Veterinary0% remote-eligible+5.5% YoY growth

Veterinary Surgeon Salary
by City (2026)

Perform complex surgical procedures on companion and large animals. National median: $190K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$190K

Top 10% earn

$340K

Entry level

$140K

Salary growth

+5.5%/yr

Veterinary Surgeon salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$196K	$266K	$357K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$189K	$257K	$344K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$186K	$253K	$339K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$185K	$251K	$337K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$185K	$251K	$337K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$182K	$247K	$332K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$182K	$247K	$332K	162	5%
Washington, DC	$182K	$247K	$332K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$180K	$244K	$328K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$179K	$242K	$325K	172	9.3%
Los Angeles, CA	$175K	$238K	$319K	163	9.3%
Jersey City, NJ	$175K	$238K	$319K	162	10.75%
Yonkers, NY	$175K	$237K	$318K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$175K	$237K	$318K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$173K	$235K	$316K	162	None ✓
Stamford, CT	$171K	$233K	$312K	158	6.99%
San Diego, CA	$171K	$232K	$311K	148	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$171K	$232K	$311K	150	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$171K	$232K	$311K	155	10.75%
Hilo, HI	$170K	$230K	$309K	155	11%
Arlington, VA	$168K	$228K	$306K	148	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$168K	$228K	$306K	192	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$167K	$227K	$305K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$166K	$226K	$303K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$166K	$226K	$303K	148	5.75%
Long Beach, CA	$165K	$224K	$301K	155	9.3%
Worcester, MA	$165K	$224K	$301K	120	5%
Alexandria, VA	$165K	$224K	$300K	145	5.75%
Baltimore, MD	$165K	$224K	$301K	115	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$165K	$224K	$300K	145	10.75%
Anchorage, AK	$165K	$224K	$301K	128	None ✓
Paterson, NJ	$162K	$220K	$296K	140	10.75%
Chula Vista, CA	$161K	$219K	$294K	138	9.3%
Edison, NJ	$161K	$219K	$294K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$161K	$219K	$294K	138	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$161K	$218K	$293K	128	9.3%
Philadelphia, PA	$161K	$218K	$293K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$161K	$218K	$293K	130	9.9%
Chicago, IL	$157K	$213K	$286K	107	4.95%
Denver, CO	$157K	$213K	$286K	118	4.55%
Hartford, CT	$157K	$213K	$286K	118	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$154K	$209K	$281K	96	None ✓
Miami, FL	$154K	$209K	$281K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$154K	$209K	$281K	128	None ✓
Minneapolis, MN	$154K	$209K	$281K	106	6.8%
New Haven, CT	$153K	$208K	$279K	122	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$152K	$207K	$277K	120	None ✓
Houston, TX	$151K	$205K	$275K	91	None ✓
Plano, TX	$151K	$205K	$275K	105	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$151K	$205K	$275K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$151K	$205K	$275K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$151K	$205K	$275K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$151K	$205K	$275K	118	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$151K	$205K	$275K	99	5.75%
Lowell, MA	$151K	$205K	$275K	118	5%
Durham, NC	$151K	$205K	$275K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$151K	$205K	$275K	102	None ✓
St. Paul, MN	$151K	$205K	$275K	104	6.8%
Gresham, OR	$151K	$205K	$275K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$151K	$205K	$275K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$151K	$205K	$275K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$151K	$205K	$275K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$151K	$205K	$275K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$150K	$203K	$273K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$150K	$203K	$273K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$150K	$203K	$273K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$150K	$203K	$273K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$150K	$203K	$273K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$150K	$203K	$273K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$150K	$203K	$273K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$150K	$203K	$273K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$148K	$201K	$270K	112	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$148K	$201K	$270K	112	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$148K	$201K	$270K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$148K	$201K	$270K	112	4.75%
Austin, TX	$147K	$200K	$268K	110	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$147K	$200K	$268K	93	None ✓
Irving, TX	$147K	$200K	$268K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$147K	$200K	$268K	108	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$147K	$200K	$268K	118	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$147K	$200K	$268K	118	2.5%
Raleigh, NC	$147K	$200K	$268K	102	4.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$147K	$200K	$268K	90	3.07%
Eugene, OR	$147K	$200K	$268K	110	9.9%
Salt Lake City, UT	$147K	$200K	$268K	105	4.85%
Round Rock, TX	$146K	$198K	$266K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$146K	$198K	$266K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$146K	$198K	$266K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$146K	$198K	$266K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$146K	$198K	$266K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$146K	$198K	$266K	108	6.6%
