Veterinary5% remote-eligible+5% YoY growth

Veterinarian Salary
by City (2026)

Diagnose and treat medical conditions in animals, perform surgeries, and advise pet owners. National median: $120K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$120K

Top 10% earn

$220K

Entry level

$88K

Salary growth

+5%/yr

Veterinarian salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$123K	$168K	$231K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$119K	$162K	$223K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$117K	$159K	$219K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$116K	$159K	$218K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$116K	$159K	$218K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$114K	$156K	$215K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$114K	$156K	$215K	162	5%
Washington, DC	$114K	$156K	$215K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$113K	$154K	$212K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$112K	$153K	$210K	172	9.3%
Los Angeles, CA	$110K	$150K	$206K	163	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$110K	$150K	$206K	165	6.85%
Jersey City, NJ	$110K	$150K	$206K	162	10.75%
Bethesda, MD	$110K	$150K	$206K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$109K	$149K	$204K	162	None ✓
Stamford, CT	$108K	$147K	$202K	158	6.99%
San Diego, CA	$107K	$146K	$201K	148	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$107K	$146K	$201K	150	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$107K	$146K	$201K	155	10.75%
Hilo, HI	$107K	$146K	$200K	155	11%
Arlington, VA	$106K	$144K	$198K	148	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$106K	$144K	$198K	192	11%
Anaheim, CA	$105K	$143K	$196K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$105K	$143K	$197K	150	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$105K	$143K	$196K	148	5.75%
Long Beach, CA	$104K	$142K	$195K	155	9.3%
Worcester, MA	$104K	$142K	$195K	120	5%
Baltimore, MD	$104K	$142K	$195K	115	5.75%
Anchorage, AK	$104K	$142K	$195K	128	None ✓
Alexandria, VA	$104K	$141K	$194K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$104K	$141K	$194K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$102K	$139K	$191K	140	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$101K	$138K	$190K	128	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$101K	$138K	$190K	138	9.3%
Philadelphia, PA	$101K	$138K	$190K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$101K	$138K	$190K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$101K	$138K	$190K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$101K	$138K	$190K	138	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$99K	$134K	$185K	107	4.95%
Denver, CO	$99K	$134K	$185K	118	4.55%
Hartford, CT	$99K	$134K	$185K	118	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$97K	$132K	$182K	96	None ✓
Miami, FL	$97K	$132K	$182K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$97K	$132K	$182K	128	None ✓
Minneapolis, MN	$97K	$132K	$182K	106	6.8%
New Haven, CT	$96K	$131K	$181K	122	6.99%
Houston, TX	$95K	$130K	$178K	91	None ✓
Plano, TX	$95K	$130K	$178K	105	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$95K	$130K	$178K	99	5.75%
Durham, NC	$95K	$130K	$178K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$95K	$130K	$178K	102	None ✓
St. Paul, MN	$95K	$130K	$178K	104	6.8%
Nashua, NH	$96K	$130K	$179K	120	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$95K	$129K	$178K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$95K	$129K	$178K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$95K	$129K	$178K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$95K	$129K	$178K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$95K	$129K	$178K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$95K	$129K	$178K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$95K	$129K	$178K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$95K	$129K	$178K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$95K	$129K	$178K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$95K	$129K	$178K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$94K	$128K	$176K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$94K	$128K	$176K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$94K	$128K	$176K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$94K	$128K	$176K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$94K	$128K	$176K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$94K	$128K	$176K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$94K	$128K	$176K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$94K	$128K	$176K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$93K	$127K	$175K	112	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$93K	$127K	$175K	112	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$93K	$127K	$175K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$93K	$127K	$175K	112	4.75%
Austin, TX	$92K	$126K	$173K	110	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$92K	$126K	$173K	93	None ✓
Irving, TX	$92K	$126K	$173K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$92K	$126K	$173K	108	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$92K	$126K	$173K	118	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$92K	$126K	$173K	118	2.5%
Raleigh, NC	$92K	$126K	$173K	102	4.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$92K	$126K	$173K	90	3.07%
Eugene, OR	$92K	$126K	$173K	110	9.9%
Salt Lake City, UT	$92K	$126K	$173K	105	4.85%
