Veterinarian Salary in Bangor, ME: $134,832 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time veterinarian in Bangor, ME earns a median $134,832/year (≈ $64.82/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1131). Once you factor in Bangor's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 96.5), that paycheck buys what $139,711 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.4% below the Maine state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Bangor, ME, the median annual salary for veterinarians is projected to be $134,832 in 2026, reflecting a slight decline compared to the national median of $137,334. Within the local market, salaries range from $84,501 at the tenth percentile to $176,137 at the ninetieth percentile. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, highlights important nuances in the Bangor veterinary employment landscape. Notably, the corporate versus independent practice divide significantly influences pay rates, as corporate entities often provide structured salaries with benefits, while independent practices may offer flexibility alongside traditional compensation models.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $84,501 | $40.62 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $102,530 | $49.30 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $134,832 | $64.82 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $167,439 | $80.50 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $176,137 | $84.68 |
Median Salary Position
1.82% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Bangor
In Bangor, ME, the veterinarian salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $91,636 (2026 est.). At $134,832, the local median is 1.82% below the national median of $137,334.
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At 40 hours/week in Bangor: You'd be above the median
How Bangor Veterinarian Pay Compares
Bangor median: $134,832/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Bangor Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Average | $136,746 | -1.40% less |
| National Average | $137,334 | -1.82% less |
Veterinarians in Bangor, ME earn a median of $134,832 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.82% lower than the national median of $137,334 and 1.40% below the Maine state average of $136,746.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Bangor has a cost of living 3.49% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Bangor, ME has a cost-of-living index of 96.508 (below the national average of 100). A veterinarian earning $134,832 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $139,711 in an average-cost city — an effective 3.62% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$87,400
2025 BLS Actual
$127,730
2026 Current Est.
$134,832
2019–2027 Growth
+62.8%
Salary Trajectory for Veterinarians in Bangor (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.56% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $87,400 | Actual |
| 2020 | $97,510 | Actual |
| 2021 | $97,790 | Actual |
| 2022 | $115,500 | Actual |
| 2023 | $127,330 | Actual |
| 2024 | $120,040 | Actual |
| 2025 | $127,730 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $134,832 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $142,328 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Bangor metropolitan area, the median veterinarian salary grew 46.1% from $87,400 (2019) to $127,730 (2025). At a 5.56% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $142,328 by 2027 — a total increase of $54,928 (62.85%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Bangor 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) | $84,501 – $102,530 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $102,530 – $134,832 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $134,832 – $167,439 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $167,439 – $176,137 |
DVM salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual veterinarian compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Veterinarian Job Market in Bangor
Analyzing the local job market, Bangor employs approximately 50 veterinarians, and the cost of living index stands at 96.508, indicating a lower-than-average living expense that can enhance take-home pay. Among various employers, those operating small animal clinics, such as corporate chains like VCA and BluePearl, tend to offer the highest pay, sometimes enticing new graduates with sign-on bonuses ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 due to a current shortage. Factors contributing to the wide salary disparities include specialty board certifications, production-based compensation models, and the practice structure. To maximize earning potential in Bangor, veterinarians should consider additional qualifications, potentially specializing in areas such as surgery or internal medicine, and seek opportunities within corporate settings or mixed animal practices that value equity and performance incentives.
More salary data for Bangor, ME:
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 $127,730 for veterinariansin the Bangor 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