Veterinarian Salary in Missouri (2026)
Average Veterinarian pay in Missouri
$125,720/year
≈ $60/hour before tax
After tax (single filer)
$92,224/year
$7,685/month · effective tax rate 26.64%
- Federal $18,907
- State $4,972
- FICA $9,618
- Take-home
Pay by role in Missouri
- Boehringer Ingelheim Senior Veterinarian$195,000–$325,000+ TC
- Practice Owner (Established)$175,000–$315,000
- Veterinary Specialist (DACVIM, DACVS, DACVO)$185,000–$285,000
- Senior Associate / Medical Director$135,000–$190,000
- Emergency / Critical Care DVM$145,000–$225,000
- Large Animal / Livestock DVM$110,000–$170,000
See the full tax breakdown
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
Annual Take-Home Pay | $92,224 |
Monthly Take-Home Pay | $7,685 |
Biweekly Take-Home Pay | $3,547 |
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year | $44/hr |
Federal Tax | $18,907 |
State Tax | $4,972 |
FICA Taxes | $9,618 |
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary | 26.64% |
Not all Veterinarians earn the same — not even close
Missouri's veterinary market is anchored by the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine (Columbia, ~120 DVMs graduating per year — one of the larger Midwest CVM programs), Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health St. Joseph (one of the largest animal-vaccine manufacturing facilities in North America, ~1,400 employees), Mercy Veterinary (suburban small animal), Banfield Pet Hospital network (~35 MO locations under Mars Veterinary Health umbrella), VCA Animal Hospitals, plus MO's livestock industry (pork, dairy, beef cattle, equine) creating large-animal specialty demand.
Boehringer Ingelheim Senior Veterinarian
$195,000–$325,000+ TC
BI Animal Health St. Joseph senior R&D + clinical · animal vaccines + parasiticides · regulatory affairs
Practice Owner (Established)
$175,000–$315,000
Senior practice owner · suburban STL + KC + Springfield · book of business + commercial real estate
Veterinary Specialist (DACVIM, DACVS, DACVO)
$185,000–$285,000
Boarded specialist · referral hospitals · cardiology, oncology, surgery, ophthalmology, dermatology
Senior Associate / Medical Director
$135,000–$190,000
Senior small-animal practice · medical director at multi-doctor practices · 8-15 years
Emergency / Critical Care DVM
$145,000–$225,000
Veterinary Specialty Services (STL) · BluePearl KC · 24/7 emergency + specialty referral
Large Animal / Livestock DVM
$110,000–$170,000
Pork industry · dairy · beef · equine practice · regional ambulatory rounds · 7th in US pork production
Mid-Career Associate DVM (5-10 yrs)
$115,000–$160,000
Banfield, VCA, Mars Veterinary Health, independent suburban practice associate
New DVM (0-4 yrs post-Mizzou)
$95,000–$135,000
Post-Mizzou CVM graduates · Banfield + VCA + suburban independent practice · entry band
Academic Faculty (Mizzou CVM)
$135,000–$215,000
Mizzou College of Veterinary Medicine faculty + Veterinary Health Center clinical practice mix
Industry / Regulatory Veterinarian
$135,000–$225,000
USDA APHIS · MO Department of Agriculture · pharma regulatory affairs · Pfizer + Zoetis adjacent
Worth knowing: Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health St. Joseph is the structural feature most national veterinary-career surveys understate. The St. Joseph facility (one of the largest animal-vaccine manufacturing operations in North America, ~1,400 employees) produces BI's livestock + poultry + companion animal vaccines, parasiticides, and biologicals for both US and international markets. Senior corporate veterinarians at BI St. Joseph earn $195-325K TC plus equity — a career path that doesn't exist in most US states. The University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine (Columbia) graduates ~120 DVMs per year — one of the larger Midwest CVM programs, with strong programs in small animal, food animal, and equine medicine. Mizzou CVM's Veterinary Health Center operates a full-service academic referral hospital plus diagnostic services. MO ranks 7th in US pork production (~3.3 million hogs annually) plus substantial beef cattle (3rd in beef cow inventory) and dairy operations across central + northern MO — creating distinctive large-animal practice niches not available in most states. The 1% city earnings tax in St. Louis applies to non-resident DVM wages earned within city limits; suburban + rural MO practice locations avoid the city tax.
Sources & Methodology
- →IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 — 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction
- →IRS Notice 2025-67 — 2026 retirement-plan contribution limits
- →IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-19 — 2026 HSA contribution limits
- →Social Security Administration — 2026 Social Security wage base
- →Missouri DOR Form MO-1040ES 2026 - tax rate chart and Missouri standard deduction amounts
- →BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — Veterinarian wage data for Missouri
Salary figures are market estimates for Veterinarians in Missouri and vary by employer, specialty, seniority, and metro. Take-home math assumes a single filer with no dependents, the standard deduction, and Missouri 2026 state rates. Local taxes, insurance premiums, and pre-tax contributions will move your number — run the calculator for your own situation.
Run your own numbers
- Missouri paycheck calculator → · 401(k), HSA, dependents
- 1099 tax calculator → · self-employment tax 15.3%
- Bonus calculator → · year-end, sign-on, retention
- Capital-gains calculator → · long-term rates, NIIT, state tax
Frequently Asked Questions
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More on Missouri
Salaries by profession, top-paying roles by industry, and an economic breakdown for Missouri in 2026.
Tax brackets, standard deductions, and take-home estimates for Missouri in 2026.
Adjust filing status, 401(k), and city/county tax for your exact 2026 take-home in Missouri.