Veterinarians Salary
The median pay for a veterinarians in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $130,900/year ($62.93/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $80K at the entry level to $172K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $142,748 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,318/month, or 16.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $131K get you in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Des Moines-West Des Moines’s Regional Price Parity (91.7). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About veterinarians
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What this looks like in Des Moines-West Des Moines
Veterinarians pay in Des Moines-West Des Moines tracks closely to the national median, $131K locally vs. $130K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,318/month, 17% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.7 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for veterinarians in metros near Des Moines-West Des Moines, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $127K | $143K |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $124K | $140K |
| Ames | $118K | $133K |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $131K | $150K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Entry-level veterinarians (10th percentile) start around $80K. Mid-career wages sit at $131K. Top earners bring in $172K or more, a $91K spread from bottom to top.
Veterinarians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Veterinarians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $164K | +26% | 9,170 |
| Maryland | $163K | +25% | 1,430 |
| Washington | $161K | +23% | 2,390 |
| New Jersey | $160K | +23% | 1,910 |
| Arizona | $152K | +17% | 2,080 |
| Massachusetts | $140K | +8% | 1,920 |
| District of Columbia | $135K | +3% | 190 |
| Illinois | $134K | +3% | 2,330 |
| Pennsylvania | $134K | +3% | 3,490 |
| Minnesota | $133K | +2% | 2,140 |
| New York | $132K | +1% | 3,390 |
| Vermont | $132K | +1% | 280 |
| Florida | $132K | +1% | 5,360 |
| Texas | $131K | +1% | 6,270 |
| Colorado | $131K | +1% | 2,340 |
| Maine | $131K | +0% | 600 |
| Hawaii | $130K | +0% | 370 |
| New Mexico | $129K | -1% | 460 |
| North Carolina | $129K | -1% | 2,940 |
| West Virginia | $129K | -1% | 390 |
| Oregon | $129K | -1% | 1,660 |
| New Hampshire | $128K | -1% | 650 |
| Virginia | $127K | -3% | 2,700 |
| Georgia | $127K | -3% | 2,670 |
| Rhode Island | $127K | -3% | 430 |
| Connecticut | $126K | -3% | 950 |
| Nevada | $126K | -3% | 680 |
| Michigan | $125K | -4% | 2,030 |
| Ohio | $125K | -4% | 3,430 |
| Iowa | $125K | -4% | 1,000 |
| Indiana | $125K | -4% | 1,500 |
| Louisiana | $124K | -4% | 950 |
| Tennessee | $124K | -4% | 1,730 |
| Utah | $124K | -5% | 640 |
| South Carolina | $122K | -6% | 1,380 |
| Idaho | $116K | -11% | 540 |
| Missouri | $115K | -12% | 1,920 |
| Wisconsin | $109K | -16% | 1,830 |
| Arkansas | $108K | -17% | 540 |
| Kansas | $107K | -18% | 1,000 |
| Alabama | $106K | -19% | 1,020 |
| Mississippi | $105K | -19% | 480 |
| Kentucky | $104K | -20% | 1,190 |
| Nebraska | $104K | -20% | 780 |
| North Dakota | $102K | -21% | 270 |
| Montana | $99K | -24% | 510 |
| Oklahoma | $98K | -25% | 1,150 |
| Wyoming | $97K | -25% | 140 |
| South Dakota | $89K | -32% | 280 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track veterinarians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Des Moines-West Des Moines numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a veterinarian afford a 2BR apartment alone in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Yes — at the median salary of $131K, rent takes 17% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,318/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for veterinarians in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new veterinarians typically earn — is $80K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,811/month. At HUD’s $1,318/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is veterinarian a high-paying job in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $131K locally vs. $130K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Des Moines-West Des Moines compare to the national average for veterinarians?
Des Moines-West Des Moines pays $131K median vs. the U.S. average of $130K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $143K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do veterinarians make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $130,900 a year, that works out to about $63 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $80,190, and experienced veterinarians can clear $171,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $131K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,766/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 17% 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Des Moines-West Des Moines has a Regional Price Parity of 91.7 (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 $142,748 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.