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
Job growth
7%
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
null/100
Work-life balance
null/100
Stress level
null/100
Satisfaction
null/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 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). Actual pay varies with experience, location, and employer.
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?
The BLS projects much faster than average demand for this role, about 7% over the decade, 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.
Planning to become a Veterinarian?
Save this career to your PlanexAI path and track the majors, courses, and milestones that lead to it.
Not sure this is right for you?
Take our free 2-minute quiz to match your interests to majors and careers.
Take the major quizSalary and job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034). National figures; actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.