Veterinarian Salary in Riverside, CA: $169,804 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time veterinarian in Riverside, CA earns a median $169,804/year (≈ $81.64/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1131). Once you factor in Riverside's price level (6% above national, BEA RPP 106.4), that paycheck buys what $159,527 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.7% above the California state average.
Official BLS data · View source
For veterinarians in Riverside, California, the projected median annual salary for 2026 is $169,804, positioning the region significantly above the national median of $137,334, reflecting a premium of approximately 23.64%. With a salary range from $86,813 at the 10th percentile to $288,400 at the 90th percentile, this data, derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys, indicates a competitive pay scale within the local market. Riverside's job market supports around 660 veterinarians, highlighting the demand for animal care professionals in the area. Specialty board certifications, particularly in surgical, internal medicine, and emergency care fields, often command higher pay, which adds to the variation in compensation in this vibrant region.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $86,813 | $41.74 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $131,581 | $63.26 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $169,804 | $81.64 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $226,057 | $108.68 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $288,400 | $138.65 |
Median Salary Position
23.64% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Riverside
In Riverside, CA, the veterinarian salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $201,587 (2026 est.). At $169,804, the local median is 23.64% above the national median of $137,334.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Riverside: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Riverside Veterinarian Pay Compares
Riverside median: $169,804/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Riverside Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $168,623 | +0.70% more |
| National Average | $137,334 | +23.64% more |
Veterinarians in Riverside, CA earn a median of $169,804 per year (2026 est.), which is 23.64% higher than the national median of $137,334 and 0.70% above the California state average of $168,623.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Riverside has a cost of living 6.44% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Riverside, CA has a cost-of-living index of 106.442 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $169,804 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $159,527 — a 6.05% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$130,250
2025 BLS Actual
$160,860
2026 Current Est.
$169,804
2019–2027 Growth
+37.6%
Salary Trajectory for Veterinarians in Riverside (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.56% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $130,250 | Actual |
| 2020 | $124,050 | Actual |
| 2021 | $99,200 | Actual |
| 2022 | $106,460 | Actual |
| 2023 | $128,460 | Actual |
| 2024 | $158,710 | Actual |
| 2025 | $160,860 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $169,804 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $179,245 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Riverside metropolitan area, the median veterinarian salary grew 23.5% from $130,250 (2019) to $160,860 (2025). At a 5.56% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $179,245 by 2027 — a total increase of $48,995 (37.62%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Riverside 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $86,813 – $131,581 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $131,581 – $169,804 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $169,804 – $226,057 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $226,057 – $288,400 |
DVM salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual veterinarian compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Veterinarian Job Market in Riverside
Riverside's cost of living index stands at 106.442, slightly exceeding the national average, which directly impacts the take-home purchasing power of local veterinarians. Among the various types of employers, corporate chains like VCA and BluePearl, which comprise approximately 25% of the market, tend to offer salaries that are more competitive compared to independent practices and mixed animal clinics, especially for those holding specialty certifications. The gap in veterinarian pay in Riverside CA is influenced by multiple factors, including specialty board certifications, production-based compensation models, and sign-on bonuses, which recently have ranged from $50,000 to $150,000 to attract new graduates in underserved areas. Practitioners aiming to maximize their earnings in Riverside should consider pathing into specialized areas or joining established corporate practices that offer robust production-based incentives as well as opportunities for growth through equity in practice ownership.
More salary data for Riverside, CA:
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
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. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $160,860 for veterinariansin the Riverside metropolitan area. A 5.56% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
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