skip to main content The US employs over 74,540 veterinarians.1 With a national average salary of $104,820, vets earn 96% more than the average salary for other occupations. But the high pay comes with high-stakes work that helps our furry friends and their families. Show
Large corporations and hospitals own many pet clinics. Still, there are over 75,000 private veterinary practices across the US,2 which means many vets either work for or own a small business. To help veterinarians find the best places to practice, we determined which states pay veterinarians the most—and where they can afford to rent housing the easiest. In every state, veterinarians earn more than the average salary in their state. And the average pay for veterinarians across the US ranges from $74,530 in Oklahoma to $125,280 in Texas. How does veterinary work pay in your state? COVID-19 ConsiderationsDuring the pandemic, veterinarians had to navigate new safety precautions, appointment cancellations, and other pandemic-related struggles. If you’re looking for a job as a vet, you may want to move your practice to a state with high pay, low rent, and lower numbers of employed vets. The best-paying states for veterinarians
The worst-paying states for veterinariansEven the worst isn’t bad when it comes to getting paid like a vet. Although Washington, DC ranks last on our list, veterinarians in DC still earn an average salary of $113,790, which is 27% more than other jobs in the region. The lowest-paying states for vets are spread throughout the country but can primarily be found in western and midwestern states like Washington, Colorado, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Nebraska. Get Access to Our Research Reports Provide your email to receive our reports on small-business and industry trends. In which states do veterinarians have to work the longest to afford their rent?In the US, vets have to work an average of 18.7 hours to afford rent for housing.7 And in 40 states, vets only have to work about 20 hours or less to afford their rent. Like we saw in our nursing and retail worker reports, Hawaii has high rent—and even veterinarians have to work 32.5 hours to afford living there. Still, that’s not bad compared to retail workers, who have to work anywhere from 43 to 96 hours to afford rent. West Virginia is the sixth best-paying state for vets, and it’s the best when it comes to paying rent—in the Mountain State, you only have to work 11.7 hours to afford rent. For pet lovers, finding the best care for our furry friends takes priority. Luckily, veterinarians are well-paid compared to other gigs and can afford rent easier than most. Curious how vet pay compares to other jobs? Check out our ongoing series of top-salaries in the US, which includes jobs like teachers, restaurant workers, and more. Best-paying states for veterinarians
MethodologyTo rank, we compared the average veterinarian salary with the average salary in each state. Veterinarians can be defined as those who diagnose, treat, or research diseases and injuries of animals. This includes veterinarians who conduct research and development, inspect livestock, or care for pets and companion animals. To measure affordability, we compared veterinarian salary to the median contract rent in each state. This includes all the renter-occupied housing units paying cash rent. Related content
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Written by Trevor Wheelwright What type of vets get paid the most?The highest paid veterinary specialty is: Ophthalmology
You'll need to work for those specialties, though — certification requires an additional 2 to 3 years of study on top of vet school at veterinary colleges with accreditation, plus passing an intensive exam.
What is the best place to be a veterinarian?Top 50 Cities for Veterinarians. Are veterinarians rich in Australia?The average veterinarian salary in Australia is $112,190 per year or $57.53 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $95,195 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $131,581 per year.
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