The veterinary industry has continued to evolve throughout 2025—shaped by economic shifts, rising pet ownership, and growing demand for veterinary services. Salaries are climbing, education costs are surging, and pet care spending is at an all-time high. For veterinary professionals, understanding these numbers is essential for staying competitive in a rapidly changing landscape.

We’re breaking down the most important 2025 veterinary industry trends to keep you in the know.

💰 Veterinarian salaries in 2025

Veterinarian compensation continues to rise, fueled by workforce shortages and strong pet-care demand. Entry-level salaries have surpassed $100,000, and many experienced veterinarians are now earning well into the $190,000+ range depending on specialty and location.

Key salary figures

• Entry-level (0–2 years): $100,000–$105,000¹

• Average (national): $165,527²

• Mid-range (median): $151,000³

• High-range: about $192,000, with top earners exceeding $200,000²

• Majority range (national): $106,058 to $124,385⁴

Factors influencing salaries⁵

• Geography: Urban areas pay higher, but rural regions may offer lower living costs.

• Specialization: Surgeons, dermatologists, and emergency vets earn above-average incomes.

• Practice type: Small-animal and specialty veterinary clinics typically pay more than large-animal or research roles.

🗺️ States with the highest and lowest pay⁶

Your location matters—veterinary pay varies widely depending on state-level demand, cost of living, and access to urban markets.

Higher salaries are usually found in states with larger urban centers, a more expensive cost of living, and distinguished vet schools, while lower wages are common in rural economies with fewer small-animal clients.

Highest-paying states

• Massachusetts: $162,030

• California: $158,610

• Hawaii: $157,770

• District of Columbia: $156,570

• New Jersey: $153,630

Lowest-paying states

• Montana: $94,070

• Nebraska: $95,040

• Wyoming: $100,800

• South Dakota: $101,670

• Mississippi: $102,660

🏥 Veterinary practice manager salaries in 2025

Though location and other factors impact salaries, practice managers continue to see strong salary growth in 2025.

Key stats

• Typical range: $53,661–$93,694⁷

• National average base salary: $77,701⁷

• Entry-level: $46,131–$58,642⁸

• Top earners: Up to $189,500⁹

Who pays the most

Larger hospital chains in states like Washington, New York, and Massachusetts offer higher salaries for veterinary practice managers.⁷ Those working in emergency and specialty hospitals made the most money across all practice types, while practice managers in mixed animal practices reportedly earn the lowest salaries on average.¹⁰

📈 Demand and job outlook

Veterinary talent is in high demand nationwide. Even with new veterinary school expansions, workforce shortages—especially in rural regions—continue to drive both compensation and competition.

Key findings

• Veterinarian ranked #1 job in 2025¹¹

• Top-10 states with highest demand: Colorado, Michigan, West Virginia, North Carolina, Arizona, Washington, Maine, Florida, Utah, South Carolina¹²

• Number of underserved counties: 500+ U.S. counties lack sufficient veterinary services¹³

🐾 Pet industry spending & ownership in 2025

The U.S. pet industry continues its explosive growth, hitting record highs in 2025. More pets, deeper emotional bonds, and increasing medical sophistication are driving veterinary service expansion and revenue growth.

Key stats¹⁴ ¹⁵

• Pet industry spending: $157 billion ($152 billion in 2024)

• Veterinary care & products: $41.4 billion (4% growth rate from 2024)

• Pet food: $67.8 billion

• Supplies/live animals/OTC meds: $34.3 billion

• Other services: $13.5 billion

• Pet-owning households: 94 million (up from 82 million in 2023)

• Dog households: 68 million (51% of U.S. households)

• Cat households: 49 million (37% of U.S. households)

🎓 The cost of becoming a veterinarian

Becoming a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) is more expensive than ever—tuition inflation and rising living costs are leaving graduates with a six-figure debt burden. While total tuition depends on state residency, the type of school, and living expenses, these record-high costs make ROI and salary growth critical considerations. 

Tuition and fees

• In-state range (4-year): $78,479 to $155,295¹⁶

• Out-of-state range (4-year): $131,200 to $285,367¹⁶
  Example School Totals:¹⁷

• UC Davis: $146,478 (in-state), $195,458 (out-of-state)

• Ohio State: $261,485 (in-state), $308,345 (out-of-state)

• North Carolina State: $191,262 (in-state), $319,314 (out-of-state)

• Texas A&M: $209,705 (in-state), $273,085 (out-of-state) 

👩‍⚕️ Workforce and demographics

The number of veterinarians in the U.S. is projected to increase by 20% by the year 2032.¹⁸ While this is a promising figure that reflects a strong future for the veterinary workforce, the occupational burnout rate among veterinarians is up to 50%.¹⁹ This is a result of major demographic changes, such as younger vets reshaping work expectations and continued shortages in rural areas.

Key demographic stats¹⁹

• Veterinarians: ~60% of workforce are female

• Vet students: ~80% of students are female (U.S. and Canada)

• Average age: 43 years

• Rural shortage: 500+ counties underserved

🐕 Lifetime cost of pet ownership

Most pet owners underestimate total lifetime costs, often budgeting far less than actual care expenses.²⁰ That’s why it’s vital for pet owners to understand the true cost of pet ownership—and for veterinary teams, these insights help frame productive preventive-care conversations. 

Lifetime cost data²¹

• Average lifetime cost of dogs: $34,550 (10–15 years)

• Average lifetime cost of dogs: $32,170 (16 years)

• Annual dog cost: $1,390–$5,295 per year

• Annual cat cost: $760–$3,495 per year 

• Vet fees: Up 11% in 2025

💡 Key takeaways for veterinary practices

• Offer benchmark pay to stay competitive in your area

• Support new grads with mentorship—not just money

• Invest in practice managers (their average pay now rivals many clinicians)

• Adopt flexible payment plans to meet clients’ rising cost concerns

• Focus on staff well-being to prevent burnout

Sources

All figures were compiled from verified industry publications and databases.
¹  Payscale
² ZipRecruiter
³ Veterinary Jobs Marketplace
⁴ Salary.com
⁵ The Academy of Pet Careers
⁶ Atlas Consultancy Group
⁷ ZipRecruiter
⁸ Payscale
⁹ ZipRecruiter
¹⁰ VHMA
¹¹ AVMA
¹² The Pet Lab Co.
¹³ World Animal Foundation
¹⁴ Capital One Shopping Research
¹⁵ APPA’s 2025 State of the Industry Report
¹⁶ Inspira Advantage
¹⁷ Credible
¹⁸ AAVMC
¹⁹ CO.Vet
²⁰ DVM360
²¹ USA Today