What Does it Take to Be a Veterinarian?
Occupation 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
- Provide care to a wide range of animals or specialize in a particular species, such as horses or exotic birds.
- Inoculate animals against various diseases, such as rabies or distemper.
- Collect body tissue, feces, blood, urine, or other body fluids for examination and analysis.
- Train or supervise workers who handle or care for animals.
- Direct the overall operations of animal hospitals, clinics, or mobile services to farms.
- Drive mobile clinic vans to farms so that health problems can be treated or prevented.
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Veterinarian Needed Skills
Veterinarians state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Veterinary Livestock Inspector
- Veterinary Physiologist
- Animal Surgeon
- Veterinary Virus Serum Inspector
- Animal Chiropractor
Is There Going to be Demand for Veterinarians?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 79,600 jobs in the United States for Veterinarian. 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. The BLS estimates 4,500 yearly job openings in this field.

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.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Veterinarians 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 do Veterinarians Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Veterinarians may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- IDEXX Laboratories IDEXX Cornerstone
How do I Become a Veterinarian?
What kind of Veterinarian requirements are there?

How many years of work experience do I need?

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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