Veterinarian Hourly Pay in Amherst Town, MA: $83.04 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a veterinarian working in Amherst Town, MA runs $83.04 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $172,728 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1131). Weighted against Amherst Town's regional price level (BEA RPP 100.2, 0% above national), each hour of work buys what $82.84 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $103,639 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Amherst Town, the 2026 median hourly pay for veterinarians stands at $83.04, a figure significantly above the national hourly median of $66.03. This higher compensation reflects the town's cost of living and its demand for veterinary services. For part-time veterinarians working three days a week, typically around 24 hours, the earnings can be quite substantial, particularly in settings such as general practice exam rooms or surgical suites where the work is often high-paced and rewarding. The hourly range for veterinarians in the area varies from $49.05 for entry-level positions to $104.62 for top earners, highlighting a well-defined pay scale amid a dynamic job market that includes roles such as university teaching hospital staff and those in the pharmaceutical industry. This data is sourced from the 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026.
Veterinarian Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $49.05 | $392.43 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $60.51 | $484.06 |
| Median (P50) | $83.04 | $664.35 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $84.33 | $674.66 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $104.62 | $836.96 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Amherst Town
Based on $83.04/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $83.04/hr, a veterinarian working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Amherst Town, MA can expect to earn approximately $172,732 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $99,653. With a cost-of-living index of 100.24 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Amherst Town.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Amherst Town
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $3,321.76 | $14,394 | $172,732 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,993.06 | $8,637 | $103,639 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $1,328.70 | $5,758 | $69,093 |
Compare DVM Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Veterinarian (Amherst Town) | $83.04 |
| Veterinary Technician (National Avg) | $19.39 |
| Physician (National Avg) | $113.07 |
| Dentist (National Avg) | $87.53 |
| Optometrist (National Avg) | $64.22 |
Veterinarians in Amherst Town, MA earn a median of $172,728 per year (2026 est.), which is 25.77% higher than the national median of $137,334 and 21.30% above the Massachusetts state average of $142,397.
Veterinarian Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $83.04/hr = $103,639/year (purchasing power: $103,388).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $172,732/year (purchasing power: $172,313).
CoL index: 100.243 (100 = national average).
2019 BLS Actual
$57.72/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$78.67/hr
2026 Current Est.
$83.04/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+51.9%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Veterinarians in Amherst Town (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.56% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $57.72/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $60.02/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $60.69/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $62.44/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $72.02/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $61.53/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $78.67/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $83.04/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $87.66/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for veterinarians in Amherst Town grew 36.3% from $57.72/hr (2019) to $78.67/hr (2025). At a 5.56% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $87.66/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 Amherst Town 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 Amherst Town
Exploring part-time hours, a veterinarian working three days a week could expect to earn approximately $96,000 annually, which allows for a favorable work-life balance compared to full-time roles. For those opting for per diem opportunities in Amherst Town, such as relief or locum work, the reality is often a pay scale that ranges from $90 to $140 an hour at general practices, while specialty relief roles can command $150 to $250 an hour. Different types of employers influence hourly rates; for example, small animal clinics may have different pay scales than equine or mixed practices due to corporate consolidation within the veterinary field, notably seen with companies like VCA and BluePearl. Many veterinarians face a trade-off between lower hourly rates that offer benefits versus higher pay without them, which can make negotiation tactics vital. To navigate salary discussions effectively, knowledge about local pay trends and the specifics of one’s qualifications can be essential, especially in the competitive environment of Amherst Town.
More salary data for Amherst Town, MA:
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 Amherst Town. 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, 2-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