Veterinarian Hourly Pay in Salt Lake City, UT: $62.69 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a veterinarian working in Salt Lake City, UT runs $62.69 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $130,388 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1131). Weighted against Salt Lake City's regional price level (BEA RPP 100.9, 1% above national), each hour of work buys what $62.15 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $78,240 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Salt Lake City, the veterinarian hourly pay is projected to reach $62.69 by 2026, slightly below the national hourly median of $66.03. For veterinarians working part-time, such as those who operate three days a week, this hourly rate translates to significant income depending on the number of hours worked. In diverse settings, ranging from general practices to specialty hospitals and even university clinics, hourly earnings can span from $40.54 at the entry-level (P10) to $109.77 for experienced professionals (P90). This broad range illustrates the varying demands and responsibilities that veterinarians in Salt Lake City encounter, impacting their pay structures and work-life balance, especially for those pursuing per-diem opportunities in the field.
Veterinarian Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $40.54 | $324.28 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $51.03 | $408.22 |
| Median (P50) | $62.69 | $501.54 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $85.94 | $687.49 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $109.77 | $878.17 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Salt Lake City
Based on $62.69/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $62.69/hr, a veterinarian working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Salt Lake City, UT can expect to earn approximately $130,400 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $75,231. With a cost-of-living index of 100.87 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Salt Lake City.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Salt Lake City
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,507.68 | $10,867 | $130,400 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,504.61 | $6,520 | $78,240 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $1,003.07 | $4,347 | $52,160 |
Compare DVM Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Veterinarian (Salt Lake City) | $62.69 |
| Veterinary Technician (National Avg) | $19.39 |
| Physician (National Avg) | $113.07 |
| Dentist (National Avg) | $87.53 |
| Optometrist (National Avg) | $64.22 |
Veterinarians in Salt Lake City, UT earn a median of $130,388 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.06% lower than the national median of $137,334 and 3.20% below the Utah state average of $134,698.
Veterinarian Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $62.69/hr = $78,240/year (purchasing power: $77,566).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $130,400/year (purchasing power: $129,277).
CoL index: 100.868 (100 = national average).
2019 BLS Actual
$40.27/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$59.39/hr
2026 Current Est.
$62.69/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+64.3%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Veterinarians in Salt Lake City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.56% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $40.27/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $41.04/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $48.70/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $49.58/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $58.41/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $61.30/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $59.39/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $62.69/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $66.18/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for veterinarians in Salt Lake City grew 47.5% from $40.27/hr (2019) to $59.39/hr (2025). At a 5.56% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $66.18/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 Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City
In considering part-time arrangements, a veterinarian working 24 hours across three days would take home approximately $77,047 annually, a figure that shows the potential for flexibility in the profession. Per diem veterinarian pay in Salt Lake City can be particularly lucrative; relief veterinarians at general practices often charge between $90 and $140 per hour, while those offering specialized services may see rates as high as $250. Furthermore, salary variations exist depending on the type of employer. For instance, large corporate chains like VCA and BluePearl, which dominate around 25% of the local market, may offer more stable benefits in exchange for slightly lower pay compared to independent practices. Those negotiating hourly compensation should consider these factors thoroughly, weighing the stability provided by corporate employment against the higher pay available through locum tenens positions, especially as corporate consolidation influences pay scales and job opportunities in Salt Lake City.
More salary data for Salt Lake City, UT:
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 Salt Lake City. 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