Veterinarian
Veterinarians care for the health of animals and work to protect public health.
What the job is
- The work
- Veterinarians care for the health of animals and work to protect public health.
BLS
Veterinarians — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Work environment
- Most veterinarians work in private clinics and hospitals. Others travel to farms or work in settings such as laboratories, classrooms, or zoos.
BLS
Veterinarians — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Good fit for
- Science-strong students who love animals and can handle long training and emotional cases.
- Career cluster
- Agriculture
Key numbers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, pay for May 2025 (veterinarians).
- Median pay
- $130,100 a year ($62.55 an hour)
BLS
Veterinarians — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Jobs in 2025
- 91,100
- Typical entry
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Training after hire
- None
Job outlook, 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +9%, which BLS calls "much faster than average"
BLS
Veterinarians — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Jobs added
- +8,600 over 2025–35
- All U.S. jobs
- 3.5% over the same period, for comparison
How to become one
- The usual route
- Veterinarians must have a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from an accredited veterinary college, as well as a state license.
BLS
Veterinarians — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- In short
- Veterinarians must earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD) from an accredited college of veterinary medicine, usually after a bachelor's degree, then pass the NAVLE and get a state license. Most states add their own exam on state laws, and few accept other states' licenses.
- License
- State veterinary medical boards. Veterinary license steps
- By state
- Veterinary state matrix
- Paying for it
- File the FAFSA (opens by October 1) for grants, work-study and federal loans; a Pell Grant pays up to $7,395 a year (2026–27). Average public four-year tuition and fees: $11,950 in-state vs $31,880 out-of-state (2025–26). Residency rules and regional discounts · Save with 2+2 transfer
- Your state
-
StateChoose a state
- AlabamaState guide
- AlaskaState guide
- ArizonaState guide
- ArkansasState guide
- CaliforniaLicense rules
- ColoradoState guide
- ConnecticutState guide
- DelawareState guide
- District of ColumbiaState guide
- FloridaState guide
- GeorgiaState guide
- HawaiiState guide
- IdahoState guide
- IllinoisState guide
- IndianaState guide
- IowaState guide
- KansasState guide
- KentuckyState guide
- LouisianaState guide
- MaineState guide
- MarylandState guide
- MassachusettsState guide
- MichiganState guide
- MinnesotaState guide
- MississippiState guide
- MissouriState guide
- MontanaState guide
- NebraskaState guide
- NevadaState guide
- New HampshireState guide
- New JerseyState guide
- New MexicoState guide
- New YorkLicense rules
- North CarolinaState guide
- North DakotaState guide
- OhioState guide
- OklahomaState guide
- OregonState guide
- PennsylvaniaState guide
- Rhode IslandState guide
- South CarolinaState guide
- South DakotaState guide
- TennesseeState guide
- TexasLicense rules
- UtahState guide
- VermontState guide
- VirginiaState guide
- WashingtonState guide
- West VirginiaState guide
- WisconsinState guide
- WyomingState guide
Step-by-step roadmap
The routes step by step, the exam gates and the state license step are on one page.
Veterinarian: bachelor's, 4-year DVM at an AVMA-accredited college, NAVLE, state license
See the roadmap
Route 1: Bachelor's → DVM → NAVLE → state license · Route 2: Graduate of a non-accredited or foreign veterinary school
More careers in Agriculture
Open the cluster hubEvery career page in this cluster, with entry, license, pay and outlook side by side.
Every number links to the BLS page it came from, checked 21 Oct 2026. Education Margdarshan does not recommend paid courses.