Round Rock, TX	$92K	$125K	$172K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$92K	$125K	$172K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$92K	$125K	$172K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$92K	$125K	$172K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$92K	$125K	$172K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$92K	$125K	$172K	108	6.6%
Stockton, CA	$91K	$124K	$170K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$91K	$124K	$170K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$91K	$124K	$170K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$91K	$124K	$170K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$91K	$124K	$170K	105	5.8%
Carrollton, TX	$90K	$123K	$168K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$90K	$123K	$168K	102	6.75%
San Antonio, TX	$90K	$122K	$168K	87	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$90K	$122K	$168K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$90K	$122K	$168K	91	None ✓
Denton, TX	$89K	$122K	$167K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$89K	$122K	$167K	100	9.3%
Tampa, FL	$90K	$122K	$168K	102	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$89K	$122K	$167K	100	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$90K	$122K	$168K	100	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$89K	$122K	$167K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$90K	$122K	$168K	100	4.75%
Rochester, MN	$89K	$122K	$167K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$89K	$122K	$167K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$89K	$122K	$167K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$89K	$122K	$167K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$89K	$121K	$166K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$89K	$121K	$166K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$89K	$121K	$166K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$89K	$121K	$166K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$89K	$121K	$166K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$89K	$121K	$166K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$89K	$121K	$166K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$89K	$121K	$166K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$89K	$121K	$166K	98	7.15%
Bakersfield, CA	$88K	$120K	$164K	95	9.3%
Orlando, FL	$88K	$120K	$165K	100	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$88K	$120K	$164K	95	4.95%
Chandler, AZ	$88K	$120K	$165K	105	2.5%
Glendale, AZ	$88K	$120K	$164K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$88K	$120K	$164K	95	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$88K	$120K	$165K	98	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$88K	$120K	$164K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$88K	$120K	$164K	95	3.07%
Madison, WI	$88K	$120K	$165K	102	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$88K	$120K	$165K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$88K	$120K	$165K	108	None ✓
Provo, UT	$88K	$120K	$165K	100	4.85%
North Charleston, SC	$88K	$120K	$164K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$87K	$118K	$163K	92	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$86K	$118K	$162K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$86K	$118K	$162K	90	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$86K	$118K	$162K	93	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$86K	$118K	$162K	105	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$86K	$118K	$162K	98	2.5%
Athens, GA	$87K	$118K	$163K	92	5.75%
Virginia Beach, VA	$86K	$118K	$162K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$86K	$118K	$162K	90	3.99%
Milwaukee, WI	$86K	$118K	$162K	90	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$87K	$118K	$163K	92	6.8%
Charleston, SC	$86K	$118K	$162K	105	6.5%
Greenville, SC	$87K	$118K	$163K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$87K	$118K	$163K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$86K	$117K	$161K	90	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$85K	$117K	$160K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$85K	$117K	$160K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$85K	$117K	$160K	88	6.85%
Tallahassee, FL	$86K	$117K	$161K	90	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$85K	$117K	$160K	88	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$86K	$117K	$161K	90	4.95%
Greensboro, NC	$85K	$117K	$160K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$85K	$117K	$160K	88	None ✓
Sterling Heights, MI	$86K	$117K	$161K	90	4.25%
Green Bay, WI	$85K	$117K	$160K	88	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$86K	$117K	$161K	90	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$85K	$117K	$160K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$85K	$117K	$160K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$85K	$117K	$160K	88	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$86K	$117K	$161K	90	2.5%
Bismarck, ND	$85K	$117K	$160K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$85K	$117K	$160K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$85K	$117K	$160K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$84K	$115K	$158K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$84K	$115K	$158K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$84K	$115K	$158K	85	None ✓
Spokane, WA	$84K	$115K	$158K	95	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$84K	$115K	$158K	102	4.55%
Winston-Salem, NC	$84K	$115K	$158K	85	4.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$84K	$115K	$158K	88	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$84K	$115K	$158K	82	4.25%
Warren, MI	$84K	$115K	$158K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$84K	$115K	$158K	85	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$84K	$115K	$158K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$84K	$115K	$158K	86	5.3%
