The average salary for a veterinarian in California is around $121,560 per year.
Avg Salary
Veterinarians earn an average yearly salary of $121,560.
Wages typically start from $62,760 and go up to $201,860.
63% above national average Updated in 2021
Veterinarian earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level veterinarian earnings begin at:
$97.05 per hour
$201,860 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level veterinarian earnings begin at:
$75.24 per hour
$156,500 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level veterinarian earnings begin at:
$58.44 per hour
$121,560 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level veterinarian earnings begin at:
$42.54 per hour
$88,480 per year
10th percentile
Starting level veterinarian earnings begin at:
$30.17 per hour
$62,760 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Veterinarian salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $99,730 |
| Utah | $99,690 |
| North Dakota | $99,550 |
| Idaho | $99,360 |
| Ohio | $99,040 |
| Alabama | $98,940 |
| Illinois | $98,930 |
| Alaska | $98,910 |
| Nevada | $98,910 |
| New Mexico | $98,870 |
| Vermont | $98,430 |
| Colorado | $97,810 |
| South Carolina | $97,520 |
| Wisconsin | $96,160 |
| Wyoming | $95,590 |
| Indiana | $95,150 |
| Kentucky | $93,080 |
| Iowa | $87,820 |
| Kansas | $82,750 |
| Nebraska | $82,140 |
| Arkansas | $80,650 |
| Missouri | $79,980 |
| Mississippi | $79,890 |
| Oklahoma | $78,430 |
| South Dakota | $78,010 |
| Montana | $77,690 |
| Puerto Rico | $60,530 |
| District of Columbia | $127,980 |
| Maryland | $127,110 |
| New York | $124,790 |
| California | $121,560 |
| Rhode Island | $121,060 |
| New Jersey | $116,400 |
| Washington | $114,780 |
| Connecticut | $106,390 |
| Pennsylvania | $104,080 |
| Massachusetts | $103,540 |
| Texas | $102,360 |
| West Virginia | $101,730 |
| Delaware | $101,350 |
| Minnesota | $101,210 |
| New Hampshire | $101,160 |
| Florida | $101,000 |
| Virginia | $100,920 |
| Michigan | $100,740 |
| North Carolina | $100,730 |
| Georgia | $100,660 |
| Arizona | $100,450 |
| Oregon | $100,390 |
| Tennessee | $100,240 |
| Louisiana | $100,150 |
| Maine | $100,070 |
How do veterinarian salaries compare to similar careers?
Veterinarians earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than radiation therapists but more than registered nurses.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Radiation therapist salary | $131K |
| Anesthesiologist assistant salary | $131K |
| Physician assistant salary | $131K |
| Health services manager salary | $126K |
| Optometrist salary | $128K |
| Veterinarian salary | $122K |
| Nuclear medicine technologist salary | $127K |
| Acute care nurse practitioner salary | $125K |
| Clinical nurse specialist salary | $125K |
| Registered nurse salary | $125K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)