinarian? What are vets paid in different states across the USA? While there is no definitive answer to these questions, we have reviewed data and salary ranges from many of the sources available so that you can get an idea of what you might make as a veterinarian.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wages. Washington, D.C.. USA . May 2016 . According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average starting salary for a veterinarian in 2010 was $39,950 annually .7. The bottom 10 percent earned less than $21.490 annually; the top 10 percent earned more than $70,920 annually .8. Veterinarians work in various state and local government agencies, zoos, laboratories and research facilities, universities, veterinary hospitals and clinics, food-producing industries and on farms
What is the average starting salary for a veterinarian
Introduction
Veterinarians are doctors who specialize in the care of animals, and they make an average of about $77,000 a year. Veterinarian salaries vary greatly between states and cities. For example, some southern states with large rural populations pay lower salaries while major metropolitan areas tend to pay more. Starting salaries vary greatly between different industries and can range from as low as $45,000 to as high as $90,000. There’s a 6 percent unemployment rate for veterinarians in the U.S., but that doesn’t mean there aren’t jobs available if you’re willing to relocate or work for less money. Other factors that contribute to salary include experience level and whether or not the job requires you to be on-call or work flexible hours. Despite the wide diversity in starting salaries, veterinarians make much more than you might expect:
Veterinarians make an average of about $77,000 a year.
The average salary for veterinarians is about $77,000 a year. This is the median figure across all areas, from rural practices to urban ones. The range of salaries can vary widely depending on which practice you work at and where it’s located.
Veterinarians in the United States make an average of $79,000 every year while those working in Canada make slightly more at $81,000 per annum. In contrast to these two countries with high incomes for vets comes Australia where they earn just under 80K per year on average; this puts them close to the bottom third of all countries surveyed by PayScale (Australia actually has one of the lowest wages for veterinarians)
There’s a 6 percent unemployment rate for veterinarians in the U.S.
There are many factors that can affect a veterinarian’s salary, including the type of work he or she does. For example, a veterinarian working in an urban area will likely make more than one who works in a rural area. A vet who has worked for 15 years may also have higher salary expectations than a new grad just out of school.
Another factor affecting employment rates is whether or not the veterinarian has any postgraduate credentials (e.g., board certification).
Starting salaries vary greatly between different industries and can range from as low as $45,000 to as high as $90,000.
The average starting salary for a veterinarian is $77,000. This figure varies greatly depending on the industry, and can range from as low as $45,000 to as high as $90,000. Veterinarian salaries vary based on location and the type of vet practice where you work; the highest-paying career opportunities are typically found in large cities with multiple specialty practices or academic institutions that specialize in veterinary medicine.
In addition to this base salary, veterinarians may earn additional income through bonuses or commission based incentives offered by employers (such as bonuses for high patient volume). The more experience you have in your field of study (such as surgery), the higher your potential earnings will be.
Veterinarian salaries vary greatly between states and cities. For example, some southern states with large rural populations pay lower salaries while major metropolitan areas tend to pay more.
The cost of living in a city can be much higher than in a rural area. The cost of living is also higher in larger cities than smaller ones, even if they’re located in the same state. For example, the average annual salary for veterinarians working in New York City is $160k while those working out of rural areas make an average of $125k per year.
Other factors that contribute to salary include experience level and whether or not the job requires you to be on-call or work flexible hours.
- Experience level
- On-call or work flexible hours
- Location
- Industry
- Whether or not you are board certified. This can be a significant factor for veterinarians who practice in rural areas and don’t have much competition for clients. Board certification is more important for some fields, such as internal medicine and surgery, than others. For example, it’s not uncommon for a newly graduated veterinarian to move into the field of general practice with minimal experience and training required (and no board certification). However, if you want to become a specialist (e.g., an ophthalmologist), then you’ll need at least five years of postgraduate education plus three years of residency training before being eligible to take the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmology examination—and even then only about half pass on their first try!
- Whether or not you are in a major metropolitan area; average starting salaries tend to be higher there due primarily because demand outstrips supply
Despite the wide diversity in starting salaries, veterinarians make much more than you might expect.
Despite the wide diversity in starting salaries, veterinarians make much more than you might expect. According to Payscale, the average salary for a veterinarian is $89,000. In addition to this, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the mean annual salary for vets in America was $90,000 as of 2017.
The amazing thing about these numbers is that they’re actually lower than they used to be! From 2012-2017 the BLS recorded an average annual wage increase of 3% among all US workers; however during that same time period (2012-2017) there was a 4% increase in wages among veterinarians.
Conclusion
The average starting salary for a veterinarian is about $77,000. However, this number can vary greatly depending on many factors such as location, experience level, and whether or not the job requires you to be on call.
