Veterinarian Salary

Veterinarian Salary in Port St. Lucie, FL: $135,391 (2026)

Quick Answer:A full-time veterinarian in Port St. Lucie, FL earns a median $135,391/year (≈ $65.09/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1131). Once you factor in Port St. Lucie's price level (0% above national, BEA RPP 100.2), that paycheck buys what $135,083 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.2% below the Florida state average.

$135,391
Median Annual Salary
$65.09/hr
Median Hourly Rate
$65,753
Entry Level (P10)
$217,095
Top Earners (P90)

Official BLS data · View source

Veterinarian Salary in Port St. Lucie, FL — 2026 est., based on 2025 BLS
Port St. Lucie, FL veterinarian salary overview (2026 est., based on 2025 BLS)

Veterinarians in Port St. Lucie, Florida, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $135,391 in 2026, which is slightly below the national median of $137,334. Salary figures reveal a wide range, with entry-level veterinarians earning around $65,753, while those at the top of the pay scale can make as much as $217,095. These insights are derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) surveys. The presence of specialty board certifications, such as surgery or internal medicine, significantly contributes to the earning potential, creating a premium gradient in veterinarian pay in Port St. Lucie, largely influenced by the competitive job market for highly skilled professionals.

Salary Breakdown

PercentileAnnualHourly
Entry Level (P10)$65,753$31.62
Lower Range (P25)$90,940$43.72
Median (P50)(typical)$135,391$65.09
Upper Range (P75)$170,849$82.14
Top Earners (P90)$217,095$104.37

Median Salary Position

$65,753$217,095
City Median: $135,391
National: $137,334
P10–P90 Range

1.41% below the national average

2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Port St. Lucie

Vertical bar chart of 10th through 90th percentile salaries for veterinarians in Port St. Lucie. The median salary is $135,391, compared to the national median of $137,334.$59.2K$101.4K$143.6K$185.8K$227.9K$65.8K10th Pctl$90.9K25th Pctl$135.4KMedian$170.8K75th Pctl$217.1K90th PctlUS Median$137.3K

In Port St. Lucie, FL, the veterinarian salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $151,342 (2026 est.). At $135,391, the local median is 1.41% below the national median of $137,334.

Source: BLS OEWS projected to 2026. Percentiles reflect the distribution of veterinarian pay in the Port St. Lucie metro area.

Salary Calculator

8 hrs (1 day)24 hrs (3 days)40 hrs (full-time)
$2,604
per week
$11,282
per month
$135,384
per year

At 40 hours/week in Port St. Lucie: You'd be in the lower-middle range

How Port St. Lucie Veterinarian Pay Compares

Port St. Lucie median: $135,391/year (2026)

Compared ToMedian SalaryPort St. Lucie Pays
Florida Average$138,437-2.20% less
National Average$137,334-1.41% less
Horizontal bar chart comparing veterinarian median salary in Port St. Lucie ($135,391) with Florida average ($138,437) and the US national median ($137,334).Port St. Lucie$135,391Florida Avg$138,437-2.20%US National$137,334-1.41%

Veterinarians in Port St. Lucie, FL earn a median of $135,391 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.41% lower than the national median of $137,334 and 2.20% below the Florida state average of $138,437.

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary

$135,391
Nominal Salary
100.228
CoL Index
$135,083
Adjusted Salary

Port St. Lucie has a cost of living 0.23% above the national average.

Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.

The nominal salary is $135,391. After adjusting for a cost-of-living index of 100.228, the purchasing-power equivalent is $135,083, a loss of $308.$114.8K$125.6K$136.4K$147.2K$157.9K$135,391NominalSalary$135,083CoL Adjusted(CoL: 100.228) -0.23%US Median $137.3K

Port St. Lucie, FL has a cost-of-living index of 100.228 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $135,391 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $135,083 — a 0.23% reduction.

