Veterinarians
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.
What it pays
Veterinarians earn a median of $62.55/hr — about $130,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $35.54/hr; the top 10% earn $103.70/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
Veterinarians earn a median of $62.55/hr — about $130,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $35.54/hr; the top 10% earn $103.70/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
What you'd actually do
- Treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds, or performing surgery.
- Inoculate animals against various diseases, such as rabies or distemper.
- Examine animals to detect and determine the nature of diseases or injuries.
- Collect body tissue, feces, blood, urine, or other body fluids for examination and analysis.
- Operate diagnostic equipment, such as radiographic or ultrasound equipment, and interpret the resulting images.
- Educate the public about diseases that can be spread from animals to humans.
How you get there
Typical entry-level education: Doctoral degree. Overall preparation: extensive preparation (Job Zone 5 of 5).
The feel of the work
You're around people constantly; time pressure is a real part of the job; it rewards working independently; precision matters — small details carry weight. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)
Working for yourself
About 6.1% of veterinarians are self-employed.
Who it tends to fit
This work tends to fit people who are hands-on, analytical and organized and detail-focused.
Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.Related careers
- Nurse Practitioners
- Physician Assistants
- Optometrists
- Pharmacists
- Physical Therapists
- Occupational Therapists
Quick questions
- How much does a veterinarian make?
- The median pay is $62.55 per hour — roughly $130,000 a year, with the real range running from about $35.54/hr (10th percentile) to $103.70/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Do you need a degree to be a veterinarian?
- The typical entry-level education is: Doctoral degree. Overall preparation level: extensive preparation (Job Zone 5 of 5).
- What does a veterinarian actually do all day?
- Treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds, or performing surgery. Inoculate animals against various diseases, such as rabies or distemper. Examine animals to detect and determine the nature of diseases or injuries.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.