Veterinarian Hourly Pay in Morgantown, WV: $67.50 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a veterinarian working in Morgantown, WV runs $67.50 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $140,384 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1131). Weighted against Morgantown's regional price level (BEA RPP 93.3, 7% below national), each hour of work buys what $72.32 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $84,234 per year.
Official BLS data · View source

In Morgantown, West Virginia, the projected median veterinarian hourly pay in 2026 is $67.50, positioning it slightly above the national median of $66.03 per hour. This competitive pay reflects the local demand for veterinary services and the growing complexity of animal healthcare. For those working part-time, such as veterinarians on a three-day work schedule, this rate translates into a viable income, particularly in environments like general practice exam rooms, surgical suites, or even university teaching hospital clinics. The hourly compensation ranges from $27.66 at the lower end (10th percentile) to $81.21 for top earners (90th percentile), indicating room for growth and specialization in various niches, including equine ambulatory services and referral hospitals. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS sources, highlights the economic opportunities available for practitioners in this profession.
Veterinarian Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $27.66 | $221.25 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $40.66 | $325.29 |
| Median (P50) | $67.50 | $539.96 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $81.21 | $649.66 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $81.21 | $649.66 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Morgantown
Based on $67.50/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $67.50/hr, a veterinarian working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Morgantown, WV can expect to earn approximately $140,390 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $80,994. With a cost-of-living index of 93.32 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Morgantown.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Morgantown
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,699.80 | $11,699 | $140,390 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,619.88 | $7,019 | $84,234 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $1,079.92 | $4,680 | $56,156 |
Compare DVM Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Veterinarian (Morgantown) | $67.50 |
| Veterinary Technician (National Avg) | $19.39 |
| Physician (National Avg) | $113.07 |
| Dentist (National Avg) | $87.53 |
| Optometrist (National Avg) | $64.22 |
Veterinarians in Morgantown, WV earn a median of $140,384 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.22% higher than the national median of $137,334 and 18.20% above the West Virginia state average of $118,768.
Veterinarian Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $67.50/hr = $84,234/year (purchasing power: $90,261).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $140,390/year (purchasing power: $150,434).
CoL index: 93.323 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$46.92/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$63.94/hr
2026 Current Est.
$67.50/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+51.9%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Veterinarians in Morgantown (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.56% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $46.92/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $48.78/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $49.33/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $50.75/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $58.53/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $36.63/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $63.94/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $67.50/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $71.25/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for veterinarians in Morgantown grew 36.3% from $46.92/hr (2019) to $63.94/hr (2025). At a 5.56% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $71.25/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 Morgantown 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 Morgantown
Part-time veterinarians in Morgantown can expect substantial differences in income compared to their full-time counterparts. For example, a veterinarian working 24 hours a week would see significant annual earnings, but not as high as those working full-time. In contrast, per diem veterinarian pay in Morgantown can reach $90 to $140 per hour in general practices and soar up to $150 to $250 for specialty relief services. Weekend emergency shifts at understaffed clinics may offer $150 to $200 per hour, incentivizing many professionals to enter agency work, despite the trade-off of losing benefits commonly associated with full-time roles. Hourly pay can also vary within different employer types in Morgantown; corporate practices often present more stable compensation tied with health plans, while independent clinics may offer more flexibility and higher hourly rates but fewer benefits. It's essential for veterinarians to adequately negotiate their pay based on their specific practice environment and expertise, taking all these factors into account while articulating their value proposition.
More salary data for Morgantown, WV:
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 Morgantown. 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