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2019 BLS Actual

$78,480

2025 BLS Actual

$128,260

2026 Current Est.

$135,391

2019–2027 Growth

+82.1%

Salary Trajectory for Veterinarians in Port St. Lucie (20192027)

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

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for veterinarians in Port St. Lucie. Baseline $78,480 in 2025, projected to $142,919 by 2027.$65.6K$88.1K$110.7K$133.3K$155.8K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$78.5K$95.9K$99.1K$102.5K$126.6K$131.9K$128.3K$135.4K$142.9K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$78,480Actual
2020$95,920Actual
2021$99,060Actual
2022$102,530Actual
2023$126,640Actual
2024$131,940Actual
2025$128,260Actual
2026(current)$135,391Estimated
2027$142,919Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Port St. Lucie metropolitan area, the median veterinarian salary grew 63.4% from $78,480 (2019) to $128,260 (2025). At a 5.56% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $142,919 by 2027 — a total increase of $64,439 (82.11%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Port St. Lucie metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 20262026 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

ExperienceEstimated Salary Range
0-2 years (New Graduate)$65,753$90,940
3-5 years (Mid Career)$90,940$135,391
5+ years (Experienced)$135,391$170,849
10+ years (Top Earner)$170,849$217,095

DVM salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual veterinarian compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

Veterinarian Job Market in Port St. Lucie

A total of 100 veterinarians are currently employed in Port St. Lucie, and the local job market exhibits strength, particularly in response to the increasing demand for veterinary services. The cost of living index in the area is slightly above the national average at 100.228, potentially impacting take-home purchasing power for veterinarians. Notably, corporate practices, such as VCA or BluePearl, often offer higher salaries compared to independent clinics, which dominate roughly 75% of the market. Factors like specialty board certification and production-based compensation models further drive the disparity between low and high pay within the profession. For veterinarians looking to maximize their earnings in Port St. Lucie, pursuing specialty certifications, seeking positions in larger corporate practices, and negotiating sign-on bonuses can be effective strategies in this evolving job market.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do veterinarians make in Port St. Lucie, FL in 2026?

The estimated 2026 median veterinarian salary in Port St. Lucie is $135,391/year ($65.09/hour), based on estimated 2026 salary (projected from 2025 BLS data at 5.56% annual growth). Salaries range from $65,753 at entry level (10th percentile) to $217,095 for experienced top earners (90th percentile). This puts Port St. Lucie at 1.4% below the national median. Full-time veterinarians typically work 2,080 hours per year, though many positions offer part-time schedules with flexible hours across multiple practices.

Is Port St. Lucie, FL a good place to work as a veterinarian?

Port St. Lucie veterinarian salaries are 1.4% below the national average and 2.2% below the Florida state average. The metro area employs approximately 100 veterinarians. With a cost-of-living index of 100.228, you should factor in higher living costs when evaluating compensation. Job availability depends on population density, the number of practices, and retirement turnover in the area.

Can veterinarians make $100K in Port St. Lucie?

Yes — the median veterinarian salary in Port St. Lucie is already $135,391, meaning more than half of veterinarians here earn six figures. Top earners (90th percentile) make $217,095/year. Factors that push pay above $100K include years of experience, specialty certifications, and working at high-production practices or large organizations.

What is the cost-of-living adjusted veterinarian salary in Port St. Lucie?

After adjusting for Port St. Lucie's cost-of-living index of 100.228 (where 100 equals the national average), the $135,391 nominal salary has purchasing power equivalent to $135,083 in an average-cost city. This means living costs in Port St. Lucie reduce the effective value of your salary by 0.2% compared to the national average — consider negotiating higher base pay or exploring nearby lower-cost metros.

How much does a veterinarian make per hour in Port St. Lucie?

Veterinarians in Port St. Lucie earn a median hourly rate of $65.09, which translates to approximately $135,391/year for full-time work (40 hours/week, 2,080 hours/year). Hourly rates range from $31.62 for entry-level positions to $104.37 for the most experienced practitioners. Part-time and per diem veterinarians sometimes command premium hourly rates because practices need flexible scheduling coverage.

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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.

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

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 $128,260 for veterinariansin the Port St. Lucie 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

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