Veterinarian Salary Survey: USA
July 2026 update. Next update January 2027. Also for the UK and Australia.
Who this covers: small animal general practice, 1 to 5 years' experience. Cash pay: base salary plus performance bonuses. More experience or a specialty pays more; compare your situation below.
Compare your situation
Five years of change
The midpoint’s rise since January is the largest in the series. Part of it may reflect this survey’s sample, so treat it as today’s guide rather than a forecast.
How we compare with other sources
July 2026, lower to upper, with the midpoint marked.
Each source measures a slightly different group, so expect some spread. Glassdoor, Indeed, Payscale, Talent.com and ERI publish their data publicly; none of them has endorsed this survey.
What it means for you
If you’re hiring
Use the midpoint as today’s reference when you set pay for a new role, and check that current salaries haven’t fallen behind. An ad that shows its salary gets more applications. See how a Job Campaign finds your team.
If you’re looking
See where an offer sits in the range before you talk money. Treat the figures as a starting point, not a fixed target: your skills, location and the practice all count. Browse veterinarian jobs.
How we measure
Who the figures cover
Veterinarians in small animal general practice with 1 to 5 years' experience, in the USA. Lower, midpoint and upper are benchmarks for that group, not limits.
What's included
Cash pay: base salary and performance bonuses. Not included: sign-on or retention payments, and benefits such as health insurance, CE allowances and 401(k) contributions.
Other roles and experience
- 5 years or more: add 25% or more.
- Surgery-focused roles: add 35% or more.
- Specialty roles (emergency, referral, surgery, internal medicine, oncology, ophthalmology and others): add 50% or more.
Where the data comes from
Our own research combined with public salary data from Glassdoor, Indeed, Payscale, Talent.com and ERI (Economic Research Institute). These figures are averages; qualifications, experience, special skills and location all move individual salaries.
When it's updated
Twice a year, in January and July. This is the July 2026 survey; the next is January 2027.
Every survey
| Survey | Lower | Midpoint | Upper |
|---|
US dollars. Small animal general practice, 1 to 5 years.
