Veterinarian Hourly Pay in Cedar Rapids, IA: $64.53 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a veterinarian working in Cedar Rapids, IA runs $64.53 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $134,230 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1131). Weighted against Cedar Rapids's regional price level (BEA RPP 89.0, 11% below national), each hour of work buys what $72.53 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $80,532 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Cedar Rapids, the veterinarian hourly pay is projected to be $64.53 in 2026, which is slightly below the national median of $66.03. This represents a noteworthy figure for part-time veterinarians, especially those working three days a week, who can still achieve a respectable income in a variety of settings, including surgical suites and general practice examination rooms. The hourly wage ranges significantly, from $38.62 for entry-level veterinarians to $85.37 for the top earners in the field, highlighting the diverse earning potential across the experience spectrum. Official projections based on 2025 BLS OEWS data suggest that veterinarians in Cedar Rapids have a solid pay structure, reflecting the local dynamics of veterinary services and the impact of various employer types.
Veterinarian Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $38.62 | $309.00 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $47.17 | $377.40 |
| Median (P50) | $64.53 | $516.23 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $78.17 | $625.34 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $85.37 | $682.93 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Cedar Rapids
Based on $64.53/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $64.53/hr, a veterinarian working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Cedar Rapids, IA can expect to earn approximately $134,220 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $77,435. With a cost-of-living index of 88.96 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Cedar Rapids.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Cedar Rapids
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,581.15 | $11,185 | $134,220 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,548.69 | $6,711 | $80,532 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $1,032.46 | $4,474 | $53,688 |
Compare DVM Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Veterinarian (Cedar Rapids) | $64.53 |
| Veterinary Technician (National Avg) | $19.39 |
| Physician (National Avg) | $113.07 |
| Dentist (National Avg) | $87.53 |
| Optometrist (National Avg) | $64.22 |
Veterinarians in Cedar Rapids, IA earn a median of $134,230 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.26% lower than the national median of $137,334 and 0.40% below the Iowa state average of $134,769.
Veterinarian Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $64.53/hr = $80,532/year (purchasing power: $90,523).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $134,220/year (purchasing power: $150,872).
CoL index: 88.963 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$42.00/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$61.13/hr
2026 Current Est.
$64.53/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+62.2%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Veterinarians in Cedar Rapids (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.56% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $42.00/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $44.50/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $47.82/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $44.91/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $49.78/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $55.82/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $61.13/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $64.53/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $68.12/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for veterinarians in Cedar Rapids grew 45.5% from $42.00/hr (2019) to $61.13/hr (2025). At a 5.56% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $68.12/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 Cedar Rapids 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 Cedar Rapids
For veterinarians considering a part-time schedule in Cedar Rapids, working just 24 hours a week could lead to an annual income of over $80,000, which is significantly less than full-time earnings but still competitive. The per diem veterinarian pay in Cedar Rapids can be especially lucrative, as relief and locum veterinarians often command rates between $90 and $140 per hour in general practices, while specialized roles can exceed $250 per hour. Employers vary widely, from corporate chains like VCA and BluePearl to independent clinics, and this variance can significantly impact hourly rates. Veterinary professionals may find themselves balancing the trade-offs between higher hourly wages without benefits and lower rates in positions offering health insurance. Local market conditions make negotiation critical; veterinarians should prepare to discuss their value proposition and leverage their skills to secure competitive rates.
More salary data for Cedar Rapids, IA:
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 Cedar Rapids. 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