Veterinarian Salary in California: $176,632 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across California's 157 metropolitan areas, the average median veterinarian pay sits at $176,632/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-1131. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $156,173 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Oakland ($212,816), Fremont ($208,122), San Francisco ($208,080).

Veterinarian Salary in California - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — California veterinarian salary overview (2026)

$176,632

Avg Median Salary

$84.92

Avg Hourly Rate

11,809

Metro Employed

157

Cities

In 2026, the average median salary for veterinarians in California is projected to be $176,632, which is significantly higher than the national median of $137,334—a difference of 28.6%. This disparity is influenced by various factors, including the state's high cost of living and a strong demand for veterinary services. The highest paying city in California is Oakland, with an average salary of $224,649, while Visalia represents the lowest at $140,785. The $83,864 gap between these cities reflects regional economic conditions, demand for veterinary services, and the differences in practice environments. California has specific state licensing requirements and scope of practice laws that can affect earnings. Veterinarians in the state often deal with a diverse range of animal species and specialties, which can lead to higher salaries in metropolitan areas. The job market for veterinarians is strong, with an employment projection of 11,809 professionals and an annual compound growth rate (CAGR) of 5.56% expected through 2026. Cities such as Fremont, San Francisco, Sunnyvale, and Santa Clara will experience salaries ranging from $206,244 to $219,694, further highlighting the significant regional differences in compensation for veterinary professionals across California.

California Veterinarian Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$84,377

avg across 157 cities

Median

$176,632

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$290,876

avg across 157 cities

Overall salary range in California: $64,677 (lowest entry-level) to $348,205 (highest top earner)

California vs National Average

California

$176,632

National Median

$137,334

California veterinarians earn 28.61% more than the national median (+$39,298/year difference).

California Veterinarian Salary Distribution (2026)

Veterinarian salaries in California range from $84,377 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $290,876 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $176,632. The California median is $39,298 above the US national median of $137,334. The average hourly rate is $84.92/hr. Approximately 11,809 veterinarians are employed across 157 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$108,739

2025 BLS Actual

$167,329

2026 Current Est.

$176,632

2019–2027 Growth

+71.5%

Salary Trajectory for Veterinarians in California (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.56% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$108,739	Actual
2020	$109,245	Actual
2021	$118,630	Actual
2022	$121,368	Actual
2023	$136,097	Actual
2024	$162,942	Actual
2025	$167,329	Actual
2026(current)	$176,632	Estimated
2027	$186,453	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median veterinarian salary grew 53.9% from $108,739 (2019) to $167,329 (2025). At a 5.56% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $186,453 by 2027 — a total increase of $77,714 (71.47%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California 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.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California

Oakland

78 employed · $108.01/hr

$224,649

+27.18% vs avg

Fremont

43 employed · $105.62/hr

$219,694

+24.38% vs avg

San Francisco

1,350 employed · $105.60/hr

$219,649

+24.35% vs avg

Sunnyvale

26 employed · $99.81/hr

$207,607

+17.54% vs avg

Santa Clara

32 employed · $99.15/hr

$206,244

+16.76% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in California

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Visalia	$140,785	-20.29%	$67.69
Lodi	$149,930	-15.12%	$72.09
Stockton	$152,028	-13.93%	$73.09
Bakersfield	$159,163	-9.89%	$76.52
Brea	$159,994	-9.42%	$76.92

Best Value Cities for Veterinarians in California

When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for veterinarians.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Oakland	$224,649	113.1	$198,629
Fremont	$219,694	113.1	$194,248
San Francisco	$219,649	115.613	$189,986
San Jose	$202,844	110.423	$183,697
Sunnyvale	$207,607	113.1	$183,561

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in California

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$84,377	$40.57	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$176,632	$84.92	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$290,876	$139.84	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 157 Cities in California

