Veterinarians in Kentucky
Thinking about a career as a Veterinarians in Kentucky? Below are the key facts. 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.
What do Veterinarians Make in Kentucky?
For veterinarians working in Kentucky, wages run about $98,210 per year (or about $47.22/hour).Annual wages span from $50,700 at the 10th percentile to $178,520 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,700 | $24.38 |
| 25th percentile | $75,220 | $36.16 |
| Median (50th) | $98,210 | $47.22 |
| 75th percentile | $122,860 | $59.07 |
| 90th percentile | $178,520 | $85.83 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Kentucky compared to the national average — is 1.20, indicating that veterinarians are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, veterinarians earn a median of $53,196 per year ($25.58/hour), exceeding the Kentucky median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 2,809,076 veterinarians in the U.S.. In Kentucky alone, about 1,250 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 1,180 veterinarians.
Top Kentucky Metros for Veterinarians
The largest metro-area employers of veterinarians in Kentucky.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 370 | $101,040 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 350 | $102,070 |
| Bowling Green, KY | 40 | $89,990 |
Top States for Veterinarians Employment
The table below shows the states where the most veterinarians work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 8,510 |
| Texas | 5,940 |
| Florida | 5,480 |
| Pennsylvania | 3,220 |
| New York | 3,200 |
| Illinois | 2,950 |
| North Carolina | 2,950 |
| Ohio | 2,880 |
| Virginia | 2,560 |
| Georgia | 2,430 |
| Colorado | 2,380 |
| Michigan | 2,320 |
| Minnesota | 2,060 |
| Missouri | 2,020 |
| Washington | 1,940 |
| Massachusetts | 1,820 |
| Wisconsin | 1,760 |
| New Jersey | 1,750 |
| Oregon | 1,640 |
| Tennessee | 1,590 |
Highest-Paying States for Veterinarians
Where veterinarians earn the most: veterinarians.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $158,950 |
| Washington | $155,060 |
| District of Columbia | $153,200 |
| New Jersey | $148,550 |
| West Virginia | $134,290 |
| Vermont | $134,240 |
| Arizona | $132,810 |
| Massachusetts | $131,500 |
| New York | $131,330 |
| Florida | $131,170 |
Skills
Top veterinarians skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Key abilities for veterinarians, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, veterinarians typically:
- Treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds, or performing surgery.
- Inoculate animals against various diseases, such as rabies or distemper.
- Examine animals to detect and determine the nature of diseases or injuries.
- Collect body tissue, feces, blood, urine, or other body fluids for examination and analysis.
- Operate diagnostic equipment, such as radiographic or ultrasound equipment, and interpret the resulting images.
- Educate the public about diseases that can be spread from animals to humans.
- Counsel clients about the deaths of their pets or about euthanasia decisions for their pets.
- Advise animal owners regarding sanitary measures, feeding, general care, medical conditions, or treatment options.
- Euthanize animals.
- Attend lectures, conferences, or continuing education courses.
- Train or supervise workers who handle or care for animals.
- Perform administrative or business management tasks, such as scheduling appointments, accepting payments from clients, budgeting, or maintaining business records.
Work Activities
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Getting Information
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Processing Information
- Analyzing Data or Information
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences
- Veterinary Residency
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Other careers like veterinarians include:
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
- Nurse Practitioners
- Anesthesiologists
- Dermatologists
- Emergency Medicine Physicians
- General Internal Medicine Physicians
Also Known As
Animal Anatomist, Animal Chiropractor, Animal Doctor, Animal Pathologist, Animal Physiologist, Animal Surgeon, Companion Animal Practitioner, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), Emergency Veterinarian (Emergency Vet), Equine Dentist, Equine Vet (Equine Veterinarian), Horse Doctor, Laboratory Animal Care Veterinarian (Lab Animal Care Vet), Laboratory Veterinarian (Lab Vet), Large Animal Veterinarian (Large Animal Vet).
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 29-1131.00