Stockton, CA	$144K	$196K	$263K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$144K	$196K	$263K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$144K	$196K	$263K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$144K	$196K	$263K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$144K	$196K	$263K	105	5.8%
San Antonio, TX	$143K	$194K	$260K	87	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$143K	$194K	$260K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$143K	$194K	$260K	91	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$143K	$194K	$260K	102	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$143K	$194K	$260K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$143K	$194K	$260K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$143K	$194K	$260K	100	4.75%
Missoula, MT	$143K	$194K	$260K	102	6.75%
Denton, TX	$142K	$193K	$259K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$142K	$193K	$259K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$142K	$193K	$259K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$142K	$193K	$259K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$142K	$193K	$259K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$142K	$193K	$259K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$142K	$193K	$259K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$142K	$193K	$259K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$141K	$191K	$257K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$141K	$191K	$257K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$141K	$191K	$257K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$141K	$191K	$257K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$141K	$191K	$257K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$141K	$191K	$257K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$141K	$191K	$257K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$141K	$191K	$257K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$141K	$191K	$257K	98	7.15%
Orlando, FL	$140K	$190K	$255K	100	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$140K	$190K	$255K	105	2.5%
Richmond, VA	$140K	$190K	$255K	98	5.75%
Madison, WI	$140K	$190K	$255K	102	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$140K	$190K	$255K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$140K	$190K	$255K	108	None ✓
Provo, UT	$140K	$190K	$255K	100	4.85%
Bakersfield, CA	$139K	$189K	$254K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$139K	$189K	$254K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$139K	$189K	$254K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$139K	$189K	$254K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$139K	$189K	$254K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$139K	$189K	$254K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$139K	$189K	$254K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$138K	$187K	$251K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$138K	$187K	$251K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$138K	$187K	$251K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$138K	$187K	$251K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$138K	$187K	$251K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$137K	$186K	$249K	90	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$137K	$186K	$250K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$137K	$186K	$250K	90	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$137K	$186K	$250K	93	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$137K	$186K	$250K	105	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$137K	$186K	$249K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$137K	$186K	$249K	90	4.95%
Mesa, AZ	$137K	$186K	$250K	98	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$137K	$186K	$250K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$137K	$186K	$250K	90	3.99%
Sterling Heights, MI	$137K	$186K	$249K	90	4.25%
Milwaukee, WI	$137K	$186K	$250K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$137K	$186K	$249K	90	5.3%
Charleston, SC	$137K	$186K	$250K	105	6.5%
Fargo, ND	$137K	$186K	$249K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$136K	$184K	$248K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$136K	$184K	$248K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$136K	$184K	$248K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$136K	$184K	$248K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$136K	$184K	$248K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$136K	$184K	$248K	88	None ✓
Green Bay, WI	$136K	$184K	$248K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$136K	$184K	$248K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$136K	$184K	$248K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$136K	$184K	$248K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$136K	$184K	$248K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$136K	$184K	$248K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$136K	$184K	$248K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$134K	$182K	$245K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$134K	$182K	$245K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$134K	$182K	$245K	85	None ✓
Spokane, WA	$134K	$182K	$245K	95	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$134K	$182K	$245K	102	4.55%
Winston-Salem, NC	$134K	$182K	$245K	85	4.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$134K	$182K	$245K	88	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$134K	$182K	$245K	82	4.25%
Warren, MI	$134K	$182K	$245K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$134K	$182K	$245K	85	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$134K	$182K	$245K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$134K	$182K	$245K	86	5.3%
