Veterinarians Salary
The median pay for a veterinarians in Modesto, CA is $162,160/year ($77.96/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $74K at the entry level to $258K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.11), that's roughly $155,758 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,758/month, or 18.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $162K get you in Modesto?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Modesto’s Regional Price Parity (104.11). 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 Modesto
Modesto sits well above the national pay line for veterinarians, local pay runs about 25% higher than the U.S. median of $130K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,758/month, 19.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 104.11) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Modesto offers a genuinely strong financial position for veterinarianss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for veterinarians in metros near Modesto, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $160K | $141K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $208K | $180K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $160K | $143K |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $165K | $155K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Modesto, CA
Entry-level veterinarians (10th percentile) start around $74K. Mid-career wages sit at $162K. Top earners bring in $258K or more, a $184K 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 Modesto numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a veterinarian afford a 2BR apartment alone in Modesto?
Yes — at the median salary of $162K, rent takes 19.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,758/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for veterinarians in Modesto?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new veterinarians typically earn — is $74K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,440/month. At HUD’s $1,758/month FMR, rent would take 40% 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 Modesto?
Local pay is 25% above the national median — $162K here vs. $130K nationally.
How does Modesto compare to the national average for veterinarians?
Modesto pays $162K median vs. the U.S. average of $130K — that’s +25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.11), the purchasing-power equivalent is $156K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do veterinarians make in Modesto, CA?
The median is $162,160 a year, that works out to about $78 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $74,000, and experienced veterinarians can clear $258,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $162K enough to live in Modesto?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,198/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,758/month, which eats 19.1% 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 Modesto?
Modesto has a Regional Price Parity of 104.11 (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 $155,758 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.