Veterinarian Salary 2026 — Take-Home Pay by State
Veterinarians diagnose and treat animals, perform surgeries, and provide preventive care across companion animal, equine, large animal, and exotic specialties.
National Median
$125,000
Best State (Net)
$101,488
Washington
Take-Home TX
$96,704
No state tax
Job Growth
19%
Key Facts — Veterinarian 2026
BLS median: $125,510 (BLS May 2023 OES)
UC Davis School of Vet Medicine is consistently #1 in the world
Veterinary school debt ($300K–$450K) is among the highest of any profession
Industry consolidation (VCA, Banfield, NVA, Mars) reducing independent practice
Wellington (FL) and Ocala (FL) equine markets are world-class specialties
Salary by Experience Level
New Graduate Associate
$100,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$79,180
First role post-DVM
Companion Animal Vet (Associate)
$125,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$96,704
DSO/corporate or independent
Practice Owner
$195,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$145,200
Equity in practice; revenue-driven
Board-Certified Specialist
$210,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$156,292
3+ years residency post-DVM
Specialties & Salary Premiums
| Specialty | Est. Salary | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Veterinary Specialist (DACVIM, DACVS) | $206,250 | +65% |
| Emergency / Critical Care | $175,000 | +40% |
| Equine Veterinarian | $162,500 | +30% |
| Mixed / Large Animal | $137,500 | +10% |
| Companion Animal (Urban) | $150,000 | +20% |
| Public Health (USDA, CDC) | $143,750 | +15% |
Best States for Veterinarians — Real Take-Home Pay
Ranked by estimated take-home pay (single filer, no additional deductions). The highest gross salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.
▲Top 5 — Highest Take-Home
Veterinarian Salary by State — All 50 States
Take-home estimates for a single filer with no additional deductions. Click any state for the full breakdown.
| State | Gross Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| $132,000 | $101,488 | |
| $140,000 | $96,361 | |
| $122,000 | $94,653 | |
| $130,000 | $93,048 | |
| $128,000 | $92,574 | |
| $128,000 | $92,253 | |
| $128,000 | $91,949 | |
| $125,000 | $91,912 | |
| $118,000 | $91,843 | |
| $118,000 | $91,843 | |
| $118,000 | $91,843 | |
| $115,000 | $89,733 | |
13Arizona | $118,000 | $89,296 |
14Virginia | $122,000 | $88,399 |
| $118,000 | $87,644 | |
| $112,000 | $87,622 | |
17Illinois | $120,000 | $87,455 |
18Maryland | $122,000 | $86,469 |
19Hawaii | $122,000 | $86,434 |
| $115,000 | $86,202 | |
21Delaware | $118,000 | $85,396 |
| $118,000 | $85,342 | |
23Oregon | $122,000 | $85,316 |
24Ohio | $112,000 | $84,977 |
| $115,000 | $84,772 | |
26Michigan | $112,000 | $83,113 |
27Indiana | $110,000 | $83,000 |
28Georgia | $112,000 | $82,782 |
| $105,000 | $82,698 | |
30Missouri | $110,000 | $82,018 |
| $108,000 | $81,943 | |
32Utah | $110,000 | $81,320 |
| $110,000 | $81,157 | |
| $108,000 | $80,147 | |
| $102,000 | $79,879 | |
36Vermont | $108,000 | $79,790 |
| $100,000 | $79,180 | |
38Kentucky | $105,000 | $79,140 |
39Nebraska | $105,000 | $78,624 |
40Maine | $108,000 | $78,616 |
41Idaho | $105,000 | $78,241 |
42Montana | $105,000 | $78,126 |
43Kansas | $105,000 | $77,638 |
44Iowa | $102,000 | $77,323 |
| $102,000 | $76,920 | |
46Oklahoma | $102,000 | $76,543 |
47Alabama | $102,000 | $76,408 |
48Arkansas | $98,000 | $74,528 |
| $95,000 | $72,201 | |
| $95,000 | $71,955 |
Maximize Your Take-Home
401(k) — $24,500 max
Reduces taxable income dollar-for-dollar
HSA — $4,400 single
Triple tax advantage — deductible, grows tax-free, tax-free withdrawals
FSA — $3,300 max
Medical expenses with pre-tax dollars
State consideration
Moving to TX, FL, WA can save $5,000–$15,000/year in taxes
Calculate Your Exact Take-Home as a Veterinarian
Add 401(k), HSA, dependents, and more to see your personalized take-home in your state.
Open Calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about your taxes and our calculator.
Veterinarian Salary by State — Detailed Pages
Alabama
$76,408
net
AlaskaNo state tax
$94,653
net
Arizona
$89,296
net
Arkansas
$74,528
net
California
$96,361
net
Colorado
$91,912
net
Connecticut
$91,949
net
Delaware
$85,396
net
FloridaNo state tax
$89,733
net
Georgia
$82,782
net
Hawaii
$86,434
net
Idaho
$78,241
net
Illinois
$87,455
net
Indiana
$83,000
net
Iowa
$77,323
net
Kansas
$77,638
net
Kentucky
$79,140
net
Louisiana
$81,943
net
Maine
$78,616
net
Maryland
$86,469
net
Massachusetts
$92,574
net
Michigan
$83,113
net
Minnesota
$85,342
net
Mississippi
$71,955
net
Missouri
$82,018
net
Montana
$78,126
net
Nebraska
$78,624
net
NevadaNo state tax
$91,843
net
New HampshireNo state tax
$91,843
net
New Jersey
$92,253
net
New Mexico
$76,920
net
New York
$93,048
net
North Carolina
$87,644
net
North Dakota
$79,879
net
Ohio
$84,977
net
Oklahoma
$76,543
net
Oregon
$85,316
net
Pennsylvania
$86,202
net
Rhode Island
$84,772
net
South Carolina
$80,147
net
South DakotaNo state tax
$79,180
net
TennesseeNo state tax
$87,622
net
TexasNo state tax
$91,843
net
Utah
$81,320
net
Vermont
$79,790
net
Virginia
$88,399
net
WashingtonNo state tax
$101,488
net
West Virginia
$72,201
net
Wisconsin
$81,157
net
WyomingNo state tax
$82,698
net