Veterinarians Salary
The median pay for a veterinarians in Missouri is $114,660/year ($55.12/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $194K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $128,875 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,097/month, or 15.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $115K get you in Missouri?
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What this looks like in Missouri
Pay for veterinarians in Missouri runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $130K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,097/month, 15.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Missouri can be a reasonable trade-off for veterinarianss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missouri
Entry-level veterinarians (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $115K. Top earners bring in $194K or more, a $133K spread from bottom to top.
Veterinarians salary by metro in Missouri
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $122K | +7% | 750 |
| St. Louis | $122K | +7% | 810 |
| St. Joseph | $118K | +3% | 40 |
| Springfield | $103K | -10% | 140 |
| Joplin | $103K | -10% | 50 |
| Jefferson City | $101K | -12% | 50 |
| Cape Girardeau | $100K | -12% | 30 |
| Columbia | $100K | -13% | 140 |
Compare to other states
Track veterinarians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a veterinarian afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
Yes — at the median salary of $115K, rent takes 15.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for veterinarians in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new veterinarians typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,676/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is veterinarian a high-paying job in Missouri?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $115K here vs. $130K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for veterinarians?
Missouri pays $115K median vs. the U.S. average of $130K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $129K — below the national median.
How much do veterinarians make in Missouri?
The median is $114,660 a year, that works out to about $55 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,270, and experienced veterinarians can clear $193,860. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $115K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,030/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $128,875 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.