Veterinarians Salary
The median pay for a veterinarians in Arizona is $152,020/year ($73.09/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $82K at the entry level to $263K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.41), that's roughly $157,681 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,437/month, or 15.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arizona. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $152K get you in Arizona?
About veterinarians
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Arizona
Arizona sits well above the national pay line for veterinarians, local pay runs about 17% higher than the U.S. median of $130K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,437/month, 15.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 96.41) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Arizona offers a genuinely strong financial position for veterinarianss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arizona
Entry-level veterinarians (10th percentile) start around $82K. Mid-career wages sit at $152K. Top earners bring in $263K or more, a $181K spread from bottom to top.
Veterinarians salary by metro in Arizona
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $161K | +6% | 1,480 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott | $152K | +0% | 50 |
| Tucson | $132K | -13% | 250 |
Compare to other states
Track veterinarians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arizona numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a veterinarian afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arizona?
Yes — at the median salary of $152K, rent takes 15.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,437/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for veterinarians in Arizona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new veterinarians typically earn — is $82K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,919/month. At HUD’s $1,437/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is veterinarian a high-paying job in Arizona?
Local pay is 17% above the national median — $152K here vs. $130K nationally.
How does Arizona compare to the national average for veterinarians?
Arizona pays $152K median vs. the U.S. average of $130K — that’s +17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $158K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do veterinarians make in Arizona?
The median is $152,020 a year, that works out to about $73 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $81,990, and experienced veterinarians can clear $262,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $152K enough to live in Arizona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,238/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,437/month, which eats 15.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a veterinarians salary go in Arizona?
Arizona has a Regional Price Parity of 96.41 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median veterinarians salary is worth about $157,681 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do veterinarians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.