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Veterinarian Salary, Job Duties, and Education Requirements

Veterinarians offer invaluable services to families, farmers, and many others. They 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. Veterinarians are often a “jack of all trades” type of doctor. They will perform surgeries, dress wounds, prescribe medications, take X-rays, and much more.

In this articles, you’ll learn how to become a veterinarian, veterinarian salary (income), job duties, job outlook, and much more.

Veterinarian Job Duties

Anyone who has taken their pet to a veterinarian probably has a good idea of some of the tasks they do on the job. What do veterinarians do on a daily basis? Here are some common duties:

  • 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

Some veterinarians specialize in a certain area. For example, some work with horses, while others work with farmers by assisting with their cattle and livestock.

Veterinarian Education Requirements

How do you become a veterinarian? What are the education requirements? Veterinarians must complete a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M. or V.M.D.) degree at an accredited college of veterinary medicine. A veterinary medicine program generally takes 4 years to complete and includes classroom, laboratory, and clinical components.

Although not required, most applicants to veterinary school have a bachelor’s degree, and this is often recommended. What major should you choose for an undergraduate bachelor’s degree if you plan to go to veterinary school? That’s a great question.

According to one university:

“Veterinary schools do not require or recommend any particular undergraduate major course of study or designated preveterinary program. Cornell does not have a preveterinary major and there is no evidence that admissions committees of veterinary colleges give special consideration to any particular undergraduate education beyond satisfactory completion of the required undergraduate courses” (Cornell.edu, Cornell Career Services: Veterinarian Medicine).

Admission to veterinary programs is competitive, and up to half of all applicants are rejected. It is also described as very difficult. Students will have to learn many different species of animals, drugs, medical procedures, and more.

Students typically spend the final year of the 4-year program doing clinical rotations in a veterinary medical center or hospital.

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 have a state exam that covers state laws and regulations.

The American Veterinary Medical Association offers certification in 40 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. To sit for a specialty certification exam, veterinarians must have a certain number of years of experience in the field, complete additional education, and complete a residency program, typically lasting 3 to 4 years. Requirements vary by specialty.

Tips for Aspiring Veterinarians

  • Get a job working for a veterinarian. You can work as a kennel worker, receptionist, janitor, etc.
  • You’ll need a letter of recommendation or reference when applying to vet school, so take time to network.
  • Take classes in high school and college that focus heavy in sciences; choose a degree that makes sense, just in case.

Pros and Cons of Being a Veterinarian

Most veterinarians love their careers, and they consider it a calling, not a job. They are very passionate about helping animals and others. Nevertheless, every profession has its advantages and disadvantages–its likes and dislikes.

What Most Veterinarians Like (the advantages) about their Jobs:

  • Most vets love the feeling of helping animals
  • You can work to own your own practice
  • You can specialize or work in many different areas

What Most Veterinarians Dislike (the disadvantages) or Working as a Veterinarian:

  • Animals can be rabid or dangerous
  • People can become emotional after loss of pet. I’ve heard stories of people bringing in dead pets, pleading for the vet to bring them back to life.
  • Dealing with financial issues and unpaid accounts.
  • Animals are sometimes mistreated or neglected by owners

Veterinarian Job Outlook and Salary Statistics

Employment of veterinarians is projected to grow 9 percent from 2014 to 2024, faster than the average for all occupations. Veterinarians will continue to be needed to diagnose and treat animals. Society seems to be placing a much greater emphasis on pet care services, and this trend will likely continue in the future.

How much money does a veterinarian make? What’s the average income or salary for veterinarians? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2014, veterinarians earn an average salary of $98,230 in the United States. Vets earned an average hourly wage of $47.23 per hour. Here are some more job and salary statistics:

Employment Employment RSE Mean hourly wage Mean annual wage Wage RSE
62,470 1.4 % $47.23 $98,230 1.1 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50% (Median) 75% 90%
Hourly Wage $25.25 $33.11 $42.11 $55.44 $75.67
Annual Wage $52,530 $68,860 $87,590 $115,310 $157,390

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 57,540 9.10 $47.48 $98,750
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 1,200 0.06 $43.24 $89,950
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 750 0.03 $38.54 $80,170
State Government (OES Designation) 690 0.03 $40.04 $83,270
Social Advocacy Organizations 670 0.33 $44.46 $92,480

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Management of Companies and Enterprises 60 n/a $66.94 $139,230
Scientific Research and Development Services 260 0.04 $60.05 $124,890
Employment Services n/a n/a $58.45 $121,570
Spectator Sports 50 0.04 $49.00 $101,920
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 57,540 9.10 $47.48 $98,750

Top paying states for this occupation:

State Employment Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Delaware 230 0.53 1.15 $61.89 $128,740
New Jersey 1,410 0.36 0.79 $57.81 $120,240
Connecticut 740 0.45 0.98 $57.54 $119,670
New York 2,980 0.34 0.73 $57.19 $118,950
California 5,980 0.40 0.85 $56.83 $118,210

Lowest paying states for veterinarians:

State Hourly wage Average salary Median salary
Montana 34.08 70,880 65,350
Kansas 35.26 73,340 73,790
Alabama 36.13 75,160 68,440
Louisiana 37.33 77,640 74,370
Missouri 37.49 77,980 77,680

Average salary for veterinarians for all 50 states:

Area name Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage(2) Annual median wage(2)
Alabama 36.13 75,160 68,440
Alaska 45.40 94,440 90,920
Arizona 38.69 80,480 80,260
Arkansas 43.46 90,390 83,460
California 56.83 118,210 102,650
Colorado 45.26 94,150 77,790
Connecticut 57.54 119,670 109,290
Delaware 61.89 128,740 107,780
District of Columbia 46.67 97,080 91,670
Florida 45.90 95,470 89,600
Georgia 44.39 92,340 82,610
Hawaii 55.69 115,840 94,610
Idaho 39.27 81,690 78,990
Illinois 42.52 88,440 82,400
Indiana 42.84 89,100 77,920
Iowa 45.85 95,360 77,160
Kansas 35.26 73,340 73,790
Kentucky 39.12 81,370 74,320
Louisiana 37.33 77,640 74,370
Maine 43.52 90,520 82,660
Maryland 50.20 104,410 96,180
Massachusetts 51.51 107,140 95,680
Michigan 47.88 99,600 90,920
Minnesota 40.30 83,820 81,500
Mississippi 39.15 81,440 77,010
Missouri 37.49 77,980 77,680
Montana 34.08 70,880 65,350
Nebraska 37.69 78,400 75,890
Nevada 43.60 90,680 87,510
New Hampshire 45.95 95,570 91,540
New Jersey 57.81 120,240 112,440
New Mexico 39.22 81,570 75,430
New York 57.19 118,950 110,210
North Carolina 44.29 92,120 84,130
North Dakota 41.32 85,940 76,950
Ohio 43.58 90,660 84,180
Oklahoma 51.54 107,200 80,520
Oregon 41.31 85,920 76,780
Pennsylvania 55.79 116,040 103,910
Puerto Rico 29.30 60,950 55,960
Rhode Island 55.19 114,790 113,100
South Carolina 43.31 90,090 86,710
South Dakota 41.98 87,310 75,290
Tennessee 39.35 81,840 78,240
Texas 50.78 105,620 91,930
Utah 39.84 82,860 82,660
Vermont 41.97 87,300 86,000
Virginia 54.26 112,850 91,980
Washington 41.65 86,630 81,610
West Virginia 39.90 82,980 74,190
Wisconsin 43.99 91,500 78,790
Wyoming 44.22 91,980 74,740

Other References:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Veterinarians, on the Internet at bls.gov.

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