# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/veterinarians
- SOC code: 29-1131.00
- Career family: Healthcare practitioners
- Median annual pay: $130,100 (10th percentile $73,920, 90th percentile $215,700)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +9.4%
- Openings a year: 3,100
- Typical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RIC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 83 |
| Investigative (I) | 83 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 41 |
| Enterprising (E) | 12 |
| Conventional (C) | 41 |

## What you'd do

- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 95/100)
- Getting Information (importance 88/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 88/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 87/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 82/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 81/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 77/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 76/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 70/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 70/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Science, Speaking, Writing, Service Orientation

## Knowledge

Biology, Medicine and Dentistry, Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Mathematics, Education and Training, Chemistry, Personnel and Human Resources, Administration and Management, Psychology

## Also called

Animal Anatomist, Animal Chiropractor, Animal Doctor, Animal Pathologist, Animal Physiologist, Animal Surgeon, Companion Animal Practitioner, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), Emergency Veterinarian (Emergency Vet), Equine Dentist

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0181) (CIP 0181, 43 colleges)
- [Veterinary Medicine](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0180) (CIP 0180, 33 colleges)
- Veterinary Residency/Fellowship Programs (CIP 6003, 1 college)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Stautzenberger College-Maumee](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stautzenberger-college-maumee-2597) | Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences | $32,859 | $38,195 | $25,235 |
| [Stautzenberger College-Brecksville](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stautzenberger-college-brecksville-2596) | Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences | $32,859 | $38,195 | $25,235 |
| [Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stautzenberger-college-rockford-career-college-2598) | Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences | $32,859 | $38,195 | $25,235 |

## Related careers

- [Veterinary Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/veterinary-technologists-and-technicians): $47,380 median pay
- [Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/veterinary-assistants-and-laboratory-animal-caretakers): $38,150 median pay
- [Allergists and Immunologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/allergists-and-immunologists): $265,930 median pay
- [Physicians, Pathologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/physicians-pathologists): $312,400 median pay
- [Emergency Medicine Physicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/emergency-medicine-physicians): $335,550 median pay
- [Dermatologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/dermatologists): $328,730 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.