Veterinarian: Career Overview

Official government data · Updated April 2026

Veterinarians earn a national median of $125,510/yr with 9.6% projected employment growth over 2024–2034. The role draws on expertise in Biology, Medicine and Dentistry, Customer and Personal Service.

Median Salary

$125,510

National · 2024

10-Year Growth

9.6%

Faster than average

Employed Nationally

80,630

2024 data

Typical Education

Doctoral or professional degree

Entry-level

What Employers Expect From a Veterinarian

These are the competencies recruiters screen for in Veterinarian candidates, ranked by importance. Your resume should demonstrate each one:

1 Reading Comprehension 2 Active Listening 3 Active Learning 4 Speaking 5 Science 6 Critical Thinking 7 Complex Problem Solving 8 Judgment and Decision Making 9 Writing 10 Service Orientation

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge domains most important for Veterinarian performance, based on verified occupational data.

Biology Medicine and Dentistry Customer and Personal Service English Language Mathematics

Job Outlook: 2024–2034

Employment is projected to grow 9.6% for Veterinarian roles over the 2024–2034 decade. That's faster than average compared to the 4% average across all occupations.

Current Employment
80,630
Projected Growth
9.6%
Typical Education
Doctoral or professional degree

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Veterinarian do?
Veterinarians apply expertise in Biology, Medicine and Dentistry, Customer and Personal Service to perform their core responsibilities. Key competencies include Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Active Learning, Speaking.
How much does a Veterinarian make?
The national median salary for a Veterinarian is $125,510 per year based on official government wage survey data. Actual compensation varies by location, experience, and employer.
Is Veterinarian a good career in 2026?
Employment for Veterinarian roles is projected to grow 9.6% over the 2024–2034 decade — faster than average compared to all occupations. There are currently 80,630 workers in this occupation nationally.
What education do you need to become a Veterinarian?
The typical entry-level education for a Veterinarian is Doctoral or professional degree. Requirements vary by employer and specialization.
What skills do Veterinarians need?
The most important skills for Veterinarian roles based on verified occupational data: Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Active Learning, Speaking, Science, Critical Thinking, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Writing, Service Orientation.

Does Your Resume Cover These Skills?

Tap the skills that are currently on your resume.

Salary, employment, and skills figures sourced from official U.S. government records and occupational databases. Actual compensation and requirements vary by location, experience, and employer. Salary and employment figures from official U.S. government records. Actual compensation varies by location, experience, and employer.