How much does a veterinarian make? Veterinarian salary and hourly pay
A veterinarian in the US earns a median of $130,100 a year, about $62.55 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $73,920 and the top 10% earn over $215,700. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, California, has a median of $163,920.
Veterinarian pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does a veterinarian make an hour?
The median veterinarian earns $62.55 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $35.54 for the lowest-paid 10% to $103.70 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $73,920 | $35.54 |
| Lower 25% | $101,460 | $48.78 |
| Median (typical) | $130,100 | $62.55 |
| Upper 25% | $166,120 | $79.87 |
| Top 10% | $215,700 | $103.70 |
Veterinarian salary by state
Median annual pay for veterinarians in every state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $105,630 | $50.78 |
| Alaska | Not published | – |
| Arizona | $152,020 | $73.09 |
| Arkansas | $107,710 | $51.78 |
| California | $163,920 | $78.81 |
| Colorado | $130,840 | $62.90 |
| Connecticut | $126,190 | $60.67 |
| Delaware | Not published | – |
| District of Columbia | $134,530 | $64.68 |
| Florida | $131,660 | $63.30 |
| Georgia | $126,590 | $60.86 |
| Hawaii | $130,120 | $62.56 |
| Idaho | $116,170 | $55.85 |
| Illinois | $133,580 | $64.22 |
| Indiana | $124,530 | $59.87 |
| Iowa | $124,610 | $59.91 |
| Kansas | $107,080 | $51.48 |
| Kentucky | $104,100 | $50.05 |
| Louisiana | $124,370 | $59.79 |
| Maine | $130,600 | $62.79 |
| Maryland | $163,170 | $78.45 |
| Massachusetts | $140,260 | $67.43 |
| Michigan | $125,390 | $60.28 |
| Minnesota | $133,110 | $64.00 |
| Mississippi | $105,370 | $50.66 |
| Missouri | $114,660 | $55.12 |
| Montana | $99,390 | $47.78 |
| Nebraska | $103,500 | $49.76 |
| Nevada | $125,550 | $60.36 |
| New Hampshire | $128,190 | $61.63 |
| New Jersey | $160,140 | $76.99 |
| New Mexico | $129,390 | $62.21 |
| New York | $131,830 | $63.38 |
| North Carolina | $129,240 | $62.13 |
| North Dakota | $102,180 | $49.12 |
| Ohio | $125,060 | $60.12 |
| Oklahoma | $98,090 | $47.16 |
| Oregon | $128,880 | $61.96 |
| Pennsylvania | $133,520 | $64.19 |
| Rhode Island | $126,570 | $60.85 |
| South Carolina | $122,130 | $58.72 |
| South Dakota | $88,650 | $42.62 |
| Tennessee | $124,350 | $59.78 |
| Texas | $131,330 | $63.14 |
| Utah | $123,990 | $59.61 |
| Vermont | $131,820 | $63.38 |
| Virginia | $126,730 | $60.93 |
| Washington | $160,510 | $77.17 |
| West Virginia | $128,990 | $62.01 |
| Wisconsin | $108,780 | $52.30 |
| Wyoming | $97,240 | $46.75 |
Highest-paying states for veterinarians
- California: $163,920 median
- Maryland: $163,170 median
- Washington: $160,510 median
- New Jersey: $160,140 median
- Arizona: $152,020 median
The lowest medians are in South Dakota ($88,650), Wyoming ($97,240), Oklahoma ($98,090), Montana ($99,390), North Dakota ($102,180). The most veterinarian jobs are in California (9,170 jobs), Texas (6,270 jobs), Florida (5,360 jobs), Pennsylvania (3,490 jobs), Ohio (3,430 jobs).
How much does a veterinarian make a month?
At the median salary of $130,100, a veterinarian earns about $10,842 a month, $5,004 every two weeks or $2,502 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced veterinarian pay
New veterinarians typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $73,920 a year and the lowest 25% under $101,460. The top 25% earn over $166,120 and the top 10% over $215,700. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Veterinarian salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Veterinarian | $130,100 |
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 |
| Chiropractor | $79,200 |
| Optometrist | $136,570 |
| Psychiatrist | $281,870 |
| Psychologist | $100,580 |
| Vet tech | $47,380 |
Common questions
How much does a veterinarian make?
The US median is $130,100 a year ($62.55 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a veterinarian make an hour?
The median is about $62.55 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $35.54 and the top 10% about $103.70 an hour.
Which state pays veterinarians the most?
California has the highest median at $163,920, followed by Maryland ($163,170) and Washington ($160,510).
How much does a veterinarian make a month?
At the US median of $130,100 a year, about $10,842 a month or $5,004 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level veterinarian make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $73,920 a year and the lowest 25% under $101,460, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of veterinarians make?
The top 10% earn over $215,700 a year; the top 25% earn over $166,120.
How much does a veterinarian make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $163,920 in California, $131,330 in Texas, $131,660 in Florida, $131,830 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 29-1131, “Veterinarians”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. Note: BLS counts only employees, not self-employed veterinarians or business owners, whose income can be quite different. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.