Veterinarian Pay: Median, Entry-Level & Senior Salaries
National median: $125,510/year. After federal taxes (single filer), that's $96,539/year take-home — 23.1% effective rate.
Veterinarian Salary After Federal Tax by Experience Level
Take-home calculated for single filer, federal taxes only (no state income tax baseline).
| Level | Gross Salary | Take-Home / Year | Monthly | Eff. Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Level | $85,000 | $68,184 | $5,682 | 19.8% |
| 25th Percentile | $98,000 | $77,329 | $6,444 | 21.1% |
| MedianBLS Median | $125,510 | $96,539 | $8,045 | 23.1% |
| 75th Percentile | $165,000 | $123,531 | $10,294 | 25.1% |
| 90th Percentile | $215,000 | $159,766 | $13,314 | 25.7% |
| Senior Level | $185,000 | $137,752 | $11,479 | 25.5% |
Veterinarian Take-Home Pay by State
Salary figures adjusted for state cost of living and local market rates. Single filer.
| State | Est. Salary | Take-Home / Year | Monthly | Eff. Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $154,064 | $103,799 | $8,650 | 32.6% |
| New Jersey | $147,788 | $104,345 | $8,695 | 29.4% |
| Connecticut | $147,474 | $103,953 | $8,663 | 29.5% |
| New York | $165,359 | $114,995 | $9,583 | 30.5% |
| Hawaii | $167,242 | $111,883 | $9,324 | 33.1% |
About This Career
Veterinarians diagnose and treat animal diseases across companion animal practice, food animal medicine, research, and public health. The pandemic-era pet adoption surge has driven a veterinarian shortage that has pushed practice salaries well above the BLS median in high-demand markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Veterinarian salary in the US?+
The national median Veterinarian salary is $125,510 per year (BLS data). The middle 50% of earners fall between $98,000 and $165,000, while the top 10% earn over $215,000.
How much does a Veterinarian take home after taxes?+
A Veterinarian earning the median $125,510 takes home approximately $96,539 after federal taxes (single filer, assuming no state income tax). Add state taxes to get a more precise figure for your location.
Where do Veterinarians earn the most?+
The highest-paying states for Veterinarians are California, New Jersey, Connecticut. Top cities include New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, where salaries can exceed $165,000 for experienced professionals.