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Oakland	$224,649	$108.01	$130,296	$348,205	78
2	Fremont	$219,694	$105.62	$127,423	$340,525	43
3	San Francisco	$219,649	$105.60	$94,086	$311,845	1,350
4	Sunnyvale	$207,607	$99.81	$120,412	$321,791	26
5	Santa Clara	$206,244	$99.15	$119,622	$319,679	32
6	San Jose	$202,844	$97.52	$88,005	$341,233	350
7	Napa	$182,197	$87.59	$78,589	$282,943	30
8	Santa Ana	$178,672	$85.90	$103,629	$276,942	69
9	Folsom	$175,628	$84.44	$101,864	$272,222	17
10	Fontana	$175,366	$84.31	$101,712	$271,817	32
11	Irvine	$175,173	$84.22	$101,600	$271,517	72
12	Sacramento	$174,448	$83.87	$92,069	$311,001	830
13	Pomona	$174,318	$83.80	$101,104	$270,192	36
14	Simi Valley	$174,223	$83.76	$101,049	$270,045	23
15	Escondido	$174,181	$83.74	$101,025	$269,981	31
16	Santa Cruz	$173,984	$83.65	$72,235	$315,445	130
17	Fairfield	$173,868	$83.59	$100,844	$269,496	25
18	Roseville	$173,730	$83.52	$102,911	$269,280	35
19	Fullerton	$173,227	$83.29	$100,472	$268,502	25
20	Daly City	$173,077	$83.21	$100,384	$268,270	20
21	El Monte	$173,023	$83.18	$100,354	$268,187	20
22	Vista	$172,927	$83.14	$100,298	$268,037	24
23	Concord	$172,887	$83.12	$100,275	$267,976	29
24	Clovis	$172,628	$82.99	$100,124	$267,572	19
25	Garden Grove	$172,451	$82.91	$100,021	$267,299	37
26	Temecula	$172,410	$82.89	$99,998	$267,236	25
27	Santa Clarita	$172,295	$82.83	$99,932	$267,057	41
28	Salinas	$172,147	$82.77	$68,392	$277,602	120
29	Ontario	$172,092	$82.74	$99,813	$266,743	42
30	Lancaster	$172,069	$82.73	$99,800	$266,707	40
31	Inglewood	$172,069	$82.73	$99,800	$266,707	21
32	Anaheim	$171,988	$82.69	$99,753	$266,581	51
33	Corona	$171,852	$82.62	$99,674	$266,370	24
34	Richmond	$171,824	$82.61	$99,658	$266,328	25
35	Rialto	$171,742	$82.57	$99,611	$266,200	17
36	Torrance	$171,524	$82.46	$99,484	$265,863	26
37	Elk Grove	$171,197	$82.31	$99,294	$265,356	25
38	Modesto	$171,176	$82.29	$78,114	$272,767	120
39	Oceanside	$171,156	$82.28	$99,271	$265,292	28
40	Whittier	$171,106	$82.26	$99,242	$265,215	22
41	San Rafael	$171,093	$82.25	$99,234	$265,194	11
42	Rancho Cucamonga	$170,939	$82.18	$99,144	$264,955	46
43	Hayward	$170,843	$82.14	$99,089	$264,806	23
44	Woodland	$170,799	$82.12	$99,064	$264,739	15
45	Buena Park	$170,772	$82.10	$99,048	$264,696	20
46	Encinitas	$170,759	$82.09	$99,041	$264,677	16
47	Downey	$170,748	$82.09	$99,033	$264,659	22
48	Dublin	$170,651	$82.04	$98,978	$264,510	14
49	Redlands	$170,599	$82.02	$98,948	$264,428	16
50	Chino	$170,505	$81.98	$98,893	$264,282	17
51	Westminster	$170,452	$81.95	$98,862	$264,201	21
52	Santa Monica	$170,438	$81.95	$98,854	$264,180	20
53	San Mateo	$170,420	$81.94	$98,844	$264,151	21
54	Tulare	$170,372	$81.91	$98,816	$264,076	17
55	San Buenaventura	$170,312	$81.88	$101,463	$263,983	19
56	Mission Viejo	$170,198	$81.83	$98,714	$263,806	23
57	Moreno Valley	$170,196	$81.83	$98,714	$263,805	53
58	Pleasanton	$170,171	$81.81	$98,700	$263,765	16
59	San Bernardino	$170,014	$81.74	$98,608	$263,521	33
60	Pasadena	$169,930	$81.69	$98,559	$263,392	35
61	Santee	$169,810	$81.64	$98,490	$263,205	9
62	Riverside	$169,804	$81.64	$86,813	$288,400	660
63	Glendale	$169,657	$81.57	$100,052	$262,969	36
64	Mountain View	$169,571	$81.52	$98,351	$262,834	13
65	Pittsburg	$169,557	$81.51	$98,343	$262,813	19
66	Long Beach	$169,541	$81.51	$98,333	$262,788	89
67	Novato	$169,503	$81.49	$98,312	$262,729	11
68	Costa Mesa	$169,440	$81.46	$98,275	$262,631	23
69	Berkeley	$169,262	$81.38	$99,203	$262,357	23
70	Huntington Beach	$169,221	$81.36	$99,624	$262,292	50
71	Chico	$169,086	$81.29	$76,637	$261,525	60
72	Jurupa Valley	$169,071	$81.28	$99,302	$262,060	24
73	Hemet	$169,023	$81.26	$98,034	$261,985	14
74	Union City	$169,009	$81.25	$98,025	$261,964	11
75	West Covina	$168,990	$81.25	$99,128	$261,934	25
76	Los Angeles	$168,980	$81.24	$71,158	$299,843	2,740
77	Chino Hills	$168,942	$81.22	$97,987	$261,861	21
78	Chula Vista	$168,827	$81.17	$97,920	$261,682	51
