Veterinarian Salary in California
Median annual pay in California
$163,920
$78.81/hour
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Adjusted for cost of living in California
$148,049
Regional Price Parity: 110.720 (U.S. = 100)
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Difference from the U.S. median ($130,100): +$33,820 (+26.0%)
California ranks 1st of 49 states by median pay, and 4th of 49 after adjusting for cost of living.
Pay
| Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $74,850 | $35.98 |
| 25th percentile | $125,460 | $60.32 |
| Median | $163,920 | $78.81 |
| 75th percentile | $211,840 | $101.85 |
| 90th percentile | $286,330 | $137.66 |
Employment
- Employment in California
- 9,170
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Comparison
Compared with the U.S.
- Median annual pay in California
- $163,920
- Median annual pay in the U.S.
- $130,100
- Difference
- +$33,820 (+26.0%)
Cost of living
$163,920 ÷ 110.720 × 100 = $148,049
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Ranking
| Rank | Median annual pay | Adjusted for cost of living (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| California This page | ||
| 1st | $163,920 | $148,049 4th |
| Maryland | ||
| 2nd | $163,170 | $155,461 1st |
| Washington | ||
| 3rd | $160,510 | $149,991 3rd |
Similar occupations
Related occupations from O*NET, in O*NET's order, with their BLS median pay. Each figure shows the place it is for.
- Veterinary Technologist and Technician salary in the U.S.
$47,380/year U.S.
- Physicians, All Other salary in California
$281,590/year California
- Emergency Medicine Physician salary in the U.S.
$335,550/year U.S.
- Dermatologist salary in the U.S.
$328,730/year U.S.
- General Internal Medicine Physician salary in the U.S.
$256,560/year U.S.
- Pediatrician, General salary in California
$214,140/year California
Outlook
- Projected employment change, 2025–35 (U.S.)
- +9.4%
- Typical education needed for entry (U.S.)
- Doctoral or professional degree
BLS publishes employment projections only for the U.S. as a whole. BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35
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Veterinarian salary in nearby places
- Veterinarian salary in Arizona
$152,020/year Arizona
- Veterinarian salary in Nevada
$125,550/year Nevada
- Veterinarian salary in Oregon
$128,880/year Oregon
- Veterinarian salary in the U.S.
$130,100/year U.S.
Sources and update
- Wages and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
- Related occupations: O*NET® 31.0 Database, CC BY 4.0. Attributions
- Employment projections and typical education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
- Neighboring states: U.S. Census Bureau, County Adjacency File, 2024.
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