How to Become a Veterinarian
Diagnose and treat illness and injury in animals, from companion pets to livestock, and safeguard public health through disease control. It typically requires a doctoral degree (dvm), with a median salary of $130,100 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$130,100/yr
Middle half
$101,460 to $166,120
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
3,000
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Clinical Diagnosis
- Surgery
- Science
- Active Learning
- Client Communication
Helpful certifications
- DVM + NAVLE (state veterinary licensure)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
1/100
Work-life balance
68/100
Stress level
73/100
Related careers
- Psychiatrist$281,870 median
- Physician (Family Medicine)$244,180 median
- Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)$236,590 median
- Dentist$170,950 median
- Pharmacist$140,910 median
- Optometrist$136,570 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Veterinarian make?
The median pay for a Veterinarian is $130,100 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $101,460 and $166,120 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Veterinarian?
The usual entry point is a doctoral degree (dvm). Common majors are Animal Science, Biology, Pre-Veterinary Studies, and Zoology.
Is Veterinarian a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 3,000 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Veterinarian use most?
Common skills for this role are Clinical Diagnosis, Surgery, Science, Active Learning, and Client Communication.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).