Veterinarians · Washington

Veterinarians Salary in Washington

Veterinarians in Washington earn a median annual wage of $160,510 —23.4% above the national median of $130,100. That ranks WA #3 of 49 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$160,510
Median hourly
$77.17
Entry level (P10)
$97,140
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$265,600
90th percentile
Employment
2,390
0.7 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+23.4%
U.S. $130,100

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$97,140
$124,990
$160,510
$197,370
$97,140$160,510$265,600
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $160,510.

Employment is 1.25× as concentrated as the national average, making Washington a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for veterinarians

All 49 states ranked by median annual wage. Washington is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1California$163,920$78.819,1700.93
2Maryland$163,170$78.451,4300.96
3Washington$160,510$77.172,3901.25
4New Jersey$160,140$76.991,9100.82
5Arizona$152,020$73.092,0801.19
6Massachusetts$140,260$67.431,9200.98
7District of Columbia$134,530$64.681900.49
8Illinois$133,580$64.222,3300.71
9Pennsylvania$133,520$64.193,4901.07
10Minnesota$133,110$64.002,1401.34

Related occupations in Washington

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Washington.

OccupationWashington medianU.S. median
Registered Nurses$124,200$97,550
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$83,150$64,400
Pharmacy Technicians$58,900$45,750
Physicians, All Other$307,170$265,930
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$72,760$62,930
Nurse Practitioners$156,100$132,300

Frequently asked questions

How much do veterinarians make in Washington?

The median annual wage for veterinarians in Washington is $160,510, or $77.17 per hour. That is 23.4% above the national median of $130,100.

What is the entry-level veterinarians salary in Washington?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $97,140 per year ($46.70/hour). The 25th percentile is $124,990.

How many people work as veterinarians in Washington?

About 2,390 people work in this occupation in Washington, or 0.7 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Washington a good state for veterinarians?

Washington ranks #3 of 49 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.25x as concentrated as the national average, making Washington a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays veterinarians the most?

California has the highest median wage at $163,920 per year, followed by Maryland ($163,170) and Washington ($160,510).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes