Inflation Erodes Veterinary Salaries as Fewer New Graduates Enter Full-Time Work

While U.S. veterinarians’ nominal salaries have risen over the past five years, real income—adjusted for inflation—has essentially returned to 2004 levels, according to Dr. Chris Doherty of the AVMA Veterinary Economics Division. In 2024, the average real income for veterinarians was $154,000, while new graduates entering full-time employment averaged $129,000.