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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
What does a Veterinarian actually earn in 2026? The national weighted average lands at $127,097 — but that single number is deceptively simple. Across the 288 cities in our database, median pay ranges from $98,611 to $236,572. The $88,967 gap between entry-level (P10) and senior (P90) pay tells you this career has real earning trajectory — if you're in the right place.
Positioned in Healthcare within the broader Healthcare industry, Veterinarians typically hold DVM degree. The employment landscape is shaped by growing, and the day-to-day is clinical. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$137,961 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Veterinarian in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $236,572 — $137,961 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($98,611). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
The three-tier salary picture for Veterinarians in 2026: $91,510 at entry (P10), $127,097 at midpoint, and $180,477 at the senior end (P90). Stack the top-paying states against the cheapest — the math is revealing. The $88,967 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $46,730 above the national median household income of $80,367.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Santa Clara, Irvine, San Francisco) averages $223,933, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Jackson, Macon) averages $101,036. The $122,897 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Veterinarian in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $236,572 — $137,961 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($98,611). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Veterinarian is $91,510, while senior-level (P90) earners average $180,477. That $88,967 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Hawaii pays the highest average median salary for Veterinarians at $161,451 across 1 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Hampshire at $132,595) is $28,856.
At the 90th percentile, Veterinarians pull in an average of $180,477. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $91,510 | $127,097 | $180,477 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £52,257 | £72,580 | £103,063 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$80,918 | CA$112,387 | CA$159,589 |
| Australia | 13 | A$93,550 | A$129,930 | A$184,500 |
| Sweden | 24 | 552,254 kr | 767,019 kr | 1,089,167 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 1 | $116,245 | $161,451 | $229,260 |
| California | 61 | $104,442 | $145,058 | $205,983 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $100,684 | $139,839 | $198,571 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $98,044 | $136,172 | $193,364 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $95,468 | $132,595 | $188,285 |
| Washington | 8 | $93,558 | $129,942 | $184,518 |
| Oregon | 5 | $92,515 | $128,493 | $182,460 |
| Colorado | 11 | $92,027 | $127,815 | $181,497 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $91,977 | $127,746 | $181,399 |
| New York | 5 | $91,536 | $127,134 | $180,530 |
| Illinois | 5 | $91,330 | $126,847 | $180,123 |
| Nevada | 5 | $90,283 | $125,393 | $178,058 |
| Virginia | 7 | $90,231 | $125,321 | $177,956 |
| Idaho | 3 | $90,231 | $125,321 | $177,956 |
| Utah | 4 | $89,480 | $124,278 | $176,475 |
| Florida | 22 | $89,396 | $124,161 | $176,309 |
| Arizona | 12 | $89,308 | $124,039 | $176,136 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $89,201 | $123,890 | $175,924 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $88,171 | $122,460 | $173,893 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $87,570 | $121,625 | $172,707 |
| Michigan | 6 | $87,470 | $121,486 | $172,510 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $87,427 | $121,426 | $172,425 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $87,244 | $121,172 | $172,064 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $85,853 | $119,240 | $169,321 |
| Alaska | 1 | $85,853 | $119,240 | $169,321 |
| Iowa | 2 | $85,853 | $119,240 | $169,321 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $85,853 | $119,240 | $169,321 |
| Montana | 1 | $85,853 | $119,240 | $169,321 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $84,680 | $117,611 | $167,007 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $84,565 | $117,452 | $166,781 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $84,556 | $117,438 | $166,762 |
| Texas | 40 | $84,441 | $117,279 | $166,536 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $84,157 | $116,885 | $165,977 |
| Georgia | 6 | $83,921 | $116,557 | $165,511 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $83,814 | $116,408 | $165,300 |
| Indiana | 3 | $83,592 | $116,100 | $164,862 |
| Alabama | 5 | $82,659 | $114,804 | $163,022 |
| Ohio | 6 | $82,476 | $114,550 | $162,661 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $82,419 | $114,470 | $162,547 |
| Maryland | 1 | $82,333 | $114,351 | $162,378 |
| Missouri | 4 | $82,269 | $114,262 | $162,252 |
| Kansas | 4 | $82,075 | $113,993 | $161,870 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $81,732 | $113,516 | $161,193 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $81,303 | $112,921 | $160,347 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $76,066 | $105,647 | $150,019 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $72,546 | $100,758 | $143,076 |
Geography shapes Veterinarian pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. Hawaii tops the state leaderboard at $161,451 median, with 1 cities providing data. California and Massachusetts follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Arkansas anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Santa Clara ($236,572 nominal, 198 cost index) delivers $119,481 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oceanside California | $174,687 | 146 | $119,649 | $103,123 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $236,572 | 198 | $119,481 | $133,621 |
| 3 | Boston Massachusetts | $180,410 | 151 | $119,477 | $114,031 |
| 4 | Huntington Beach California | $201,873 | 169 | $119,451 | $117,295 |
| 5 | Fremont California | $211,413 | 177 | $119,442 | $121,783 |
| 6 | Irvine California | $219,759 | 184 | $119,434 | $125,710 |
| 7 | Bellevue Washington | $201,754 | 169 | $119,381 | $144,072 |
| 8 | Thousand Oaks California | $191,857 | 161 | $119,166 | $112,575 |
| 9 | Los Angeles California | $175,164 | 147 | $119,159 | $103,385 |
| 10 | Anaheim California | $173,971 | 146 | $119,158 | $102,729 |
From a career planning perspective, Veterinarian offers a $88,967 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires DVM degree. Day-to-day, expect clinical work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Veterinarians is $127,097 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $91,510, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $180,477.
The highest-paying city for Veterinarians is Santa Clara, California with a median salary of $236,572. The top 3 cities are Santa Clara ($236,572), Irvine ($219,759), San Francisco ($215,467). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Veterinarian salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $98,611. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Veterinarians (10th percentile) average $91,510 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $170,332. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Veterinarians average $180,477 nationally — $88,967 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Veterinarians can earn up to $335,932.
The top-paying states for Veterinarians are Hawaii ($161,451 median), California ($145,058 median), Massachusetts ($139,839 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Veterinarian involves DVM degree. The field is in the Healthcare sector (Healthcare), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically clinical.
With a national median of $127,097 and representation across 288 metro areas, Veterinarian offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $88,967 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.