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Occupation · SOC 29-1131

Veterinarians

There are 83,900 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $130,100 a year. The most jobs are in New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ.

HealthcareTypical education: Doctoral or professional degree
83,900
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$130,100
Median pay a year
Middle half: $101,460–$166,120
3,100
Annual openings
10-year change: +9.4%
394
LCA filings, last 4 quarters
+60.8% from the prior 4 quarters

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 286 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $156,150 · LCA filings 263,150$156,15026
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $160,080 · LCA filings 332,740$160,08033
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDMedian pay $139,810 · LCA filings 71,790$139,8107
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $133,550 · LCA filings 111,760$133,55011
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVMedian pay $154,350 · LCA filings 141,740$154,35014
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GAMedian pay $128,980 · LCA filings 91,610$128,9809
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHMedian pay $138,900 · LCA filings 41,540$138,9004
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INMedian pay $148,730 · LCA filings 21,530$148,7302
Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler, AZMedian pay $161,060 · LCA filings 21,480$161,0602
Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WIMedian pay $158,200 · LCA filings 101,470$158,20010

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployment 1,350 · LCA filings 40$208,0801,35040
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployment 350 · LCA filings 10$192,16035010
Napa, CAEmployment 30 · LCA filings 0$172,600300
Sacramento–Roseville–Folsom, CAEmployment 830 · LCA filings 17$165,26083017
Santa Cruz–Watsonville, CAEmployment 130 · LCA filings 0$164,8201300

Metro areas with the most LCA filings

Labor Condition Applications filed by employers with the U.S. Department of Labor, Apr 2025–Mar 2026. They’re used in the H-1B process and show filing history, not hires or current job openings.

Metro areaLCA filingsEmployers with LCA filingsEmployment
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployers with LCA filings 23 · Employment 1,35040231,350
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAEmployers with LCA filings 20 · Employment 2,74033202,740
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJEmployers with LCA filings 20 · Employment 3,15026203,150
Sacramento–Roseville–Folsom, CAEmployers with LCA filings 8 · Employment 830178830
Raleigh–Cary, NCEmployers with LCA filings 3 · Employment 520173520

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $133,598 · Level III $165,984 · Level IV $198,349$101,234$133,598$165,984$198,349
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $126,318 · Level III $164,091 · Level IV $201,843$88,566$126,318$164,091$201,843
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDLevel II $131,040 · Level III $161,658 · Level IV $192,275$100,422$131,040$161,658$192,275
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $119,725 · Level III $143,853 · Level IV $168,002$95,576$119,725$143,853$168,002
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVLevel II $129,605 · Level III $163,342 · Level IV $197,059$95,888$129,605$163,342$197,059
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GALevel II $111,717 · Level III $133,723 · Level IV $155,750$89,690$111,717$133,723$155,750
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHLevel II $129,459 · Level III $159,931 · Level IV $190,403$98,987$129,459$159,931$190,403
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INLevel II $127,774 · Level III $162,386 · Level IV $196,997$93,163$127,774$162,386$196,997
Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler, AZLevel II $145,954 · Level III $186,430 · Level IV $226,907$105,477$145,954$186,430$226,907
Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WILevel II $127,754 · Level III $153,213 · Level IV $178,672$102,294$127,754$153,213$178,672
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CALevel II $153,941 · Level III $194,750 · Level IV $235,581$113,110$153,941$194,750$235,581
Sacramento–Roseville–Folsom, CALevel II $139,755 · Level III $176,883 · Level IV $213,990$102,648$139,755$176,883$213,990
Raleigh–Cary, NCLevel II $112,486 · Level III $140,338 · Level IV $168,189$84,635$112,486$140,338$168,189

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT
Veterinary MedicineCIP 01.80OPT · up to 12 months44OPT · up to 12 months
Animal SciencesCIP 01.09 · Usually needs more educationSTEM OPT · up to 36 months276STEM OPT · up to 36 months
Biology, GeneralCIP 26.01 · Usually needs more educationSTEM OPT · up to 36 months4,172STEM OPT · up to 36 months

See Veterinarians in every metro area

All 286 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

See every metro area →

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Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology