A veterinary surgeon is a qualified veterinarian who has received additional training and has the necessary certification in order to undertake major medical procedures on animals. A veterinary surgeon may also be known as an animal surgeon. In this article, we will learn more about what the salary for a veterinary surgeon is, and about the work environment of this career path.
So you’re thinking of becoming a veterinary surgeon? We’ve got good news for you: the salary is pretty great.
According to a recent survey conducted by [company name], the average annual salary for a veterinary surgeon is $80,000. That’s not bad!
Veterinary surgeons are responsible for diagnosing and treating animal diseases and injuries. They must have an extensive knowledge of animal anatomy and physiology, as well as an understanding of how animals can be affected by different diseases or injuries. They also need to know how to treat those conditions in ways that will help animals recover as quickly as possible.
A veterinary surgeon may also need to:
Care for sick or injured animals during surgery or other procedures
Perform laboratory tests on samples from sick animals
Conduct research on new treatments for animal disorders
Train other medical professionals who work with animals
Salary for a veterinary surgeon
Your role as a veterinary surgeon (often known as a vet) will be to safeguard the health and welfare of animals. It’s likely you’ll do this in a general practice, where you’ll be responsible for the medical and surgical treatment of a range of animals.
You’ll use your practical skills and knowledge of animal physiology, nutrition and medicine to diagnose illnesses, prescribe medicines and perform surgery. You’ll also manage anaesthesia during procedures and will work to prevent disease in animals and the spread of disease.
Responsibilities
As a veterinary surgeon, you’ll need to:
- work from a surgery or visit animals in their living environments, such as a farm or stables
- carry out home visits, which only some vets do
- handle, examine and treat all species of animals, including domestic animals, farm livestock and horses
- meet and consult with the owners and carers of various animals, including zookeepers
- carry out tests such as x-rays, blood samples and ultrasound scans
- give advice to farmers on issues such as nutrition, breeding and herd health
- routinely visit farms to check the health of livestock
- immunise animals against different types of disease
- euthanise old and terminally ill animals
- perform surgery, including managing anaesthesia
- work on out-of-hours emergency cases when on call
- provide suitable paperwork for animals travelling abroad, as well as inserting identification microchips
- maintain up-to-date records
- liaise with, and refer to, other professionals within the industry
- inspect certain animal products to ensure they are safe for human consumption
- manage the practice finances, promotional activities and recruitment, if you work as a practice partner
- research diseases, test and manage infection outbreaks, investigate food safety issues and complete paperwork for pet passports, if you work for a government agency.
Working hours
Many veterinary practices offer service 24/7, 365 days a year. Because of this, your working hours may be irregular as it’s important to be available for emergencies
Board Certified Veterinary Surgeon Salary
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.
How to Become a Veterinary Surgeon
Vet School Curriculum
The veterinary school curriculum includes lecture and laboratory courses in advanced life sciences, pharmacology, practice management, communications, and medical laws and ethics. The coursework is similar to that of human medical school, but veterinary students must also learn about a variety of species.
All veterinarians are trained to perform surgeries, but complex cases are often handled by veterinary surgeons. To become a veterinary surgeon, you need to complete a minimum one-year internship after finishing vet school and then a three-year residency program approved by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS).
Veterinarians in surgery training programs must conduct research and publish the results in a professional journal. A rigorous examination is the culmination of education and training. Specialists can use the designation Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons or board-certified surgeon.
Veterinarians must be licensed by the state in which they will practice. Requirements for licensure vary slightly from state to state, but all require that candidates achieve a passing score on the North American Veterinary License Examination (NAVLE). To maintain licensure, veterinarians must complete 15 hours of continuing education in a calendar year. Continuing education courses must be taken through a Board-approved provider, usually a vet school or professional organization.
Cost of Vet School
Most veterinary schools are public institutions. Private institutions include the vet schools at Cornell University, Midwestern University, Tufts University, University of Pennsylvania and Western University.
In-state tuition for four years at a public vet school can range from roughly $149,000 to $240,000. Out-of-state tuition can be significantly more. For example, the cost for in-state residents at the University of Illinois is $202,000 for four years; out-of-state, the cost jumps to about $286,000. Four years at a private school can cost between $300,000 and $400,000.
Veterinary Surgeon Work Environment
Vet requirements include much more than a love of animals. Whereas a general practice veterinarian might work in a small office as a sole practitioner, veterinary surgeons usually work at a large hospital or referral center. They typically have state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, as well as access to specially trained support staff. Veterinary surgeons work as a team with primary care veterinarians and animal owners to help achieve the best outcome during and after surgical procedures.
Some veterinary surgeons are in small animal practice, primarily treating dogs and cats that are kept as pets. Some vet surgeons specialize in birds or reptiles. Still others are engaged in large animal practice, performing surgery on horses, farm animals or exotic animals in zoos and refuge centers.
Veterinary surgeons may be engaged in research at a university, or they may work for a private company in an industry such as animal feeds or pharmaceuticals. Some vet surgeons teach at veterinary schools and supervise students’ clinical practice.
Veterinary Surgeon Salary in the UK
£42,500per yearper month
Veterinary Surgeon – Average Salary
The average salary for a Veterinary Surgeon is £42,500 gross per year (£2,700 net per month), which is £12,900 (+44%) higher than the UK’s national average salary.
A Veterinary Surgeon can expect an average starting salary of £27,200. The highest salaries can exceed £90,000.£27,200Low£42,500Average£90,000HighView all Veterinary Surgeon jobs on Jobted UK
Veterinary Surgeon Salary Range
Low£27,200Average£42,500Experienced£60,350High£90,000Among veterinary surgeons, Early Career Vet Surgeons have the lowest salaries, while highly skilled Senior Vet Surgeons tend to have the highest salaries.
Veterinary Surgeon – Salary Differences
| Job | Salary | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Senior Vet Surgeon | £60K/year | +42% |
| Veterinary Ophthalmologist | £48K/year | +12% |
| Equine Vet | £45K/year | +6% |
| Zoo Vet | £45K/year | +5% |
| Early Career Vet Surgeon | £27K/year | -36% |
Veterinary Surgeon – Pay by Experience Level
£30K£40K£50K£60K£70K£80K£90KEntry Level0-3 years Mid Career4-9 yearsExperienced10-20 years Late Career>20 years An Entry Level Veterinary Surgeon with less than three years of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of £27,200 gross per year. A mid career Veterinary Surgeon with 4-9 years of experience earns an average total compensation of £37,300, while an experienced Veterinary Surgeon with 10-20 years of experience makes on average £60,000. Veterinary Surgeons with more than 20 years of experience earn £74,200 on average.
