How much money do vets make a month

If you’re a lover of animals, pursuing a career as a veterinarian could be a smart move. The median pay for veterinarians as of 2017 is $90,420, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. On top of that, the future for veterinarians looks good, as the BLS projects employment to grow 19%, which is far above the average.

Of course, not all places pay veterinarians the same salary. So, if you want to earn the most money while indulging your love of animals, read on for a full breakdown of where veterinarian’s incomes are the lowest, and where their incomes are the highest.

10 States Where Veterinarians Earn the Most Money

Here’s a list of the top-10 states in order of average incomes for veterinarians:

Rank	State	2017 Mean Annual Wage
1	Hawaii	$198,340
2	New Jersey	$124,870
3	New York	$122,500
4	Nevada	$121,150
5	California	$120,300
6	Rhode Island	$118,650
7	Connecticut	$114,110
8	Virginia	$111,570
9	Alaska	$110,270
10	Texas	$109,920

10 States Where Veterinarians Earn the Least Money

The states that pay veterinarians the least are a mix of states in the U.S. South and Mountain division, such as Montana and Utah.

Rank	State	2017 Mean Annual Wage
1	Arkansas	$69,130
2	Nebraska	$73,400
3	Montana	$75,680
4	Mississippi	$76,100
5	Utah	$79,000
6	Oklahoma	$81,310
7	Louisiana	$83,130
8	Iowa	$84,240
9	Kansas	$84,560
10	Wyoming	$85,180

How Much Veterinarians Earn in All 50 States

Here’s a look at average veterinarian salaries by state.

State	2017 Mean Annual Wage
Alabama	$87,740
Alaska	$110,270
Arizona	$101,870
Arkansas	$69,130
California	$120,300
Colorado	$86,220
Connecticut	$114,110
Delaware	$106,810
Florida	$100,140
Georgia	$88,050
Hawaii	$198,340
Idaho	$87,900
Illinois	$96,440
Indiana	$89,070
Iowa	$84,240
Kansas	$84,560
Kentucky	$92,010
Louisiana	$83,130
Maine	$96,870
Maryland	$106,500
Massachusetts	$108,300
Michigan	$90,270
Minnesota	$91,980
Mississippi	$76,100
Missouri	$96,250
Montana	$75,680
Nebraska	$73,400
Nevada	$121,150
New Hampshire	$104,400
New Jersey	$124,870
New Mexico	$105,040
New York	$122,500
North Carolina	$104,590
North Dakota	$96,090
Ohio	$98,990
Oklahoma	$81,310
Oregon	$90,470
Pennsylvania	$106,420
Rhode Island	$118,650
South Carolina	$105,830
South Dakota	$86,300
Tennessee	$88,130
Texas	$109,920
Utah	$79,000
Vermont	$104,160
Virginia	$111,570
Washington	$92,950
West Virginia	$92,820
Wisconsin	$88,990
Wyoming	$85,180

Up Next: Here’s How Much Lawyers Make in Every State

How much does a Veterinarian make?

Veterinarians make $109,524 per year on average, or $52.66 per hour, in the United States. Veterinarians on the lower end of that spectrum, the bottom 10% to be exact, make roughly $58,000 a year, while the top 10% makes $205,000.

Location impacts how much a veterinarian can expect to make. Veterinarians make the most in Maine, New Mexico, Vermont, Maryland, and New Jersey.

Highest Paying States For Veterinarians

The darker areas on the map show where veterinarians earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.

State View
County View

Veterinarian average salary by State

Top Veterinarian Jobs Near You

Highest Paying Cities For Veterinarians

Veterinarian Salary Details

Average Veterinarian Salary Graph, Trends, and Summary

How Would You Rate The Starting Salaries For Veterinarians, As Well As The Prospects For Salary Advancement?

Jamie Rauscher RVT

Medical Manager, Animal Hospital of Towne Lake and Cat Clinic of Woodstock

I live in Georgia. Starting salaries for a RVT in this state is around $17 an hour. 25 years ago I made $5 an hour walking dogs and cleaning kennels. My salary now is set to cover that of a RVT with management duties. Again, I do believe that employers that pay their staff well will be able to retain them longterm. If you feel like you deserve a raise, prove it, stand up for yourself, and ask for it! Technicians that obtain their specialties or go into management will make more as their education/skills progress. Show more

Which Companies Pay Veterinarians The Most?

The highest paying companies for veterinarians are Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium and SPCA of Wake County according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, companies like Valley Community Healthcare and Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center report highly competitive wages for veterinarians.

Veterinarian Salary Trends

Average Veterinarian Salary Over Time

Compare salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Recently Added Veterinarian Salaries

Veterinarian Salaries FAQs

What State Pays Veterinarians The Most?

Maine pays Veterinarians the most in the United States, with an average salary of $116,665 per year, or $56.09 per hour.

How Do I Know If I'm Being Paid Fairly As A Veterinarian?

You know if you are being paid fairly as a Veterinarian if your pay is close to the average pay for the state you live in. For example, if you live in New Mexico you should be paid close to $113,328 per year.

What Type Of Veterinarian Gets Paid The Most?

Animal Doctor gets paid the most. Animal Doctor made a median salary of $271,022. The best-paid 10 percent make $463,000, while the lowest-paid 10 percent make $158,000.

Do Veterinarians Make Good Money?

Yes, veterinarians make good money. While veterinarians' salaries can vary, the profession is generally well-compensated.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that veterinarians make a median salary of $93,830. The best-paid veterinarians earn $162,450, while the lowest-paid earn $56,540.

What Type Of Vet Makes The Most Money?

Commercial and consulting vets make the most money. Commercial and consulting veterinarians can expect to make an annual salary of around $160,000.

However, the median salary for a veterinarian is around $90,000 in a year, but can range from around $56,000 on the low end to over $162,000 on the high end.

Search For Veterinarian Jobs

What vets get paid the most?

Top 10 highest-paid veterinarian careers.

Board-certified veterinary surgery specialist. Average salary: $266,908..

Veterinary research scientist. Average salary: $111,691. ... .

Veterinary Ophthalmologist. ... .

Military veterinarian. ... .

Small animal veterinarian. ... .

Equine veterinarian. ... .

Veterinary radiologist. ... .

Regulatory medicine veterinarian. ... .

Do vets make money?

After practicing for a few years, veterinarians earn an average of $85,000. Experienced generalist vets can anticipate an annual salary of $88,000. However, experienced veterinarians who have board certifications in specialties can expect a higher income of around $150,000.