Veterinarians Salary 2025: $133,716 Median Pay (BLS OEWS)
$133,716 per year is the national median annual wage for veterinarians (BLS OEWS, May 2025 reference period). That works out to about $64/hour, with a 10th–90th percentile range of $89,130 to $295,420. The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies this role under SOC code 29-1131.
Key Facts (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Median annual wage
- $133,716
- Median hourly wage
- $64/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $150,990
- Total US employment
- 49,250
- Top-paying metro
- San Francisco, CA, CA ($208,080)
- BLS SOC code
- 29-1131
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.
Veterinarian (SOC 29-1131) is a high-paying U.S. occupation: national median wage of $133,716 across 49,250 reported workers per the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey.
Geographic wage spread is wide: across the 70 cities reporting data, median Veterinarian wages range from $98,240 to $208,080 — roughly 112% above the floor. The spread reflects cost-of-living, regional supply-and-demand, and industry-mix differences. Veterinarian is in the Healthcare category — wages here reflect a regulated labor market with state-specific licensing and credentialing, which constrains supply more than it does in unregulated fields.
Salary Range (BLS Percentiles)
Veterinarians salaries range from $98,240 to $208,080 median across cities, depending on location, experience, and industry.
Veterinarians Salary by City (BLS OEWS)
| City | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $89,130 | $136,710 | $208,080 | $251,750 | $295,420 | $115,857 | 1,350 |
| San Jose, CA | $83,370 | $126,886 | $192,160 | $257,710 | $323,260 | $98,141 | 350 |
| Sacramento, CA | $87,220 | $118,436 | $165,260 | $229,940 | $294,620 | $132,526 | 830 |
| Seattle, WA | $99,260 | $125,080 | $163,810 | $218,920 | $274,030 | $109,645 | 1,330 |
| Baltimore, MD | $103,830 | $127,470 | $162,930 | $187,215 | $211,500 | $142,671 | 700 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $82,580 | $113,972 | $161,060 | $232,845 | $304,630 | $159,940 | 1,480 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | $82,240 | $113,688 | $160,860 | $217,035 | $273,210 | $131,422 | 660 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $67,410 | $104,478 | $160,080 | $222,065 | $284,050 | $96,434 | 2,740 |
| San Diego, CA | $67,540 | $104,424 | $159,750 | $217,990 | $276,230 | $99,719 | 1,080 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $86,560 | $115,216 | $158,200 | $188,515 | $218,830 | $148,964 | 1,470 |
| Fresno, CA | $70,610 | $105,350 | $157,460 | $202,000 | $246,540 | $149,251 | 170 |
| New York, NY | $101,450 | $123,330 | $156,150 | $224,970 | $293,790 | $83,413 | 3,150 |
| Washington, DC | $79,360 | $109,356 | $154,350 | $213,060 | $271,770 | $101,014 | 1,740 |
| Spokane, WA | $91,580 | $115,676 | $151,820 | $181,635 | $211,450 | $155,873 | 160 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $61,270 | $97,074 | $150,780 | $213,515 | $276,250 | $149,881 | 100 |
| Chicago, IL | $80,770 | $107,954 | $148,730 | $219,020 | $289,310 | $138,611 | 1,530 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $90,990 | $110,674 | $140,200 | $181,295 | $222,390 | $149,149 | 240 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $89,130 | $109,402 | $139,810 | $210,770 | $281,730 | $118,083 | 1,790 |
| Boston, MA | $83,230 | $105,498 | $138,900 | $210,000 | $281,100 | $91,321 | 1,540 |
| Denver, CO | $86,250 | $105,786 | $135,090 | $176,520 | $217,950 | $119,761 | 1,160 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $63,050 | $91,354 | $133,810 | $172,895 | $211,980 | $140,705 | 470 |
| Dallas, TX | $85,660 | $104,816 | $133,550 | $171,380 | $209,210 | $128,290 | 1,760 |
| Austin, TX | $85,340 | $104,504 | $133,250 | $172,510 | $211,770 | $129,369 | 700 |
| Orlando, FL | $62,430 | $90,434 | $132,440 | $169,075 | $205,710 | $128,458 | 570 |
| Houston, TX | $81,390 | $101,746 | $132,280 | $169,970 | $207,660 | $137,078 | 1,340 |
| Portland, OR | $83,670 | $102,890 | $131,720 | $175,310 | $218,900 | $101,245 | 1,010 |
| Albany, NY | $97,550 | $111,202 | $131,680 | $182,495 | $233,310 | $130,765 | 280 |
| Tucson, AZ | $76,890 | $98,750 | $131,540 | $180,845 | $230,150 | $137,883 | 250 |
| Tampa, FL | $62,400 | $89,916 | $131,190 | $169,555 | $207,920 | $131,717 | 1,060 |
| Des Moines, IA | $80,190 | $100,474 | $130,900 | $151,245 | $171,590 | $140,300 | 210 |
| Raleigh, NC | $79,830 | $100,038 | $130,350 | $172,155 | $213,960 | $130,611 | 520 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $46,960 | $80,152 | $129,940 | $183,365 | $236,790 | $94,502 | 270 |