79	Gilroy	$168,702	$81.10	$97,847	$261,488	10
80	San Diego	$168,632	$81.07	$71,295	$291,588	1,080
81	San Marcos	$168,609	$81.06	$97,793	$261,343	17
82	Tustin	$168,462	$81.00	$97,708	$261,116	18
83	San Ramon	$168,448	$80.99	$97,700	$261,095	19
84	Eastvale	$168,288	$80.91	$97,607	$260,846	10
85	Murrieta	$168,282	$80.90	$97,783	$260,837	25
86	Vacaville	$168,282	$80.90	$97,783	$260,837	15
87	Brentwood	$168,208	$80.87	$97,561	$260,722	13
88	Hesperia	$168,128	$80.83	$97,514	$260,598	14
89	Lake Elsinore	$168,115	$80.83	$97,507	$260,578	18
90	Citrus Heights	$167,901	$80.72	$97,382	$260,246	19
91	Redding	$167,851	$80.70	$80,901	$260,607	60
92	El Cajon	$167,750	$80.65	$97,295	$260,012	18
93	San Clemente	$167,700	$80.63	$97,266	$259,935	10
94	Santa Maria	$167,672	$80.61	$67,970	$274,963	140
95	Oxnard	$167,640	$80.60	$67,126	$295,631	290
96	Bellflower	$167,634	$80.60	$97,227	$259,832	11
97	Santa Rosa	$167,598	$80.57	$74,420	$305,417	210
98	Palmdale	$167,560	$80.55	$97,185	$259,718	29
99	La Mirada	$167,557	$80.55	$98,423	$259,715	10
100	Apple Valley	$167,527	$80.54	$97,166	$259,667	19
101	Menifee	$167,477	$80.52	$97,136	$259,590	20
102	Yucaipa	$167,407	$80.48	$97,096	$259,480	14
103	Norwalk	$167,396	$80.48	$97,090	$259,463	22
104	Yuba City	$167,326	$80.45	$97,050	$259,356	10
105	Rancho Cordova	$167,246	$80.41	$97,002	$259,231	20
106	Carlsbad	$167,222	$80.39	$97,440	$259,194	23
107	Montebello	$167,086	$80.33	$96,909	$258,983	16
108	Compton	$167,019	$80.30	$96,871	$258,880	25
109	Thousand Oaks	$166,962	$80.27	$99,091	$258,791	32
110	Porterville	$166,899	$80.24	$96,802	$258,693	11
111	Lompoc	$166,878	$80.23	$97,055	$258,660	8
112	Hawthorne	$166,619	$80.11	$96,639	$258,260	13
113	Antioch	$166,564	$80.08	$96,607	$258,174	17
114	Burbank	$166,550	$80.07	$96,599	$258,153	22
115	Vallejo	$166,479	$80.04	$73,903	$289,393	70
116	Fresno	$166,215	$79.91	$74,536	$260,248	170
117	Alhambra	$166,164	$79.89	$100,419	$257,555	13
118	Livermore	$166,164	$79.89	$96,375	$257,555	21
119	Orange	$166,114	$79.87	$96,347	$257,478	21
120	South Gate	$166,111	$79.86	$99,622	$257,472	25
121	Victorville	$166,074	$79.85	$96,324	$257,415	30
122	West Sacramento	$166,017	$79.81	$99,416	$257,327	9
123	Petaluma	$165,995	$79.80	$99,022	$257,293	12
124	Poway	$165,974	$79.79	$96,265	$257,260	8
125	San Leandro	$165,750	$79.69	$99,341	$256,913	23
126	Indio	$165,563	$79.60	$98,424	$256,624	23
127	Lake Forest	$165,563	$79.60	$98,424	$256,624	14
128	Carson	$165,270	$79.46	$98,462	$256,169	21
129	Rocklin	$165,243	$79.44	$98,403	$256,126	10
130	Newport Beach	$164,963	$79.31	$97,793	$255,693	12
131	Redwood City	$164,949	$79.31	$97,594	$255,672	13
132	Turlock	$164,909	$79.29	$97,508	$255,609	17
133	Manteca	$164,855	$79.25	$97,561	$255,526	13
134	Perris	$164,842	$79.25	$96,857	$255,506	12
135	Madera	$164,708	$79.19	$97,242	$255,298	8
136	Baldwin Park	$164,415	$79.04	$96,438	$254,843	19
137	Palo Alto	$164,415	$79.04	$96,605	$254,843	15
138	Lakewood	$164,348	$79.01	$96,461	$254,741	19
139	Hanford	$164,014	$78.85	$95,572	$254,221	10
140	Beaumont	$163,867	$78.78	$95,043	$253,994	9
141	Merced	$163,841	$78.77	$95,027	$253,953	20
142	Tracy	$163,827	$78.76	$95,338	$253,932	14
143	Alameda	$163,774	$78.74	$95,223	$253,850	12
144	Laguna Niguel	$163,734	$78.72	$94,966	$253,788	16
145	Milpitas	$163,654	$78.68	$94,964	$253,664	16
146	Camarillo	$163,307	$78.52	$94,718	$253,125	13
147	Oakley	$163,239	$78.48	$94,679	$253,021	8
148	Davis	$163,200	$78.46	$94,656	$252,960	14
149	Upland	$163,080	$78.40	$94,586	$252,774	18
150	La Habra	$162,839	$78.28	$94,447	$252,400	16
151	Lynwood	$162,772	$78.25	$94,408	$252,297	16
152	San Luis Obispo	$160,441	$77.13	$67,189	$248,319	110
153	Brea	$159,994	$76.92	$94,973	$247,991	10
154	Bakersfield	$159,163	$76.52	$64,677	$291,610	100
155	Stockton	$152,028	$73.09	$77,017	$283,682	90
156	Lodi	$149,930	$72.09	$88,267	$232,391	14
157	Visalia	$140,785	$67.69	$100,841	$270,487	50

