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)
$101,224
Washington
Take-Home TX
$96,440
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):
$78,938
First role post-DVM
Companion Animal Vet (Associate)
$125,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$96,440
DSO/corporate or independent
Practice Owner
$195,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$144,936
Equity in practice; revenue-driven
Board-Certified Specialist
$210,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$156,118
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 | $101,224 | |
| $140,000 | $95,067 | |
| $122,000 | $94,389 | |
| $128,000 | $92,840 | |
| $128,000 | $92,840 | |
| $130,000 | $91,980 | |
| $118,000 | $91,601 | |
| $118,000 | $91,601 | |
| $118,000 | $91,601 | |
10Colorado | $125,000 | $91,600 |
| $128,000 | $91,292 | |
| $115,000 | $89,491 | |
13Maryland | $122,000 | $89,307 |
14Arizona | $118,000 | $89,026 |
15Virginia | $122,000 | $88,237 |
16Illinois | $120,000 | $87,811 |
| $112,000 | $87,380 | |
| $118,000 | $86,709 | |
| $115,000 | $86,421 | |
20Delaware | $118,000 | $85,936 |
| $115,000 | $85,491 | |
22Hawaii | $122,000 | $84,759 |
23Ohio | $112,000 | $83,985 |
24Oregon | $122,000 | $83,796 |
25Michigan | $112,000 | $83,258 |
26Indiana | $110,000 | $82,981 |
| $105,000 | $82,456 | |
28Georgia | $112,000 | $82,055 |
29Utah | $110,000 | $81,651 |
| $118,000 | $81,456 | |
31Missouri | $110,000 | $81,271 |
| $110,000 | $80,938 | |
| $108,000 | $80,614 | |
| $100,000 | $78,938 | |
| $108,000 | $78,614 | |
36Kentucky | $105,000 | $78,406 |
| $102,000 | $78,170 | |
38Kansas | $105,000 | $77,956 |
39Maine | $108,000 | $77,917 |
40Vermont | $108,000 | $77,498 |
41Idaho | $105,000 | $77,236 |
42Nebraska | $105,000 | $77,200 |
43Montana | $105,000 | $77,146 |
44Alabama | $102,000 | $76,865 |
| $102,000 | $76,778 | |
46Oklahoma | $102,000 | $76,213 |
47Iowa | $102,000 | $75,386 |
48Arkansas | $98,000 | $73,879 |
| $95,000 | $72,221 | |
| $95,000 | $71,821 |
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
$76,865
net
AlaskaNo state tax
$94,389
net
Arizona
$89,026
net
Arkansas
$73,879
net
California
$95,067
net
Colorado
$91,600
net
Connecticut
$92,840
net
Delaware
$85,936
net
FloridaNo state tax
$89,491
net
Georgia
$82,055
net
Hawaii
$84,759
net
Idaho
$77,236
net
Illinois
$87,811
net
Indiana
$82,981
net
Iowa
$75,386
net
Kansas
$77,956
net
Kentucky
$78,406
net
Louisiana
$80,614
net
Maine
$77,917
net
Maryland
$89,307
net
Massachusetts
$92,840
net
Michigan
$83,258
net
Minnesota
$81,456
net
Mississippi
$72,221
net
Missouri
$81,271
net
Montana
$77,146
net
Nebraska
$77,200
net
NevadaNo state tax
$91,601
net
New HampshireNo state tax
$91,601
net
New Jersey
$91,292
net
New Mexico
$76,778
net
New York
$91,980
net
North Carolina
$86,709
net
North Dakota
$78,170
net
Ohio
$83,985
net
Oklahoma
$76,213
net
Oregon
$83,796
net
Pennsylvania
$86,421
net
Rhode Island
$85,491
net
South Carolina
$78,614
net
South DakotaNo state tax
$78,938
net
TennesseeNo state tax
$87,380
net
TexasNo state tax
$91,601
net
Utah
$81,651
net
Vermont
$77,498
net
Virginia
$88,237
net
WashingtonNo state tax
$101,224
net
West Virginia
$71,821
net
Wisconsin
$80,938
net
WyomingNo state tax
$82,456
net