Written By Miranda Marquit
Updated on March 21, 2024
For some, working in the field of animal care is a dream come true. The ability to help animals and their humans can be a rewarding career — and it could potentially be lucrative.
A veterinarian starting salary is higher than the national average salary, and depending on the specialty you choose, your earnings could start higher.
Even as an intern, it’s possible to earn more than $30,000 a year. There are also veterinary jobs that don’t require you to go through training as a veterinary physician but still allow you to work with animals or work in a veterinary hospital or practice.
Here’s a look at a veterinarian's starting salary, and what it takes to get there.
Veterinarian starting salary
The salary range for an entry-level veterinarian can range from just above $45,000 to $123,000 per year, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
Your veterinarian starting salary varies, depending on your:
- Specialty,
- Location,
- Employer type,
- Services,
- And whether you own your practice.
The AVMA revealed that the mean starting salary for new veterinarians is close to $75,000 per year. In private practice, though, the average veterinarian starting salary is $92,704.
Some other insights from the report include the following veterinary starting salaries:
- Public practice: $76,117
- Internships: $36,433
- Industry/non-profits: $122,750
- College or university assistantship: $45,275
When going into private practice, the highest-paying approach is to focus exclusively on companion animals (also known as pets). If you focus on taking care of pets, you could potentially make $96,824 as a starting salary. The lowest-paying private practice for veterinary starting salaries is in equine practice at $58,621.
As you gain experience as a veterinarian, your earnings can grow substantially. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that median pay for veterinarians is $99,250 per year, as of May 2020.
The pay for unlicensed veterinarian professionals is much lower. The median salary for veterinary technicians and technologists is $36,260 per year, but the training requirement is also lower. However, high demand is expected through 2030, with a job market adding more than 17,000 positions a year, according to the BLS.
How to become a veterinarian
A veterinary career requires post-graduate training. In general, it takes about four years beyond completion of an undergraduate degree to receive your Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree. If you choose a specialty, such as surgery or focus on certain types of animals, you’ll additional training.
Some specialties, like surgery specialists, can earn you a higher starting salary, but require an internship or some type of residency. Before deciding to be a veterinarian, it’s important to understand how much education is required and whether you’re interested in completing the necessary course of study.
After completing your schooling, you’ll need to pass a state licensing exam. There are different boards that offer licensing, and veterinary specialties also have their own exams. If you want a specific certification, you’ll need to pass more tests to reach your career goals.
To become certified in a specialty, you’ll also need to complete an internship or complete a specific number of experience years before taking the certification exam.
Veterinary jobs and demand
Aside from working as a general veterinarian, there are 46 specialties recognized by the AVMA. Some of these high-salary veterinary specialties include small and large animals or specific physical specialties, like cardiology. It’s also possible to work as a veterinarian in virology or radiology or specialize in exotic animals or food animals. Similarly, you can develop a career as a private practice veterinarian or public health veterinarian.
There are a lot of options, from working in veterinary clinics with others, owning your own practice or working with public, government or nonprofit organizations.
BLS projections for the veterinary profession
According to the BLS, employment for veterinarians is expected to grow by 17% through 2030. This represents a faster rate than many other occupations. The government projects that there should be 4,400 veterinarian openings each year during the coming decade.
The AVMA’s most recent report on the state of the veterinary profession found that 94% of the class of 2020 reported that they had post-graduate opportunities within two weeks.
Specifically, the AVMA sees a need for veterinarians that specialize in zoonotic diseases. It found a high need for public health veterinarians to understand and manage zoonotic diseases that can become a public health issue. Currently, only 3% of graduates fill this role.
Bottom line
For those completing veterinary school, the annual starting salary for entering veterinarians is higher than the overall average starting salary. But considering the cost of veterinary school, consider whether adding a specialty to your credentials can help you secure a higher veterinarian starting salary out of residency.
