Veterinarians Salary
The median pay for a veterinarians in Wisconsin is $108,780/year ($52.3/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $79K at the entry level to $160K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $115,319 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 17.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $109K get you in Wisconsin?
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Pay for veterinarians in Wisconsin runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $130K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,202/month, 18% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Wisconsin can be a reasonable trade-off for veterinarianss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level veterinarians (10th percentile) start around $79K. Mid-career wages sit at $109K. Top earners bring in $160K or more, a $81K spread from bottom to top.
Veterinarians salary by metro in Wisconsin
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $118K | +8% | 430 |
| Madison | $115K | +6% | 420 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $115K | +6% | 30 |
| Kenosha | $111K | +2% | 50 |
| Eau Claire | $110K | +1% | 40 |
| Appleton | $106K | -3% | 100 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $105K | -3% | 30 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $105K | -3% | 30 |
| Green Bay | $105K | -4% | 100 |
| Wausau | $102K | -7% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track veterinarians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a veterinarian afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $109K, rent takes 18% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for veterinarians in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new veterinarians typically earn — is $79K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,761/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is veterinarian a high-paying job in Wisconsin?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $109K here vs. $130K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for veterinarians?
Wisconsin pays $109K median vs. the U.S. average of $130K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $115K — below the national median.
How much do veterinarians make in Wisconsin?
The median is $108,780 a year, that works out to about $52 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $79,350, and experienced veterinarians can clear $159,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $109K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,683/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 18% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $115,319 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.