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.
US Average
$142,680
BLS, May 2025
Best State (Net)
$135,258
Arizona
Take-Home TX
$105,692
on $138,150 · No state tax
Job Growth
19%
Source: BLS, May 2025 · Veterinarians (SOC 29-1131)
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
US Pay Range
Pay percentiles for Veterinarians across the US (BLS, May 2025), with the estimated take-home in Texas.
Bottom 10%
$73,920
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$60,833
25th percentile
$101,460
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$80,207
Median
$130,100
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$100,189
75th percentile
$166,120
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$124,809
Top 10%
$215,700
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$160,490
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
BLS average pay in each state (BLS, May 2025) and the estimated take-home for a single filer with no additional deductions. BLS publishes no figure for 2 states: they show the US average, marked "US figure", at the end of the table. Click any state for the full breakdown.
| State | Average Pay (BLS) | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| $187,410 | $135,258 | |
| $163,010 | $122,683 | |
| $166,170 | $115,750 | |
| $169,860 | $113,605 | |
| $154,440 | $112,084 | |
| $163,830 | $111,797 | |
| $157,520 | $111,275 | |
| $144,960 | $110,346 | |
| $153,810 | $108,926 | |
| $140,600 | $107,366 | |
| $139,760 | $106,792 | |
12New York | $151,530 | $105,995 |
| $138,150 | $105,692 | |
14Vermont | $145,030 | $103,257 |
| $146,230 | $102,568 | |
16Virginia | $143,080 | $101,648 |
| $138,880 | $100,716 | |
18Utah | $139,770 | $100,579 |
| $129,660 | $99,889 | |
20Colorado | $137,190 | $99,707 |
| $136,200 | $99,433 | |
| $139,290 | $98,938 | |
23Ohio | $129,890 | $96,909 |
| $133,850 | $96,896 | |
25Maine | $136,620 | $96,384 |
26Indiana | $127,060 | $94,393 |
27Michigan | $128,100 | $93,629 |
| $125,270 | $93,505 | |
| $127,520 | $93,475 | |
30Georgia | $127,920 | $93,065 |
31Missouri | $125,720 | $92,224 |
| $126,280 | $91,965 | |
33Oregon | $133,560 | $91,895 |
34Nebraska | $123,810 | $91,136 |
35Hawaii | $128,820 | $90,938 |
36Oklahoma | $123,820 | $90,871 |
37Iowa | $122,200 | $90,798 |
38Alabama | $120,170 | $88,481 |
| $118,890 | $86,920 | |
40Idaho | $118,000 | $86,697 |
41Kansas | $117,620 | $85,812 |
| $114,370 | $85,446 | |
43Kentucky | $112,730 | $84,308 |
| $108,300 | $84,188 | |
45Montana | $112,730 | $83,127 |
| $105,200 | $82,838 | |
47Arkansas | $108,100 | $81,079 |
| $93,990 | $74,952 | |
| $142,680US figure | $108,788 | |
50Delaware | $142,680US figure | $100,712 |
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
$88,481
net
AlaskaNo state tax
$108,788
net
Arizona
$135,258
net
Arkansas
$81,079
net
California
$113,605
net
Colorado
$99,707
net
Connecticut
$98,938
net
Delaware
$100,712
net
FloridaNo state tax
$106,792
net
Georgia
$93,065
net
Hawaii
$90,938
net
Idaho
$86,697
net
Illinois
$108,926
net
Indiana
$94,393
net
Iowa
$90,798
net
Kansas
$85,812
net
Kentucky
$84,308
net
Louisiana
$93,505
net
Maine
$96,384
net
Maryland
$111,797
net
Massachusetts
$111,275
net
Michigan
$93,629
net
Minnesota
$102,568
net
Mississippi
$85,446
net
Missouri
$92,224
net
Montana
$83,127
net
Nebraska
$91,136
net
NevadaNo state tax
$107,366
net
New HampshireNo state tax
$110,346
net
New Jersey
$115,750
net
New Mexico
$100,716
net
New York
$105,995
net
North Carolina
$99,433
net
North Dakota
$84,188
net
Ohio
$96,909
net
Oklahoma
$90,871
net
Oregon
$91,895
net
Pennsylvania
$112,084
net
Rhode Island
$96,896
net
South Carolina
$91,965
net
South DakotaNo state tax
$74,952
net
TennesseeNo state tax
$99,889
net
TexasNo state tax
$105,692
net
Utah
$100,579
net
Vermont
$103,257
net
Virginia
$101,648
net
WashingtonNo state tax
$122,683
net
West Virginia
$93,475
net
Wisconsin
$86,920
net
WyomingNo state tax
$82,838
net