Are you making a fair wage? Check out the latest veterinary salary research courtesy of Galaxy Vets
According to The American Veterinary Medical Association, as of the end of 2021, there are 121,461 veterinarians in the U.S. AVMA membership isn’t mandatory for vets. However, given the range of benefits membership provides, 99,500 vets are members of the AVMA, with around 82% of veterinarians based in America.
As the AVMA voluntarily asks members for salary information, the most recent data from them indicates that vets can earn anything from $60,000 to $150,000 (2019 figures). This is in line with The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), reporting a median salary of $93,830, with earnings between $56,540 and $162,450 (figures accurate for 2019).
How much vets make depends on a number of factors: experience, location, and the type of practice, as well as whether you are on staff, working as a partner, or self-employed. All of these variables influence how much you can earn, with our data showing that vet salaries by state vary widely. And that’s why Galaxy Vets did some digging to find out the most accurate details.
According to Galaxy Vets study, the amount a veterinarian earns also depends on their level of experience, and location, as our research shows.
Commercial vets can make the most, generally in the $160,000 range, with enough years of experience under their belt. Consultants can make slightly less, in the $150,000 range.
The private practice covers a wide range of specialties — companion animal, mixed animal, food animal (e.g., farm animals), and equine — with average salaries in the $100,000 to $120,000 range — with enough experience. Food and equine vets usually earn less, in the $90,000 to $100,000 range, depending on experience and the state where they practice.
Vets who go the academic route can earn up to $120,000, and those working for the government, or branches of the military or police can earn in the region of $100,000 to $120,000.
Non-profit veterinary practices or non-profits that employ vets to treat animals usually pay around $90,000.
However, as with the above figures, this is based on AVMA 2019 data, and salaries are likely higher now, as our own research shows
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