Veterinarians Salary
The median pay for a veterinarians in California is $163,920/year ($78.81/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $75K at the entry level to $286K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $154,438 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,471/month, or 25.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $164K get you in California?
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for veterinarians, local pay runs about 26% higher than the U.S. median of $130K. Rent runs $2,471/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level veterinarians (10th percentile) start around $75K. Mid-career wages sit at $164K. Top earners bring in $286K or more, a $211K spread from bottom to top.
Veterinarians salary by metro in California
21 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $208K | +27% | 1,350 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $192K | +17% | 350 |
| Napa | $173K | +5% | 30 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $165K | +1% | 830 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $165K | +1% | 130 |
| Salinas | $163K | -1% | 120 |
| Modesto | $162K | -1% | 120 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $161K | -2% | 660 |
| Chico | $160K | -2% | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $160K | -2% | 2,740 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $160K | -3% | 1,080 |
| Redding | $159K | -3% | 60 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $159K | -3% | 140 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $159K | -3% | 290 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $159K | -3% | 210 |
| Vallejo | $158K | -4% | 70 |
| Fresno | $157K | -4% | 170 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $152K | -7% | 110 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $151K | -8% | 100 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $144K | -12% | 90 |
| Visalia | $133K | -19% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 21 metros
Compare to other states
Track veterinarians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a veterinarian afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
Yes — at the median salary of $164K, rent takes 26.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for veterinarians in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new veterinarians typically earn — is $75K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,491/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 55% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is veterinarian a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 26% above the national median — $164K here vs. $130K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for veterinarians?
California pays $164K median vs. the U.S. average of $130K — that’s +26%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $154K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do veterinarians make in California?
The median is $163,920 a year, that works out to about $79 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $74,850, and experienced veterinarians can clear $286,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $164K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,284/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 26.6% 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 California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median veterinarians salary is worth about $154,438 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.