| Greensboro, NC | $77,790 | $98,638 | $129,910 | $168,500 | $207,090 | $142,289 | 180 |
| Miami, FL | $62,100 | $89,216 | $129,890 | $171,035 | $212,180 | $105,516 | 1,150 |
| Detroit, MI | $74,450 | $96,562 | $129,730 | $166,115 | $202,500 | $136,414 | 710 |
| Providence, RI | $102,960 | $113,532 | $129,390 | $164,315 | $199,240 | $108,367 | 520 |
| Charlotte, NC | $78,940 | $98,996 | $129,080 | $171,725 | $214,370 | $133,485 | 750 |
| Atlanta, GA | $76,590 | $97,546 | $128,980 | $148,300 | $167,620 | $130,020 | 1,610 |
| San Antonio, TX | $80,620 | $99,792 | $128,550 | $165,755 | $202,960 | $140,492 | 550 |
| New Orleans, LA | $71,230 | $94,082 | $128,360 | $148,715 | $169,070 | $133,848 | 200 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $90,470 | $105,598 | $128,290 | $209,720 | $291,150 | $138,992 | 640 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $64,500 | $89,840 | $127,850 | $148,830 | $169,810 | $141,898 | 520 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $57,870 | $85,790 | $127,670 | $168,335 | $209,000 | $139,989 | 650 |
| Rochester, NY | $93,010 | $106,838 | $127,580 | $164,010 | $200,440 | $137,330 | 200 |
| Buffalo, NY | $92,700 | $106,620 | $127,500 | $165,685 | $203,870 | $137,838 | 230 |
| Boise, ID | $70,720 | $93,396 | $127,410 | $148,245 | $169,080 | $124,789 | 260 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $77,370 | $97,138 | $126,790 | $164,765 | $202,740 | $121,330 | 280 |
| Nashville, TN | $104,190 | $113,006 | $126,230 | $146,175 | $166,120 | $125,852 | 500 |
| Hartford, CT | $55,980 | $83,888 | $125,750 | $170,180 | $214,610 | $111,679 | 320 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $98,860 | $109,572 | $125,640 | $157,630 | $189,620 | $115,266 | 480 |
| Reno, NV | $100,010 | $110,218 | $125,530 | $148,305 | $171,080 | $117,869 | 150 |
| Memphis, TN | $100,750 | $110,502 | $125,130 | $149,695 | $174,260 | $148,964 | 310 |
| Anchorage, AK | $104,030 | $112,342 | $124,810 | $298,085 | $471,360 | $98,276 | 110 |
| Greenville, SC | $47,470 | $78,050 | $123,920 | $150,815 | $177,710 | $137,536 | 320 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $79,880 | $97,336 | $123,520 | $169,915 | $216,310 | $121,815 | 290 |
| Columbus, OH | $47,990 | $78,102 | $123,270 | $165,830 | $208,390 | $132,406 | 850 |
| Kansas City, MO | $76,910 | $95,142 | $122,490 | $161,200 | $199,910 | $128,396 | 750 |
| St. Louis, MO | $74,680 | $93,792 | $122,460 | $158,970 | $195,480 | $136,067 | 810 |
| Richmond, VA | $81,070 | $97,310 | $121,670 | $168,895 | $216,120 | $119,167 | 420 |
| Knoxville, TN | $100,470 | $108,746 | $121,160 | $145,725 | $170,290 | $134,175 | 260 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $80,210 | $95,238 | $117,780 | $139,510 | $161,240 | $120,924 | 430 |
| Madison, WI | $82,080 | $95,332 | $115,210 | $138,540 | $161,870 | $110,992 | 420 |
| Lexington, KY | $50,660 | $74,016 | $109,050 | $161,960 | $214,870 | $119,441 | 330 |
| Louisville, KY | $44,200 | $69,720 | $108,000 | $137,945 | $167,890 | $119,734 | 360 |
| Little Rock, AR | $38,000 | $65,732 | $107,330 | $127,925 | $148,520 | $121,689 | 120 |
| Omaha, NE | $71,310 | $85,698 | $107,280 | $140,670 | $174,060 | $116,863 | 300 |
| Birmingham, AL | $77,990 | $89,550 | $106,890 | $141,610 | $176,330 | $118,241 | 310 |
| Wichita, KS | $78,880 | $89,300 | $104,930 | $155,165 | $205,400 | $124,917 | 170 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $51,710 | $70,526 | $98,750 | $150,275 | $201,800 | $114,162 | 450 |
| Tulsa, OK | $52,180 | $70,604 | $98,240 | $127,350 | $156,460 | $113,180 | 330 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for Veterinarian is $133,716 as of 2025. The national mean (average) is $150,990. Salaries range from $98,240 to $208,080 depending on city and cost of living.
Veterinarian salaries vary significantly by metro area. The highest-paying cities offer median salaries well above the national average of $133,716, though cost of living should be factored in. Check the city breakdown table above for COL-adjusted figures.
There are approximately 49,250 Veterinarian positions in the US across 70 metropolitan areas tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Veterinarian positions at the 90th percentile earn significantly more than the median, suggesting strong income growth potential with experience and specialization. The gap between the 10th and 90th percentile indicates the impact that skills, location, and seniority have on compensation.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. COL adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.