Veterinarians have to become skilled in a variety of fields, from biology and animal care to medical billing. While some veterinarians work at practices that are open during office hours as well as by appointment, others choose to become members of a specialty group practice or big-city hospital that provides round-the-clock veterinary care.
A veterinarian’s salary can vary greatly by location and experience level. At the lowest level of experience, veterinarians earn a median annual salary of $55,000 to $60,000 per year. The highest salaries are earned by veterinarians who have practiced for 15 years or more; these veterinarians can earn more than $100,000 per year.
Salary For Veterinarian Overview
Are you a veterinarian looking for a new job? If so, we’ve got some great news for you: the average salary for veterinarians in Nigeria is $43,000 per year. That’s right—you could earn more than $42,000 each year working with animals!
Nigeria is home to over 1 billion people and has a rich history of culture and artistry. It’s no surprise that there are over 200 different languages spoken in the country. And while there are many opportunities outside of the veterinary field that pay more money, there’s just something special about working with animals.
Veterinarians can work in private practice or at an animal shelter or zoo, but most people choose to work in private practice because it gives them more flexibility and control over their schedule. When you compare salaries across different industries like this one, though, it’s important not only that you know how much money you’ll make but also what kind of benefits are included with those wages. For example: does your employer offer tuition reimbursement if you want to go back to school? Or perhaps they’ll pay for any certification courses needed in order for you perform your job duties properly?
Working As A Veterinarian
Similar to the service you receive from your physician, your pets receive the same care from their veterinarian. Vets are responsible for treating injuries and illnesses of your beloved best friend through the use of a variety of medical equipment like surgical tools and x-ray and ultrasound machines.
Not all veterinarians are alike. There are different types of veterinarians one could choose to be, including companion animal veterinarians, food animal veterinarians, and food safety and inspection veterinarians. Because of the variety of positions, it makes sense that veterinarian offices look quite different from each other. While the majority of vets work in clinics or hospitals, others travel to farms or work in laboratories, classrooms and zoos. Definitely beats working in a cubicle!
What Veterinarians Do
Veterinarians care for the health of animals and work to improve public health. They diagnose, treat, and research medical conditions and diseases of pets, livestock, and other animals.
Duties of Veterinarians
Veterinarians typically do the following:
- Examine animals to diagnose their health problems
- Treat and dress wounds
- Perform surgery on animals
- Test for and vaccinate against diseases
- Operate medical equipment, such as x-ray machines
- Advise animal owners about general care, medical conditions, and treatments
- Prescribe medication
- Euthanize animals
Veterinarians treat the injuries and illnesses of pets and other animals with a variety of medical equipment, including surgical tools and x-ray and ultrasound machines. They provide treatment for animals that is similar to the services a physician provides to treat humans.
The following are examples of types of veterinarians:
Companion animal veterinarians treat pets and generally work in private clinics and hospitals. They most often care for cats and dogs, but also treat other pets, such as birds, ferrets, and rabbits. These veterinarians diagnose and provide treatment for animal health problems; consult with animal owners about preventive healthcare; and carry out medical and surgical procedures, such as vaccinations, dental work, and setting fractures.
Food animal veterinarians work with farm animals such as pigs, cattle, and sheep, which are raised to be food sources. They spend much of their time at farms and ranches treating illnesses and injuries and testing for and vaccinating against disease. They may advise farm owners or managers about feeding, housing, and general health practices.
Food safety and inspection veterinarians inspect and test livestock and animal products for major animal diseases, provide vaccines to treat animals, enhance animal welfare, conduct research to improve animal health, and enforce government food safety regulations. They design and administer animal and public health programs for the prevention and control of diseases transmissible among animals and between animals and people.
How to Become a Veterinarian
Veterinarians must have a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from an accredited veterinary college, as well as a state license.
Education for Veterinarians
Veterinarians must complete a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD) degree at an accredited college of veterinary medicine. There are currently 30 colleges with accredited programs in the United States. A veterinary medicine program generally takes 4 years to complete and includes classroom, laboratory, and clinical components.
Most applicants to veterinary school have a bachelor’s degree. Veterinary medical colleges typically require applicants to have taken many science classes, including biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, zoology, microbiology, and animal science. Most programs also require math, humanities, and social science courses.
Admission to veterinary programs is competitive.
In veterinary medicine programs, students take courses on animal anatomy and physiology, as well as disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Most programs include 3 years of classroom, laboratory, and clinical work. Students typically spend the final year of the 4-year program doing clinical rotations in a veterinary medical center or hospital.
Some veterinary medical colleges weigh experience heavily during the admissions process. Formal experience, such as previous work with veterinarians or scientists in clinics, agribusiness, research, or some area of health science, is particularly advantageous. Less formal experience, such as working with animals on a farm, at a stable, or in an animal shelter, can also be helpful.
Although graduates of a veterinary program can begin practicing as soon as they receive their license, some veterinarians pursue further education and training. Some new veterinary graduates enter internship or residency programs to gain specialized experience.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations for Veterinarians
Veterinarians must be licensed in order to practice in the United States. Licensing requirements vary by state, but all states require prospective veterinarians to complete an accredited veterinary program and to pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination. Veterinarians working for the state or federal government may not be required to have a state license, because each agency has different requirements.
Most states not only require the national exam but also a state exam that covers state laws and regulations. Few states accept licenses from other states, so veterinarians who want to be licensed in another state usually must take that state’s exam.
The American Veterinary Medical Association recognizes certification in 41 specialties, such as surgery, microbiology, and internal medicine. Although certification is not required for veterinarians, it can show exceptional skill and expertise in a particular field.
Important Qualities for Veterinarians
Compassion. Veterinarians must be compassionate when working with animals and their owners. They must treat animals with kindness and respect, and must be sensitive when dealing with the animal owners.
Communication skills. Strong communication skills are essential for veterinarians, who must be able to discuss their recommendations and explain treatment options to animal owners and give instructions to their staff.
Decisionmaking skills. Veterinarians must decide the correct method for treating the injuries and illnesses of animals.
Manual dexterity. Manual dexterity is important for veterinarians, because they must control their hand movements and be precise when treating injuries and performing surgery.
Problem-solving skills. Veterinarians need strong problem-solving skills because they must figure out what is ailing animals. Those who test animals to determine the effects of drug therapies also need excellent diagnostic skills.
Veterinarian Salaries
The median annual wage for veterinarians is $100,370. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $60,760, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $165,600.
The median annual wages for veterinarians in the top industries in which they work are as follows:
| Veterinary services | $100,460 |
| Social advocacy organizations | $99,340 |
| Government | $96,120 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | $93,770 |
Most veterinarians work full time, and they often work additional hours. Some work nights or weekends, and they may have to respond to emergencies outside of scheduled work hours.
