Veterinarian Hourly Pay in Champaign, IL: $54.06 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a veterinarian working in Champaign, IL runs $54.06 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $112,443 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1131). Weighted against Champaign's regional price level (BEA RPP 92.7, 7% below national), each hour of work buys what $58.31 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $67,463 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Champaign, Illinois, veterinarians earn a median hourly pay of $54.06, which is significantly lower than the national median of $66.03. This pay rate can inform those considering part-time or per-diem positions in various veterinary settings, such as general practice exam rooms, surgical suites, and specialty referral hospitals. For context, entry-level veterinarians can expect to start around $26.46 per hour, while highly experienced professionals in Champaign may earn up to $84.55 per hour. This hourly pay data, based on 2025 BLS OEWS data and projected to 2026, highlights a diverse spectrum of compensation reflective of both experience and employer type, which can vary greatly across the region.
Veterinarian Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $26.46 | $211.71 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $42.76 | $342.10 |
| Median (P50) | $54.06 | $432.46 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $65.53 | $524.25 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $84.55 | $676.43 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Champaign
Based on $54.06/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $54.06/hr, a veterinarian working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Champaign, IL can expect to earn approximately $112,439 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $64,869. With a cost-of-living index of 92.70 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Champaign.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Champaign
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,162.29 | $9,370 | $112,439 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,297.37 | $5,622 | $67,463 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $864.92 | $3,748 | $44,976 |
Compare DVM Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Veterinarian (Champaign) | $54.06 |
| Veterinary Technician (National Avg) | $19.39 |
| Physician (National Avg) | $113.07 |
| Dentist (National Avg) | $87.53 |
| Optometrist (National Avg) | $64.22 |
Veterinarians in Champaign, IL earn a median of $112,443 per year (2026 est.), which is 18.12% lower than the national median of $137,334 and 19.70% below the Illinois state average of $140,028.
Veterinarian Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $54.06/hr = $67,463/year (purchasing power: $72,773).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $112,439/year (purchasing power: $121,288).
CoL index: 92.704 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$45.86/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$51.21/hr
2026 Current Est.
$54.06/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+24.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Veterinarians in Champaign (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.56% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $45.86/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $47.47/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $46.08/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $46.56/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $46.98/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $53.90/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $51.21/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $54.06/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $57.06/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for veterinarians in Champaign grew 11.7% from $45.86/hr (2019) to $51.21/hr (2025). At a 5.56% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $57.06/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem veterinarians can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Champaign metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.56% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Veterinarian in Champaign
Despite the median wage appearing lower than national averages, many factors impact the real-world earnings for veterinarians in Champaign, particularly for those working part-time. A veterinarian working three days a week, totaling approximately 24 hours, could draw a salary that contrasts sharply with full-time colleagues. Moreover, per diem veterinarian pay in Champaign can reach higher rates of $90-$140 for general practice work and $150-$250 for specialty relief roles, such as surgery or emergency care. Variability in hourly rates also exists depending on practice type; corporate chains may offer more consistent salaries, whereas independent practices might provide flexibility alongside lower pay. These dynamics create trade-offs where veterinarians sometimes accept a lower wage in exchange for benefits like health insurance, particularly in a climate where corporate consolidation of veterinary practices trends toward tiered pay structures. Negotiation can play a key role in securing favorable hourly rates, so understanding one's worth and market conditions is crucial for veterinarians in the area.
More salary data for Champaign, IL:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Dr. Alice Nguyen, DVM
Career Analyst
Dr. Alice Nguyen has 10 years of experience in veterinary medicine. She specializes in small animal surgery. She currently works at a suburban veterinary clinic.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 5.56% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for veterinarians in Champaign. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.56%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for veterinarians (SOC 29-1131).
Compiled and verified by Dr. Alice Nguyen, DVM, a licensed veterinarian with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov