The role of a Veterinarian in the UK is both esteemed and financially rewarding. With pet ownership on the rise and increasing awareness of animal health, the demand for skilled veterinarians remains consistently strong. From bustling urban clinics in London to rural practices across the countryside, veterinary professionals are highly sought after. Clinics and animal hospitals compete to attract top talent, offering competitive compensation packages and opportunities for career advancement.
Veterinarian salary
Base pay £34K – £56K/yr
£44K/yr average base pay
The estimated total pay for a Veterinarian is £45,956 per year, with an average salary of £43,960 per year. This number represents the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated additional pay is £1,996 per year. Additional pay could include cash bonus, commission, tips, and profit sharing.
What do Veterinarian earn
How much does a Veterinarian make in United Kingdom?
£85,931/yr
Highest paying cities for Veterinarian near United Kingdom
- Doncaster
£87,595 per year165 salaries reported - Manchester
£87,584 per year244 salaries reported - Liverpool
£87,355 per year156 salaries reported - Edinburgh
£86,577 per year41 salaries reported - Glasgow
£86,364 per year107 salaries reported - Leeds
£79,717 per year169 salaries reported - Blackburn
£78,969 per year29 salaries reported - Coventry
£63,443 per year21 salaries reported - London
£46,658 per year134 salaries reported
What’s on Quora?
What is a veterinarian’s typical salary?
I am a locum vet. That means that I work part time, at different practices, a afternoon here and there, and sometimes for a week or more as a substitute vet. I can work as little or as much as I want. I earn relatively well per hour. This means that I have time to homeschool my children and still practice veterinary science.
In the last few years I have become increasingly disillusioned with vet practice due to the emotional stress I experienced in the work place. This includes having to do euthenasias, but also having to deal with difficult clients. Not having control over many things also contributed to my anxiety levels.
In general, women have more issues with this than men. Men seem to be better able to compartmentalize their lives. That makes for less crying on the way home, after another traumatic incident at work.
It has taken time, many visits to the psychologist, some serious soul searching, and the support of my friends and family, to get back to a point where I have started to work again. I’m also passionate enough to want to change things for the better and make a contribution to animal welfare that way.
That is why I think that becoming a vet, is a calling, and how much you earn should be last on your list of considerations, when you are contemplating to become a vet. If it’s money you are after, do yourself a favor and cross vet science off your list.
But if you want to become a vet, and are wondering if the pay is at least good, do proper research into what it’s all about. Seeing vets in action and experiencing practice life first hand is a good idea.
Top Answer
This is hard to answer clearly. The AVMA does a salary survey pretty frequently to assess the state of the US industry. I have not purchased the full study but they posted some information about starting salaries for new graduates (2015).
While new salaries grow, debt remains a drag
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics maintains information on veterinarians (just like many other jobs). You can find that here:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Overall, veterinarians in the US currently make decent money compared to the average Joe, not much compared to physicians, and they go through 4 years of post-undergraduate education at a cost of around $130,000 to achieve those salaries.
