All About Veterinarians
Veterinarian Job Description 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.
Life As a Veterinarian
- Specialize in a particular type of treatment, such as dentistry, pathology, nutrition, surgery, microbiology, or internal medicine.
- Examine animals to detect and determine the nature of diseases or injuries.
- Euthanize animals.
- Educate the public about diseases that can be spread from animals to humans.
- Provide care to a wide range of animals or specialize in a particular species, such as horses or exotic birds.
- Perform administrative or business management tasks, such as scheduling appointments, accepting payments from clients, budgeting, or maintaining business records.
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Things a Veterinarian Should Know How to Do
When polled, Veterinarians say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Other Veterinarian Job Titles
- Horse Doctor
- Animal Doctor
- Treatment Coordinator
- Laboratory Animal Care Veterinarian
- Veterinary Dentist
Are There Job Opportunities for Veterinarians?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 79,600 jobs in the United States for Veterinarian. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 18.8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 15,000 new jobs for Veterinarian by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 4,500 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Veterinarian are Utah, Nevada, and Wisconsin. Watch out if you plan on working in Ohio, Maine, or Maryland. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Veterinarian
The average yearly salary of a Veterinarian ranges between $56,540 and $162,450.
Veterinarians who work in New Jersey, Maryland, or Delaware, make the highest salaries.
How much do Veterinarians make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $92,930 |
| Alaska | $121,010 |
| Arizona | $98,680 |
| Arkansas | $82,060 |
| California | $121,750 |
| Colorado | $92,710 |
| Connecticut | $105,380 |
| Delaware | $115,640 |
| District of Columbia | $103,840 |
| Florida | $103,580 |
| Georgia | $91,270 |
| Idaho | $102,450 |
| Illinois | $108,280 |
| Indiana | $89,060 |
| Iowa | $88,690 |
| Kansas | $98,260 |
| Kentucky | $86,160 |
| Louisiana | $87,200 |
| Maine | $89,340 |
| Maryland | $117,100 |
| Massachusetts | $109,520 |
| Michigan | $100,380 |
| Minnesota | $95,060 |
| Mississippi | $77,790 |
| Missouri | $90,580 |
| Montana | $79,380 |
| Nebraska | $82,040 |
| Nevada | $119,590 |
| New Hampshire | $106,680 |
| New Jersey | $120,700 |
| New Mexico | $96,440 |
| New York | $117,800 |
| North Carolina | $104,540 |
| North Dakota | $92,200 |
| Ohio | $103,970 |
| Oklahoma | $82,950 |
| Oregon | $109,450 |
| Pennsylvania | $109,580 |
| Rhode Island | $105,780 |
| South Carolina | $111,100 |
| South Dakota | $100,050 |
| Tennessee | $93,520 |
| Texas | $124,060 |
| Utah | $76,980 |
| Vermont | $96,350 |
| Virginia | $125,360 |
| Washington | $93,010 |
| West Virginia | $92,510 |
| Wisconsin | $90,120 |
| Wyoming | $83,420 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Veterinarians
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Veterinarians may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- IDEXX Laboratories IDEXX Cornerstone
Becoming a Veterinarian
Are there Veterinarians education requirements?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Veterinarians Work
Veterinarians work in the following industries:
Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Veterinarian might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Shelby R. Orozco via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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