Veterinarians Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$74,850
- 25th Percentile — Junior$125,460
- 50th Percentile — Median$163,920
- 75th Percentile — Senior$211,840
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$286,330
Half of Veterinarians in California earn more than $163,920. The top 10% make $286,330 or more, while entry-level workers start around $74,850.
Veterinarians in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 2nd of 49 states for Veterinarians pay, at $169,860 per year (19.0% above the U.S. average of $142,680).
- 9,170 people work as Veterinarians in California — 10.9% of all U.S. Veterinarians jobs.
- Location quotient 0.93: Veterinarians jobs are less concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $74,850; the top 10% earn over $286,330.
- Hourly equivalent: $81.66 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Arizona at $187,410.
- Among healthcare jobs in California, Psychiatrists pays the most ($315,380).
Veterinarians Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Veterinarians here earn $169,860 on average, placing the state 2nd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $169,860 is roughly equivalent to $119,620 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Arizona ($187,410), New Jersey ($166,170), Maryland ($163,830) are the closest alternatives for Veterinarians weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Healthcare Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Psychiatrists $315,380/yr California +85.7% vs this role
- Radiologists $309,990/yr California +82.5% vs this role
- Nurse Anesthetists $283,780/yr California +67.1% vs this role
- General Internal Medicine Physicians $273,270/yr California +60.9% vs this role
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists $272,520/yr California +60.4% vs this role
- Surgeons All Other $255,620/yr California +50.5% vs this role
- Family Medicine Physicians $252,930/yr California +48.9% vs this role
- Physicians All Other $249,620/yr California +47.0% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Veterinarians salary in California?
The average Veterinarians salary in California is $169,860 per year (median $163,920), which is 19.0% above the national average of $142,680.
How does California rank for Veterinarians pay?
California ranks 2nd out of 49 states. The highest-paying state is Arizona ($187,410/yr).
How much do entry-level Veterinarians make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Veterinarians in California earn about $74,850 per year and the 25th percentile is $125,460.
How much do Veterinarians make per hour in California?
About $81.66 per hour, based on the $169,860 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Veterinarians work in California?
BLS counts 9,170 Veterinarians jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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