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.