The Top 10 Highest Paying Veterinary Careers
Veterinarians may care for patients with fur, feathers and scales, but not all of them work in clinics. This list of the top 10 highest paying careers in veterinary includes opportunities for people who want to work with patients and their owners directly, as well as ones for people who want to teach or who are drawn to work which helps to ensure that our food supply is safe.
#1 Professor of Veterinary Medicine
Job Descriptions
A professor of veterinary medicine is expected to conduct lectures, as well as supervise students in clinical rotations focusing on the subjects he or she is teaching. The professor will also be required to participate in continuing education courses and activities.
Salary
A professor of veterinary medicine can expect to earn an annual salary of $102,500.
Special Skills and Training
Veterinary school professors hold a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree. Candidates will have prior teaching experience, and individuals with a background in research may be preferred, depending on the subjects the professor will be teaching to veterinary students.
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#2 Regulatory Medicine Veterinarian
Job Descriptions
Regulatory medicine veterinarians are employed by government agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) or the Department of Homeland Security. Their job duties include enforcing humane treatment of animals legislation, examining and ordering that animals entering the country which are suspected of carrying disease be quarantined, and managing disease-prevention campaigns.
Salary
The average rate of pay for a regulatory medicine veterinarian is $95,000 per year.
Special Skills and Training
A doctorate degree in Veterinary Medicine is required for candidates who wish to be considered for this type of work.
#3 Research Veterinarian
Job Descriptions
Research veterinarians care for animals being housed at research facilities. They perform examinations, prescribe medications and perform surgery on patients. The research veterinarian also collects specimens from animals for evaluation.
Salary
The average salary for research veterinarians is $94,852 per year.
Special Skills and Training
Veterinarians involved in research will need to obtain a Ph.D after completing the requirements for a DVM degree. Veterinary students can plan to spend their summers working in a research lab to get practical experience in this field.
#4 Zoo Veterinarian
Job Descriptions
Zoo veterinarians administer sedatives to animals before conducting physical exams. These vets administer tests and vaccinations as appropriate. They provide advice about housing for the animals, and may be involved in designing exhibit areas.
Salary
The average salary of a zoo veterinarian is $77,713 per year
Special Skills and Training
A veterinarian working in a zoo would undergo the same training as a veterinarian in private practice. He or she will complete a four-year undergraduate degree followed by four years of education in a DVM program.
#5 Food Animal Veterinarian
Job Descriptions
Veterinarians with a food animal practice care for cows, sheep, goats, pigs and other farm animals. They travel to farms or ranches to see their patients. These vets conduct physical exams and tests, treat wounds and fractures, provide assistance to animals giving birth and perform surgery.
Salary
The average starting salary for a food animal veterinarian is $71,096 per year.
Special Skills and Training
Food animal veterinarians would choose this specialty at veterinary college. They take courses focusing on diseases affecting farm animals and complete clinical rotations where they care for these animals under the supervision of an experienced vet.
#6 Mixed Animal Veterinarian
Job Descriptions
As their job title implies, mixed animal veterinarians care for a variety of animals. This type of practice includes food and companion animals.
Salary
A first-year mixed animal veterinarian can expect to earn approximately $67,338 per annum.
Special Skills and Training
Students interested in a mixed animal practice will complete a four-year DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) degree which includes classroom study and clinical rotations caring for large and small animals.
#7 Military Veterinarian
Job Descriptions
Military veterinarians may be stationed at military bases in the U.S., as well as overseas. They perform clinical services and conduct sanitary audits of food production facilities.
Salary
A Captain serving in the U.S. Military’s Veterinary corps with less than two years of service earns $66,679 per year in basic pay.
Special Skills and Training
A graduate from an accredited veterinary medicine program will be appointed to the rank of Captain when he or she enlists in the Army.
#8 Small Animal Veterinarian
Job Descriptions
Small animal veterinarians treat companion animals, such as cats, dogs, and small mammals. They may also care for reptiles and birds. These doctors perform checkups, give vaccinations, and prescribe medications for patients. They also perform surgery and clean their patients’ teeth.
Salary
Veterinarians caring for small animals will start their career earning an average annual salary of $64,744.
Special Skills and Training
Along with a DVM degree, a small animal veterinarian must complete the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE) to become licensed.
#9 Public Health Veterinarian
Job Descriptions
Public health veterinarians conduct inspections of poultry and livestock to identify and diagnose diseases and health conditions which may make them unfit for human consumption. They may also be responsible for supervising the slaughter of livestock and provide training and direction to staff in proper disposition of the carcasses.
Salary
Public health veterinarians make an average of $58,000 per annum.
Special Skills and Training
Some universities offer joint degree in veterinary medicine and public health and graduates of these programs would be qualified to work as public health veterinarians.
#10 Equine Veterinarian
Job Descriptions
Equine veterinarians specialize in caring for horses. Much of their work is performed outdoors in all weather conditions. Depending on the type of practice, these veterinarians may be responsible for performing physical exams on animals before purchase, assisting animals when giving birth, treating wounds and performing surgery.
Salary
Newly-graduated equine vets are paid an average salary of $43,405 annually.
Special Skills and Training
All veterinarians working in this specialty have obtained their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. While in veterinary school, they complete clinical rotations in both small and large animal specializations.
