Veterinarians
SOC Code: 29-1131Also known as:
Animal Anatomist, Animal Chiropractor, Animal Doctor, Animal Pathologist, Animal Physiologist
Median Annual Salary
$125,510
+9.6% growth (2024-2034)
3K
Openings/Year
86K
Current Jobs
What Veterinarians Do
Diagnose, treat, or research diseases and injuries of animals. Includes veterinarians who conduct research and development, inspect livestock, or care for pets and companion animals.
💰 Salary
$125,510
Median annual wage (2024)
📈 Job Growth
+9.6%
Much faster than average
🎓 Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Typical entry-level requirement
🚀 Annual Openings
3K
Projected average per year
Employment Projections (2024-2034)
Current Employment (2024)
86,400
Projected Employment (2034)
94,700
Related Careers
Emergency medicine physicians
N/A •
+2.7% growth
Physicians, pathologists
N/A •
+4.2% growth
Physicians, all other
N/A •
+2.5% growth
Veterinary technologists and technicians
$45,980 •
+9.1% growth
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
$37,320 •
+8.7% growth
Top Skills Required
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Active Learning
Speaking
Science
Daily Tasks & Responsibilities
- Treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds, or performing surgery.
- Inoculate animals against various diseases, such as rabies or distemper.
- Examine animals to detect and determine the nature of diseases or injuries.
- Collect body tissue, feces, blood, urine, or other body fluids for examination and analysis.
- Operate diagnostic equipment, such as radiographic or ultrasound equipment, and interpret the resulting images.
- Educate the public about diseases that can be spread from animals to humans.
- Counsel clients about the deaths of their pets or about euthanasia decisions for their pets.
- Advise animal owners regarding sanitary measures, feeding, general care, medical conditions, or treatment options.
- Euthanize animals.
- Attend lectures, conferences, or continuing education courses.
Technology & Tools
📚 Entry-Level Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Most common requirement
🎯 Recommended Education
Doctoral Degree
O*NET recommended level
Degree Programs for Veterinarians
These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a veterinarians:
Veterinary Medicine
3,756 degrees awarded •
33 colleges offer this program
Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, General
854 degrees awarded •
23 colleges offer this program
Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine
58 degrees awarded •
7 colleges offer this program
Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology
49 degrees awarded •
6 colleges offer this program
Veterinary Microbiology and Immunobiology
42 degrees awarded •
4 colleges offer this program
Veterinary Infectious Diseases
31 degrees awarded •
3 colleges offer this program
Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health
31 degrees awarded •
5 colleges offer this program
Best Colleges for Becoming a Veterinarians
Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become veterinarians.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much do veterinarians make?
The median annual salary for veterinarians is $125,510.
What education do veterinarians need?
Most veterinarians positions require a doctoral or professional degree.
Common degree programs include Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, General, Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine.
Is becoming veterinarians a good career choice?
Veterinarians is projected to see +9.6% job growth from 2024 to 2034,
which is faster than average for all occupations. With approximately 3,000 job openings expected annually,
there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for veterinarians?
Top colleges for aspiring veterinarians include
University of Florida, University of Georgia, University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, Tufts University.
These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to veterinarians?
Veterinarians may also be known as: Animal Anatomist, Animal Chiropractor, Animal Doctor, Animal Pathologist, Animal Physiologist, Animal Surgeon, Companion Animal Practitioner, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), Emergency Veterinarian (Emergency Vet), Equine Dentist, Equine Vet (Equine Veterinarian), Horse Doctor, Laboratory Animal Care Veterinarian (Lab Animal Care Vet), Laboratory Veterinarian (Lab Vet), Large Animal Veterinarian (Large Animal Vet), Mixed Animal Veterinarian (Mixed Animal Vet), Poultry Veterinarian (Poultry Vet), Public Health Veterinarian (Public Health Vet), Relief Veterinarian (Relief Vet), Small Animal Veterinarian (Small Animal Vet).
These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.