Veterinarians Salary
The median pay for a veterinarians in Louisiana is $124,370/year ($59.79/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $166K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $142,495 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,191/month, or 15.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Louisiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $124K get you in Louisiana?
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Veterinarians pay in Louisiana tracks closely to the national median, $124K locally vs. $130K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,191/month, 15.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Louisiana
Entry-level veterinarians (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $124K. Top earners bring in $166K or more, a $101K spread from bottom to top.
Veterinarians salary by metro in Louisiana
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington | $129K | +3% | 130 |
| New Orleans-Metairie | $128K | +3% | 200 |
| Baton Rouge | $127K | +2% | 160 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City | $125K | +0% | 80 |
| Lafayette | $124K | +0% | 90 |
| Monroe | $117K | -6% | 40 |
| Lake Charles | $115K | -7% | 60 |
| Hammond | $112K | -10% | 40 |
| Alexandria | $105K | -16% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track veterinarians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a veterinarian afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $124K, rent takes 15.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for veterinarians in Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new veterinarians typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,881/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 31% 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 Louisiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $124K locally vs. $130K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for veterinarians?
Louisiana pays $124K median vs. the U.S. average of $130K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $142K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do veterinarians make in Louisiana?
The median is $124,370 a year, that works out to about $60 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,690, and experienced veterinarians can clear $165,560. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $124K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,588/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 15.7% 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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 $142,495 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.