Veterinarian Salary in South Portland, ME: $137,681 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time veterinarian in South Portland, ME earns a median $137,681/year (≈ $66.20/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1131). Once you factor in South Portland's price level (0% above national, BEA RPP 99.6), that paycheck buys what $138,234 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.7% above the Maine state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Veterinarians in South Portland, ME, can expect a median annual salary of $137,681 in 2026, reflecting a competitive figure when compared to the national median of $137,334, translating to a slight local advantage. The overall salary range ranges from $85,288 at the 10th percentile to $213,405 at the 90th percentile, with specific nuances concerning practice type influencing pay rates. As corporate consolidation reshapes the veterinary industry, those in corporate settings often receive structured salaries that might lack the flexibility of independent practices but may include benefits and pathways to partnership. This structural divide is central to understanding how salary figures manifest in the city’s job market.
About the South Portland Market
Salary estimated from Maine average ($116,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $85,288 | $41.00 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $108,771 | $52.29 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $137,681 | $66.20 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $175,219 | $84.24 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $213,405 | $102.59 |
Median Salary Position
0.25% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in South Portland
In South Portland, ME, the veterinarian salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $128,117 (2026 est.). At $137,681, the local median is 0.25% above the national median of $137,334.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in South Portland: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How South Portland Veterinarian Pay Compares
South Portland median: $137,681/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | South Portland Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Average | $136,724 | +0.70% more |
| National Average | $137,334 | +0.25% more |
Veterinarians in South Portland, ME earn a median of $137,681 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.25% higher than the national median of $137,334 and 0.70% above the Maine state average of $136,724.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
South Portland has a cost of living 0.40% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
South Portland, ME has a cost-of-living index of 99.6 (below the national average of 100). A veterinarian earning $137,681 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $138,234 in an average-cost city — an effective 0.4% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$95,701
2025 BLS Actual
$130,429
2026 Current Est.
$137,681
2019–2027 Growth
+51.9%
Salary Trajectory for Veterinarians in South Portland (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.56% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $95,701 | Actual |
| 2020 | $99,501 | Actual |
| 2021 | $100,624 | Actual |
| 2022 | $103,521 | Actual |
| 2023 | $119,401 | Actual |
| 2024 | $111,590 | Actual |
| 2025 | $130,429 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $137,681 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $145,336 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the South Portland metropolitan area, the median veterinarian salary grew 36.3% from $95,701 (2019) to $130,429 (2025). At a 5.56% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $145,336 by 2027 — a total increase of $49,635 (51.86%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the South Portland 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) | $85,288 – $108,771 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $108,771 – $137,681 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $137,681 – $175,219 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $175,219 – $213,405 |
DVM salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual veterinarian compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Veterinarian Job Market in South Portland
With only four veterinarians currently employed in South Portland, the local job market remains relatively narrow. The area's cost-of-living index sits at 99.6, slightly below the national average, which can affect the purchasing power of veterinarian pay in South Portland. Specialty practices, particularly in surgery or internal medicine, offer the potential for the highest salaries, often utilizing production-based compensation models that reward revenue generation within clinics. Conversely, veterinarians in small animal clinics owned by corporate chains, which command about 25% of the market, may experience variations in pay based on corporate policies versus independent practice rewards like ownership equity or sign-on bonuses. Those seeking higher compensation may benefit from pursuing board certification or considering positions within specialty referral hospitals, where demand and pay for skilled veterinarians remain robust.
More salary data for South Portland, 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 $130,429 for veterinariansin the South Portland 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 South Portland 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