Independence, MO	$134K	$182K	$245K	85	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$134K	$182K	$245K	88	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$134K	$182K	$245K	85	5%
Lafayette, LA	$134K	$182K	$245K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$134K	$182K	$245K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$134K	$182K	$245K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$134K	$182K	$245K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$134K	$182K	$245K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$134K	$182K	$245K	85	4.9%
Corpus Christi, TX	$133K	$181K	$242K	84	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$133K	$181K	$242K	88	6.85%
Cleveland, OH	$133K	$181K	$242K	82	3.99%
Huntsville, AL	$133K	$181K	$242K	88	5%
New Orleans, LA	$133K	$181K	$242K	92	6%
Des Moines, IA	$133K	$181K	$242K	88	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$133K	$181K	$242K	88	5.84%
Amarillo, TX	$133K	$180K	$242K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$133K	$180K	$242K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$133K	$180K	$242K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$133K	$180K	$242K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$133K	$180K	$242K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$133K	$180K	$242K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$133K	$180K	$242K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$133K	$180K	$242K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$133K	$180K	$242K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$133K	$180K	$242K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$133K	$180K	$242K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$132K	$179K	$240K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$132K	$179K	$240K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$132K	$179K	$240K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$132K	$179K	$240K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$132K	$179K	$240K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$132K	$179K	$240K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$132K	$179K	$240K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$132K	$179K	$240K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$132K	$179K	$240K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$132K	$179K	$240K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$132K	$179K	$240K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$132K	$179K	$240K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$132K	$179K	$240K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$131K	$178K	$238K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$131K	$178K	$238K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$131K	$178K	$238K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$131K	$178K	$238K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$131K	$178K	$238K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$131K	$178K	$238K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$129K	$176K	$236K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$129K	$176K	$236K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$129K	$176K	$236K	75	6.5%
El Paso, TX	$129K	$175K	$235K	82	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$129K	$175K	$235K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$129K	$175K	$235K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$129K	$175K	$235K	82	None ✓
Grand Rapids, MI	$129K	$175K	$235K	90	4.25%
Birmingham, AL	$129K	$175K	$235K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$129K	$175K	$235K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$129K	$175K	$235K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$129K	$175K	$235K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$129K	$175K	$235K	88	5.9%
Lubbock, TX	$126K	$171K	$230K	78	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$126K	$171K	$230K	85	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$126K	$171K	$230K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$126K	$171K	$230K	82	5.7%
Laredo, TX	$123K	$167K	$224K	76	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$123K	$167K	$224K	82	4.9%

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $190K Veterinary Surgeon 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 →

Veterinary Surgeon Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Veterinary Surgeon is $190,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $140,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $255,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Veterinary Surgeons nationally earn $340,000+.

Education and requirements

DVM + surgical residency; board certification. This role is 0% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Veterinary Surgeon compensation is growing at 5.5% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate. Demand for qualified Veterinary Surgeons significantly outpaces supply in most major metros.

Veterinary Surgeon salary FAQ

How much does a Veterinary Surgeon make?

The median Veterinary Surgeon salary in the US is $190,000 per year — about $91/hour. Most earn between $140,000 (25th percentile) and $255,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Veterinary Surgeon?

Entry-level Veterinary Surgeon positions typically start around $140,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Veterinary Surgeons earn?

The top 10% of Veterinary Surgeons earn $340,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Veterinary Surgeons the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Veterinary Surgeon salary at $266K 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 Veterinary Surgeon salaries going up?

Yes — Veterinary Surgeon pay is growing about 5.5% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Veterinary Surgeon Salaryby City (2026)