highest paying veterinary jobs

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highest paying veterinary jobs

Highest Paid Veterinarian Careers With Salaries

A career in veterinary medicine offers many rewards, and certain veterinary careers come with very high-paying salaries. While some jobs in this industry pay an average of $10.50 an hour, others boast six-figure salaries. If you are looking for a career helping animals, it’s worth noting which paths are the most lucrative. In this article, we outline the highest paying jobs in the veterinary industry and give salaries and job descriptions for each of them.

What are some common veterinary careers?

Veterinarians, veterinary nurses, technicians, practice managers and veterinary receptionists are all common jobs in animal hospitals and clinics. Some of these roles provide direct care to animals, while others offer environmental and organizational support. Each has its own set of specialties, duties and educational requirements. All of these jobs are important to animal welfare, but the salary and benefits for each vary a great deal. If you care about animals and are thinking about a career in animal health, it helps to know which career paths offer the best compensation and benefits.

Benefits of choosing a veterinarian career

The benefits of choosing a veterinary career are both tangible and intangible. The career is emotionally fulfilling, as your care and treatment plans often improve an animal’s health and quality of life. Veterinarian clinicians and those in other subspecialties often work in groups or clinics where they can connect with people with a similar passion for science and helping animals.

Alongside emotional fulfillment and personal connection, careers in veterinary medicine are in demand. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, employment in this field is estimated to grow 16% through 2029. Additionally, having a degree as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and experience as a clinician can lead to other careers including public health, medical research, training and teaching.

Top 10 highest paid veterinarian careers

Here is a list of 10 careers in the veterinary field with the highest salaries. For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, click on the salary link by each job title below:

1. Zoo veterinarian

National average salary: $59,986 per year

Primary duties: Zoo veterinarians provide care for exotic animals and wildlife living in zoos and sanctuaries. These veterinary physicians examine animals, administer medication, rehabilitate animals and perform surgeries.

Read more: All About a Zoo Veterinarian Career (With Salary)

2. Veterinary practice manager

National average salary: $63,832 per year

Primary duties: Veterinary practice managers provide a veterinary office or facility with business management services. They oversee operations and organize various elements of the facility, including payroll, scheduling and office maintenance. These professionals do not work directly with servicing animals. Instead, they support the environment for that to happen.

3. Veterinary hospital manager

National average salary: $64,738 per year

Primary duties: A veterinary hospital manager makes sure that the business elements of an animal hospital run smoothly. This person does not provide animal care, but the work they do supports the systems and people who provide care for animals. A veterinary hospital manager hires and trains staff, balances budgets and expenditures, manages software and programs and completes inventory orders.

4. Public health veterinarian

National average salary: $67,343 per year for similar positions

Primary duties: Public health veterinarians consult with veterinarian physicians at both state and local levels. Their primary job function is to keep the human and animal populations safe from exposure to interspecies infectious diseases.

5. Regulatory medicine veterinarian

National average salary: $83,781 per year

Primary duties: Regulatory medicine veterinarians do not work with living animals. They conduct regulatory testing and inspections of animal meat intended for human consumption. The tests check for livestock diseases and disease causing pathogens. These professionals also complete and deliver safety reports.

6. Small animal veterinarian

National average salary: $100,708 per year

Primary duties: Small animal veterinarians provide care for small animals and house pets. These veterinary physicians work in clinics, veterinary offices and veterinary hospitals—they examine pets and administer medication, create rehabilitation plans and perform surgeries.

Read more: How To Become a Veterinarian

7. Military veterinarian

National average salary: $103,090 per year

Primary duties: Military veterinarians provide healthcare for military dogs and animals in conflicts zones. They offer aid and veterinary care in underdeveloped areas, and conduct animal research on behalf of the United States military.

8. Veterinary research scientist

National average salary: $111,691 per year

Primary duties: Veterinary research scientists design and conduct studies involving animals. They offer animal subjects basic care while performing their research. These scientists hypothesize outcomes, collect data, analyze results and publish their findings.

9. Professor of veterinary medicine

National average salary: $166,350 per year according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics

Primary duties: Professors of veterinary medicine work in universities and colleges delivering academic information to students of veterinary sciences. They teach, give lectures and supervise students in clinical training settings. These veterinary physicians offer crucial advice and mentorship to those studying to work in the animal healthcare industry.

10. Board certified veterinary surgery specialist

National average salary: $266,908 per year

Primary duties: Board certified veterinary surgeons are specialists who perform surgeries that require specialization beyond a licensed veterinarian. Beyond surgery, they diagnose illnesses, create treatment plans and develop rehabilitation programs.

