Veterinary surgeons tend to take on the role of a general practitioner in their local community. They spend less time performing surgery but are much more likely to see patients in their own clinic, diagnosing and treating all sorts of ailments. Veterinary surgeons are highly educated and skilled professionals who need to attend appropriate council-approved training before they’re allowed to practice as self-employed veterinarians
Veterinary surgeon salary is subject to a number of factors, including location and practice focus. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for veterinary surgeons was $83,410 USD in May 2017. Veterinary surgeons who provide emergency care are typically paid better than those who provide routine care.”
Salary For Veterinary Surgeon Overview
Are you interested in becoming a veterinary surgeon? There’s no question that the field is rewarding, but what does it take to become a veterinarian? And how much does a vet make?
To answer these questions, let’s look at what it takes to become a vet and how much they make.
How Much Does a Vet Make?
The median salary for veterinarians in the United States is $88,890 per year. That’s higher than most professions, but there are also some other factors that can affect your salary as a Vet. For example:
- The state you live in – Many states have higher average salaries than others because of their cost of living or job market. Some states also have higher minimum wages than others which can affect your income as well.
- Your specialty – Specialties like surgery or emergency medicine tend to pay more than general practice or preventative medicine because they require additional training and skill sets that are more difficult to learn. This is true whether you’re working at an animal hospital or human hospital!
What is a veterinarian?
A veterinarian is a doctor who looks after the health and well-being of both animals and humans. They treat ill and wounded animals and diagnose and control animal diseases. They also provide advice to pet and livestock owners on how to properly care for their animals.
In private practice, education, research, government service, public health, military duty, private business, and other sectors, veterinarians provide a wide range of services.
How Much Does a Veterinary Orthopedic Surgeon Get Paid?
Veterinarians specializing in orthopedic surgery operate on animals who have been injured or have developed problems with their joints and bones, or muscles and tendons related to an animal’s skeletal system. Becoming a veterinary orthopedic surgeon requires a great deal of schooling and other training, so those working in this field are compensated with a relatively high annual salary.
Average Salary
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary earned by a veterinarian was $92,570 as of 2010. Veterinary specialists typically earn a higher annual average salary than those working in general veterinary practices. Veterinarians specializing in orthopedic and other types of surgery earned an average salary of $112,000 per year according to Veterinariancareerinformation.com.
Highest Paying States
According to the BLS, the five states that pay the highest average salaries to veterinarians are California, Texas, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania. In 2010, Pennsylvania paid the highest average salary of $113,810 per year, which was 22 percent higher than the national average. State-by-state data is not available for veterinary specialists, but it may be reasonable to assume that states that pay higher than average veterinarian salaries also pay higher than average salaries to those specializing in orthopedic surgery.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states that have the highest concentration of veterinarians are Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Wisconsin. Colorado has the highest number of veterinarians with 0.72 per every 1,000 people in the state. Seeking out a state that has a higher concentration of veterinarians may help increase your chances of finding employment.
Education
Veterinarians are required to earn a four-year degree from an accredited school of veterinary medicine. Additionally, in order to work as a veterinary orthopedic surgeon, you must earn a diploma from the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS). To earn this diploma, you will be required to complete a three-year residency program, meet training and caseload requirements, and pass a comprehensive oral and written examination.