Veterinarian Salary in Lake in the Hills, IL: $137,021 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time veterinarian in Lake in the Hills, IL earns a median $137,021/year (≈ $65.88/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1131). Once you factor in Lake in the Hills's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.1), that paycheck buys what $141,113 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.2% below the Illinois state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

Veterinarians in Lake in the Hills, Illinois can anticipate a median annual salary of $137,021 in 2026, reflecting projections derived from 2025 BLS data and adjusted for local economic conditions. The salary range for this profession spans from $79,472 to $212,382, indicating a significant degree of variability based on experience, specialization, and practice type. Important to consider is the competitive landscape shaped by corporate consolidation in veterinary medicine, which can influence compensation structures across clinics and hospitals. This market dynamic creates opportunities and challenges for veterinarians in Lake in the Hills, as they balance personal aspirations with the realities of a rapidly changing job environment.
About the Lake in the Hills Market
Salary estimated from Illinois average ($122,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $79,472 | $38.21 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $105,045 | $50.50 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $137,021 | $65.88 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $168,420 | $80.98 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $212,382 | $102.11 |
Median Salary Position
0.23% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Lake in the Hills
In Lake in the Hills, IL, the veterinarian salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $132,910 (2026 est.). At $137,021, the local median is 0.23% below the national median of $137,334.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Lake in the Hills: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Lake in the Hills Veterinarian Pay Compares
Lake in the Hills median: $137,021/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Lake in the Hills Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Average | $140,103 | -2.20% less |
| National Average | $137,334 | -0.23% less |
Veterinarians in Lake in the Hills, IL earn a median of $137,021 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.23% lower than the national median of $137,334 and 2.20% below the Illinois state average of $140,103.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Lake in the Hills has a cost of living 2.90% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Lake in the Hills, IL has a cost-of-living index of 97.1 (below the national average of 100). A veterinarian earning $137,021 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $141,113 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.99% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$95,243
2025 BLS Actual
$129,804
2026 Current Est.
$137,021
2019–2027 Growth
+51.9%
Salary Trajectory for Veterinarians in Lake in the Hills (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.56% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $95,243 | Actual |
| 2020 | $99,024 | Actual |
| 2021 | $100,142 | Actual |
| 2022 | $103,025 | Actual |
| 2023 | $118,829 | Actual |
| 2024 | $115,860 | Actual |
| 2025 | $129,804 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $137,021 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $144,639 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Lake in the Hills metropolitan area, the median veterinarian salary grew 36.3% from $95,243 (2019) to $129,804 (2025). At a 5.56% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $144,639 by 2027 — a total increase of $49,396 (51.86%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Lake in the Hills 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) | $79,472 – $105,045 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $105,045 – $137,021 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $137,021 – $168,420 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $168,420 – $212,382 |
DVM salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual veterinarian compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Veterinarian Job Market in Lake in the Hills
In the Lake in the Hills area, only six veterinarians are currently employed, highlighting a niche job market. With a cost-of-living index of 97.1, the effective purchasing power for veterinarians can be favorable when compared to national standards. Among employers, corporate practices such as VCA and BluePearl often offer the highest salaries, particularly through production-based compensation models that reward veterinarians based on the revenue generated. The disparity in pay can also be driven by factors such as specialty board certifications in areas like surgery or internal medicine, as well as opportunities for practice ownership and available sign-on bonuses, which can range from $50,000 to $150,000 for those entering shortage areas. To maximize pay in this market, veterinarians may consider enhancing their qualifications through specialization or seeking employment with larger corporate groups that tend to have more substantial financial resources.
More salary data for Lake in the Hills, IL:
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 $129,804 for veterinariansin the Lake in the Hills 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
Salary data for Lake in the Hills is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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