Other high-paying veterinary careers

Below is a list of seven additional careers that pay well within the veterinary industry:

  • Lab animal veterinarian: A lab animal veterinarian’s career focus is on offering care to animals being used as a part of scientific research. They often breed animals and conduct exams on species like rats, rabbits, dogs and primates.
  • Veterinary ophthalmologist: Veterinary ophthalmologists specialize in the ocular health of animals. They perform cataract surgery, remove tumors and place prosthetics.
  • Veterinary consultant: Veterinary consultants are specialists in a specific field of animal healthcare. These professionals assess the operations of clinics and animal hospitals. They assess efficiency, revenue, time management and procedures, and they offer feedback on improving operations.
  • Veterinary radiologist: Veterinary radiologists specialize in the diagnostic imaging of animals. These professionals conduct imaging tests and review the results to inform medical diagnoses. They can perform diagnostic imaging, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasounds and computed tomography (CT) scans.
  • Mixed animal veterinarian: Mixed animal veterinarians provide medical care for both large and small animals. This means they work with farm animals and house pets. These veterinary physicians examine animals of all sizes and administer medication, create rehabilitation plans and perform surgeries.
  • Food animal veterinarian: Food animal veterinarians provide care to livestock animals, like cows, chickens, pigs, sheep and goats. These veterinary physicians diagnose, treat and prevent illnesses in animals living on family farms and in factory settings. They may also provide companies or farm owners with suggestions for disease prevention and management.
  • Equine veterinarian: Equine veterinarians give health care to pet horses and horses involved in competitions. These veterinary physicians examine horses, administer medication, create rehabilitation plans and perform surgeries.

Veterinary Specialist Salary

Veterinarians bandaging dog's leg in vet's surgery

Veterinarians must make a significant educational and financial commitment to become board certified in one of the many specialty areas of the profession. Certification as a veterinary specialist generally requires an additional two to three years of study plus passing an intensive exam. A specialty residency also must be completed under the supervision of a board-certified specialist in the field. 

Currently recognized board certifications include many areas such as anesthesiology, behavior, clinical pharmacology, dermatology, emergency and critical care, internal medicine, lab animal medicine, microbiology, nutrition, ophthalmology, pathology, radiology, surgery, theriogenology, toxicology, zoological medicine, and a number of species-specific options (poultry, equine, cattle, etc).

AVMA Report on Veterinary Compensation

The American Veterinary Medical Association’s 2011 Report on Veterinary Compensation included a comprehensive survey of the professional income earned by veterinary specialists. The specialties with the highest median incomes were ophthalmology ($199,000), lab animal medicine ($169,000), pathology ($157,000), surgery ($133,000), internal medicine ($127,000), radiology ($121,000), and theriogenology ($121,000). In comparison, veterinarians without board certification earned a median income of $91,000 per year.

The financial rewards for veterinary specialists in the 90th percentile proved even more impressive in the survey. Top ophthalmologists and radiologists could earn more than $345,468 per year. Top pathologists could earn more than $267,000 per year. Top surgeons could earn more than $250,061 per year, and top lab animal medicine specialists could earn more than $246,000 per year. In comparison, top veterinarians without board certification earned $187,000.

Board Certification

Board certification also made a big difference in professional earnings for veterinarians working in private practice and public/corporate employment. The median income of private practice veterinarians without board certification was $91,000 per year, while those with board certification had a median income of $157,000 per year. The median income of public/corporate veterinarians (in academia, government, armed services, or industry) without board certification was also $91,000 per year, while those with board certification earned a median income of $133,000 per year.

When focusing exclusively on the earnings of veterinarians in private practice, the AVMA survey noted stronger earnings for board-certified veterinarians across all categories. Food animal exclusive veterinarians without board certification earned a median salary of $103,000 per year, while board-certified veterinarians in this type of practice earned a median salary of $187,000 per year. 

Companion animal exclusive veterinarians without board certification earned a median salary of $91,000 per year, while board certified practitioners earned a median salary of $160,000 per year. Equine veterinarians without board certification earned a median salary of $79,000 per year, while those with board certification earned a median salary of $148,000 per year.

This trend continued when focusing exclusively on the earnings of veterinarians in public/corporate employment, with board-certified veterinarians earning higher salaries in all categories surveyed. Veterinarians working in academia earned a median salary of $73,000 per year, while those with board certification earned a median salary of $127,000 per year. 

Working for the Federal Government

Veterinarians working for the federal government earned a median salary of $103,000 per year, while those with board certification earned a median salary of $124,000 per year. Veterinarians working in uniformed services earned a median salary of $85,000 per year, while those with board certification earned a median salary of $91,000 per year. Veterinarians working in this industry earned a median salary of $133,000 per year, while those with board certification earned a median salary of $181,000

the Top 10 Highest Paying Veterinary Careers

Veterinarians may care for patients with fur, feathers and scales, but not all of them work in clinics. This list of the top 10 highest paying careers in veterinary includes opportunities for people who want to work with patients and their owners directly, as well as ones for people who want to teach or who are drawn to work which helps to ensure that our food supply is safe

#1 Professor of Veterinary Medicine

Job Descriptions

A professor of veterinary medicine is expected to conduct lectures, as well as supervise students in clinical rotations focusing on the subjects he or she is teaching. The professor will also be required to participate in continuing education courses and activities.

