What You Need to Know About Veterinarian
Career Description Diagnose, treat, or research diseases and injuries of animals. Includes veterinarians who conduct research and development, inspect livestock, or care for pets and companion animals.
Life As a Veterinarian: What Do They Do?
- Train or supervise workers who handle or care for animals.
- Direct the overall operations of animal hospitals, clinics, or mobile services to farms.
- Inspect and test horses, sheep, poultry, or other animals to detect the presence of communicable diseases.
- Collect body tissue, feces, blood, urine, or other body fluids for examination and analysis.
- Plan or execute animal nutrition or reproduction programs.
- Treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds, or performing surgery.
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Veterinarian Required Skills
These are the skills Veterinarians say are the most useful in their careers:
Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Other Veterinarian Job Titles
- Veterinary Toxicologist
- Animal Chiropractor
- Treatment Coordinator
- Associate Veterinarian
- Veterinary Dentist
Is There Going to be Demand for Veterinarians?
In the United States, there were 79,600 jobs for Veterinarian in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 18.8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 15,000 new jobs for Veterinarian by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 4,500 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Veterinarian are Utah, Nevada, and Wisconsin. Watch out if you plan on working in Ohio, Maine, or Maryland. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Veterinarian
The average yearly salary of a Veterinarian ranges between $56,540 and $162,450.

Veterinarians who work in New Jersey, Maryland, or Delaware, make the highest salaries.
How much do Veterinarians make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $92,930 |
Alaska | $121,010 |
Arizona | $98,680 |
Arkansas | $82,060 |
California | $121,750 |
Colorado | $92,710 |
Connecticut | $105,380 |
Delaware | $115,640 |
District of Columbia | $103,840 |
Florida | $103,580 |
Georgia | $91,270 |
Idaho | $102,450 |
Illinois | $108,280 |
Indiana | $89,060 |
Iowa | $88,690 |
Kansas | $98,260 |
Kentucky | $86,160 |
Louisiana | $87,200 |
Maine | $89,340 |
Maryland | $117,100 |
Massachusetts | $109,520 |
Michigan | $100,380 |
Minnesota | $95,060 |
Mississippi | $77,790 |
Missouri | $90,580 |
Montana | $79,380 |
Nebraska | $82,040 |
Nevada | $119,590 |
New Hampshire | $106,680 |
New Jersey | $120,700 |
New Mexico | $96,440 |
New York | $117,800 |
North Carolina | $104,540 |
North Dakota | $92,200 |
Ohio | $103,970 |
Oklahoma | $82,950 |
Oregon | $109,450 |
Pennsylvania | $109,580 |
Rhode Island | $105,780 |
South Carolina | $111,100 |
South Dakota | $100,050 |
Tennessee | $93,520 |
Texas | $124,060 |
Utah | $76,980 |
Vermont | $96,350 |
Virginia | $125,360 |
Washington | $93,010 |
West Virginia | $92,510 |
Wisconsin | $90,120 |
Wyoming | $83,420 |
What Tools & Technology do Veterinarians Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Veterinarians:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- IDEXX Laboratories IDEXX Cornerstone
Becoming a Veterinarian
What education is needed to be a Veterinarian?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Veterinarian?

Veterinarians Sector

The table below shows the approximate number of Veterinarians employed by various industries.

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being a Veterinarian may also be interested in:
References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Shelby R. Orozco via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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