Veterinarians diagnose diseases, treat any ailments, conduct regular checks on the animals’ health, etc. A career in this field is a great choice for people who are passionate about science and animals. In addition, a veterinarian in the United States earns good money.
A veterinarian in the United States is a specialist with higher education. After graduating, you must complete a program to become a doctor of veterinary medicine and get a license. Each state requires veterinarians to pass the North American Veterinary License Examination. Moreover, some states have extra requirements, such as passing a clinical skills exam or exams in veterinary law.
Places of employment
A considerable part of veterinarians in the United States works in private clinics. However, this is not the only place where such a specialist can find a job. Many of them work in public clinics and laboratories for research purposes. Some representatives of this profession move between their clinics and ranches to prevent livestock health problems.
US veterinarian salary
Veterinary medicine is an economically stable profession whose salary tends to rise steadily every year. In addition to years of experience, other factors affecting salary are practice type, location, and whether the veterinarian is a partner or assistant.
As of August 2022, the annual average salary for a veterinarian in the US is $98,600. It is about $50 an hour. The average salary range varies widely by $30,000 depending on the medical specialty. This suggests that there are many opportunities to move up the career ladder and increase income depending on the skill level, location, and experience. Thus, the highest-paid veterinarians annually earn about 165,000 dollars, and the lowest paid just over 57,000 dollars.
Most veterinarians specialize in a particular category of animals. Therefore, earnings depend on the type of practice. The American Veterinary Medical Association points out differences in starting salaries depending on the area of specialization.
Pets include dogs, cats, and smaller animals such as rabbits and hamsters. Pet professionals start at an average salary of $88,000 per year. The starting salary for large animal veterinarians who treat cows, goats, sheep, horses, and pigs is about $76,000 per year. Some veterinarians serve several categories of animals. They are called mixed-species veterinarians. They start with an average salary of $75,000.
Geography also plays an important role in determining the amount a veterinarian can expect to earn. Veterinarians in major metropolitan areas tend to make more money but also have to keep in mind the higher living cost. The states that pay the most to veterinarians are Alaska, Delaware, Arizona, Texas, New Jersey, California, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that there will be over 16,000 new job openings in this field by 2026. It is projected that the number of vacancies for veterinarians will increase by about 19% over this period, compared with a 15% increase in other jobs.