Salary

A professor of veterinary medicine can expect to earn an annual salary of $102,500.

Special Skills and Training

Veterinary school professors hold a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree. Candidates will have prior teaching experience, and individuals with a background in research may be preferred, depending on the subjects the professor will be teaching to veterinary students.

#2 Regulatory Medicine Veterinarian

Job Descriptions

Regulatory medicine veterinarians are employed by government agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) or the Department of Homeland Security. Their job duties include enforcing humane treatment of animals legislation, examining and ordering that animals entering the country which are suspected of carrying disease be quarantined, and managing disease-prevention campaigns.

Salary

The average rate of pay for a regulatory medicine veterinarian is $95,000 per year.

Special Skills and Training

A doctorate degree in Veterinary Medicine is required for candidates who wish to be considered for this type of work.

#3 Research Veterinarian

Job Descriptions

Research veterinarians care for animals being housed at research facilities. They perform examinations, prescribe medications and perform surgery on patients. The research veterinarian also collects specimens from animals for evaluation.

Salary

The average salary for research veterinarians is $94,852 per year.

Special Skills and Training

Veterinarians involved in research will need to obtain a Ph.D after completing the requirements for a DVM degree. Veterinary students can plan to spend their summers working in a research lab to get practical experience in this field.

#4 Zoo Veterinarian

Job Descriptions

Zoo veterinarians administer sedatives to animals before conducting physical exams. These vets administer tests and vaccinations as appropriate. They provide advice about housing for the animals, and may be involved in designing exhibit areas.

Salary

The average salary of a zoo veterinarian is $77,713 per year

Special Skills and Training

A veterinarian working in a zoo would undergo the same training as a veterinarian in private practice. He or she will complete a four-year undergraduate degree followed by four years of education in a DVM program.

#5 Food Animal Veterinarian

Job Descriptions

Veterinarians with a food animal practice care for cows, sheep, goats, pigs and other farm animals. They travel to farms or ranches to see their patients. These vets conduct physical exams and tests, treat wounds and fractures, provide assistance to animals giving birth and perform surgery.

Salary

The average starting salary for a food animal veterinarian is $71,096 per year.

Special Skills and Training

Food animal veterinarians would choose this specialty at veterinary college. They take courses focusing on diseases affecting farm animals and complete clinical rotations where they care for these animals under the supervision of an experienced vet.

#6 Mixed Animal Veterinarian

Job Descriptions

As their job title implies, mixed animal veterinarians care for a variety of animals. This type of practice includes food and companion animals.

Salary

A first-year mixed animal veterinarian can expect to earn approximately $67,338 per annum.

Special Skills and Training

Students interested in a mixed animal practice will complete a four-year DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) degree which includes classroom study and clinical rotations caring for large and small animals.

#7 Military Veterinarian

Job Descriptions

Military veterinarians may be stationed at military bases in the U.S., as well as overseas. They perform clinical services and conduct sanitary audits of food production facilities.

Salary

A Captain serving in the U.S. Military’s Veterinary corps with less than two years of service earns $66,679 per year in basic pay.

Special Skills and Training

A graduate from an accredited veterinary medicine program will be appointed to the rank of Captain when he or she enlists in the Army.

#8 Small Animal Veterinarian

Job Descriptions

Small animal veterinarians treat companion animals, such as cats, dogs, and small mammals. They may also care for reptiles and birds. These doctors perform checkups, give vaccinations, and prescribe medications for patients. They also perform surgery and clean their patients’ teeth.

Salary

Veterinarians caring for small animals will start their career earning an average annual salary of $64,744.

Special Skills and Training

Along with a DVM degree, a small animal veterinarian must complete the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE) to become licensed.

#9 Public Health Veterinarian

Job Descriptions

Public health veterinarians conduct inspections of poultry and livestock to identify and diagnose diseases and health conditions which may make them unfit for human consumption. They may also be responsible for supervising the slaughter of livestock and provide training and direction to staff in proper disposition of the carcasses.

Salary

Public health veterinarians make an average of $58,000 per annum.

Special Skills and Training

Some universities offer joint degree in veterinary medicine and public health and graduates of these programs would be qualified to work as public health veterinarians.

#10 Equine Veterinarian

Job Descriptions

Equine veterinarians specialize in caring for horses. Much of their work is performed outdoors in all weather conditions. Depending on the type of practice, these veterinarians may be responsible for performing physical exams on animals before purchase, assisting animals when giving birth, treating wounds and performing surgery.

Salary

Newly-graduated equine vets are paid an average salary of $43,405 annually.

Special Skills and Training

All veterinarians working in this specialty have obtained their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. While in veterinary school, they complete clinical rotations in both small and large animal specializations.

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