Veterinarians Career, Salary and Skills
Veterinarians have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $130,100 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 83,900. Wage data is published for 333 locations.
Occupation description
Diagnose, treat, or research diseases and injuries of animals. Includes veterinarians who conduct research and development, inspect livestock, or care for pets and companion animals.
O*NET code
29-1131.00
Job zone
5
Typical education
Doctoral Degree
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$130,100
Hourly median
$62.55
Employment
83,900
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.12 | 4.88 |
| Active Listening | 4.12 | 4.25 |
| Active Learning | 4.00 | 4.38 |
| Science | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.88 | 3.75 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.88 | 4.25 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Speaking | 3.88 | 4.25 |
| Writing | 3.50 | 4.12 |
| Service Orientation | 3.38 | 3.62 |
Typical tasks
- Inoculate animals against various diseases, such as rabies or distemper.
- Examine animals to detect and determine the nature of diseases or injuries.
- Collect body tissue, feces, blood, urine, or other body fluids for examination and analysis.
- Operate diagnostic equipment, such as radiographic or ultrasound equipment, and interpret the resulting images.
- Educate the public about diseases that can be spread from animals to humans.
- Counsel clients about the deaths of their pets or about euthanasia decisions for their pets.
- Advise animal owners regarding sanitary measures, feeding, general care, medical conditions, or treatment options.
- Treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds, or performing surgery.
Technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Adobe Acrobat
- American Data Systems PAWS Veterinary Practice Management
- Complete Clinic
- Eklin Information Systems VIA
- Henry Schein ImproMed
- IDEXX Laboratories IDEXX Cornerstone
- IDEXX Laboratories IDEXX VPM
- ImproMed Infinity
- InformaVet ALIS-VET
- IntraVet
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
Veterinarians salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Veterinarians Salary in CAMedian $163,920 · Employment 9,170
- Veterinarians Salary in TXMedian $131,330 · Employment 6,270
- Veterinarians Salary in FLMedian $131,660 · Employment 5,360
- Veterinarians Salary in PAMedian $133,520 · Employment 3,490
- Veterinarians Salary in OHMedian $125,060 · Employment 3,430
- Veterinarians Salary in NYMedian $131,830 · Employment 3,390
- Veterinarians Salary in New York, NYMedian $156,150 · Employment 3,150
- Veterinarians Salary in NCMedian $129,240 · Employment 2,940
- Veterinarians Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $160,080 · Employment 2,740
- Veterinarians Salary in VAMedian $126,730 · Employment 2,700
- Veterinarians Salary in GAMedian $126,590 · Employment 2,670
- Veterinarians Salary in WAMedian $160,510 · Employment 2,390
Related careers
- RadiologistsNational median $420,860
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation PhysiciansNational median $265,930
- Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeonsNational median $352,220
- Naturopathic PhysiciansNational median $115,210
- NeurologistsNational median $248,560
- AnesthesiologistsNational median $391,490
- Nurse PractitionersNational median $132,300
- Obstetricians and GynecologistsNational median $292,910
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.