More California Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore veterinarian hourly pay in California cities.

Oakland →Fremont →San Francisco →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new veterinarians.

Oakland →Fremont →San Francisco →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced veterinarians.

Oakland →Fremont →San Francisco →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do veterinarians make in California in 2026?

The average median veterinarian salary in California is $176,632/year across 157 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $140,785 in Visalia to $224,649 in Oakland. This makes California one of the higher-paying states, at 28.61% above the national median of $137,334. The state employs approximately 11,809 veterinarians.

What is the highest paying city for veterinarians in California?

Oakland offers the highest veterinarian salary in California at $224,649/year ($108.01/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Oakland ($224,649), Fremont ($219,694), San Francisco ($219,649). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for veterinary medicine services, and competition among employers for licensed veterinarians.

How does California veterinarian pay compare to the national average?

California's average veterinarian salary of $176,632 is 28.61% above the national median of $137,334 in 2026. The state employs approximately 11,809 veterinarians across 157 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level veterinarian salary in California?

Entry-level veterinarians (10th percentile) in California earn approximately $84,377/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $64,677 in lower-paying areas to $130,296 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many veterinarians are employed in California?

California employs approximately 11,809 veterinarians across 157 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes California one of the larger employers of veterinarians nationally. Demand continues to grow as the veterinary medicine field expands and the population ages.

Which California city offers the best value for veterinarians?

When adjusted for cost of living, Oakland offers the highest purchasing power for veterinarians in California, with an adjusted salary of $198,629 (nominal: $224,649, CoL index: 113.1). This means your dollar goes 12% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.

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.

Clinically reviewed by Dr. Samuel Patel, DVMData verified by Dr. Maria Gomez, DVM

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary 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 each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 veterinarian compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 157 metro areas — larger metro areas with more veterinarianscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). 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

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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