Some veterinarians specialize in treating racehorses.
Veterinarians treat medical conditions in animals such as livestock, zoo animals, racehorses and pets. Most of those who work in private practice work on pets, with the majority treating cats and dogs but also reptiles, birds, rabbits and ferrets. A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree is required, with many opting for a one-year internship after graduation. All states mandate licensing, which requires passing the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam.
Pay
The median salary for veterinarians is $38.71 per hour, or $80,510 per year, as of May 2009, states the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bottom 10 percent gets $22.92, or $47,670, while the top 10 percent receives $68.71, or $142,910. Additionally, the lowest 25 percent earns $30.18, or $62,770, while the highest 25 percent makes $50.57, or $105,190.
Industries
This profession's highest-paying industries are medical and diagnostic labs, with wages at $55.09, or $114,590; pharmaceutical manufacturing at $51.54, or $107,200; and scientific research and development at $46.93, or $97,620. However, they do not provide the most number of jobs. Those that do are professional, scientific and technical services, where pay is at $43.50, or $90,470; the federal government at $40.48, or $84,200; and colleges, universities and professional schools at $34.78, or $72,350. All figures are as of 2009.
States
The best-paid veterinarians are located in New Jersey, where salary is at $56.33, or $117,170; Connecticut at $55.84, or $116,150; and Florida at $50.74, or $105,540. However, the states with the most veterinarians per capita are Colorado, with compensation at $35.90, or $74,670; Montana, at $29.06, or $60,430; and Idaho, at $35.46, or $73,760. All figures are as of 2009.
Cities
For cities, the highest-paying employers are in Miami, Florida, with compensation at $78.20, or $162,650; Newark, New Jersey, at $72.23, or $150,230; and Canton, Ohio, at $67.57, or $140,540. These areas differ from the ones with the greatest concentration of jobs, which are Greeley, Colorado, with pay at $36.38, or $75,660; Ocala, Florida at $46.76, or $97,270; and Corvallis, Oregon at $42.59, or $97,270. All figures are as of 2009.
Prospects
The BLS projects veterinarian jobs to increase by 33 percent from 2008 to 2018, with an attendant increase in salaries. This is much faster than average. The growth will come from the increasing interest in cats as pets and from the use of more advanced animal medical care techniques such as hip replacement, blood transfusions and kidney transplants. Growth will also come from the field of companion animals as well as farm animals.
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