Independence, MO	$84K	$115K	$158K	85	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$84K	$115K	$158K	88	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$84K	$115K	$158K	85	5%
Lafayette, LA	$84K	$115K	$158K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$84K	$115K	$158K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$84K	$115K	$158K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$84K	$115K	$158K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$84K	$115K	$158K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$84K	$115K	$158K	85	4.9%
Corpus Christi, TX	$84K	$114K	$157K	84	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$84K	$114K	$157K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$84K	$114K	$157K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$84K	$114K	$157K	88	6.85%
Pueblo, CO	$84K	$114K	$157K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$84K	$114K	$157K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$84K	$114K	$157K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$84K	$114K	$157K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$84K	$114K	$157K	82	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$84K	$114K	$157K	82	3.99%
South Bend, IN	$84K	$114K	$157K	82	3.23%
Huntsville, AL	$84K	$114K	$157K	88	5%
Mobile, AL	$84K	$114K	$157K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$84K	$114K	$157K	82	4.75%
New Orleans, LA	$84K	$114K	$157K	92	6%
Des Moines, IA	$84K	$114K	$157K	88	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$84K	$114K	$157K	82	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$84K	$114K	$157K	88	5.84%
Killeen, TX	$83K	$113K	$155K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$83K	$113K	$155K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$83K	$113K	$155K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$83K	$113K	$155K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$83K	$113K	$155K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$83K	$113K	$155K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$83K	$113K	$155K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$83K	$113K	$155K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$83K	$113K	$155K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$83K	$113K	$155K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$83K	$113K	$155K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$83K	$113K	$155K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$83K	$113K	$155K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$82K	$112K	$154K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$82K	$112K	$154K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$82K	$112K	$154K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$82K	$112K	$154K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$82K	$112K	$154K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$82K	$112K	$154K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$81K	$111K	$152K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$81K	$111K	$152K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$81K	$111K	$152K	75	6.5%
El Paso, TX	$81K	$110K	$152K	82	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$81K	$110K	$152K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$81K	$110K	$152K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$81K	$110K	$152K	82	None ✓
Grand Rapids, MI	$81K	$110K	$152K	90	4.25%
Birmingham, AL	$81K	$110K	$152K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$81K	$110K	$152K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$81K	$110K	$152K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$81K	$110K	$152K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$81K	$110K	$152K	88	5.9%
Lubbock, TX	$79K	$108K	$149K	78	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$79K	$108K	$149K	85	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$79K	$108K	$149K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$79K	$108K	$149K	82	5.7%
Laredo, TX	$77K	$106K	$145K	76	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$77K	$106K	$145K	82	4.9%

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $120K Veterinarian salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Veterinarian Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Veterinarian is $120,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $88,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $165,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Veterinarians nationally earn $220,000+.

Education and requirements

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM); state license. This role is 5% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Veterinarian compensation is growing at 5% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate.

Veterinarian salary FAQ

How much does a Veterinarian make?

The median Veterinarian salary in the US is $120,000 per year — about $58/hour. Most earn between $88,000 (25th percentile) and $165,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Veterinarian?

Entry-level Veterinarian positions typically start around $88,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Veterinarians earn?

The top 10% of Veterinarians earn $220,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Veterinarians the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Veterinarian salary at $168K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Veterinarian salaries going up?

Yes — Veterinarian pay is growing about 5% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Veterinarian Salaryby City (2026)