Veterinarian Salary in Traverse City, MI: $131,243 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time veterinarian in Traverse City, MI earns a median $131,243/year (≈ $63.10/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1131). Once you factor in Traverse City's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 93.4), that paycheck buys what $140,559 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.2% below the Michigan state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Traverse City, Michigan, veterinarians can expect a median annual salary of $131,243 in 2026, reflecting a slight decrease compared to the national median of $137,334. This regional salary reveals a range that spans from $82,210 at the 10th percentile to as much as $195,318 at the 90th percentile, according to projections based on 2025 BLS OEWS data. The local market appears competitive, driven by the production-based compensation model where earnings are closely tied to the revenue generated. With a projected growth rate of 5.56% annually over the next five years, aspiring veterinarians looking to practice in Traverse City may find promising opportunities amidst the evolving landscape of animal care.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $82,210 | $39.52 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $106,668 | $51.28 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $131,243 | $63.10 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $169,339 | $81.42 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $195,318 | $93.91 |
Median Salary Position
4.44% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Traverse City
In Traverse City, MI, the veterinarian salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $113,108 (2026 est.). At $131,243, the local median is 4.44% below the national median of $137,334.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Traverse City: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Traverse City Veterinarian Pay Compares
Traverse City median: $131,243/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Traverse City Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan Average | $131,506 | -0.20% less |
| National Average | $137,334 | -4.44% less |
Veterinarians in Traverse City, MI earn a median of $131,243 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.44% lower than the national median of $137,334 and 0.20% below the Michigan state average of $131,506.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Traverse City has a cost of living 6.63% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Traverse City, MI has a cost-of-living index of 93.372 (below the national average of 100). A veterinarian earning $131,243 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $140,559 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.1% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$91,226
2025 BLS Actual
$124,330
2026 Current Est.
$131,243
2019–2027 Growth
+51.9%
Salary Trajectory for Veterinarians in Traverse City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.56% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $91,226 | Actual |
| 2020 | $94,848 | Actual |
| 2021 | $95,919 | Actual |
| 2022 | $98,680 | Actual |
| 2023 | $113,818 | Actual |
| 2024 | $104,570 | Actual |
| 2025 | $124,330 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $131,243 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $138,540 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Traverse City metropolitan area, the median veterinarian salary grew 36.3% from $91,226 (2019) to $124,330 (2025). At a 5.56% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $138,540 by 2027 — a total increase of $47,314 (51.86%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Traverse City 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) | $82,210 – $106,668 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $106,668 – $131,243 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $131,243 – $169,339 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $169,339 – $195,318 |
DVM salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual veterinarian compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Veterinarian Job Market in Traverse City
With only 30 veterinarians currently employed in the Traverse City area, the job market remains relatively small yet specialized. The cost of living index in this region stands at 93.372, indicating an overall affordable environment, which translates to stronger purchasing power for professionals in this field. Among local employers, corporate practices like VCA and BluePearl—accounting for around 25% of the market—tend to offer higher compensation packages compared to independent clinics. The differences in pay can be attributed to various factors, such as specialty board certification and the move toward production-based compensation models. For veterinarians seeking to maximize their earnings, focusing on obtaining specialty certifications or aligning with corporate entities that provide attractive sign-on bonuses and equity opportunities can be effective strategies in Traverse City’s veterinary market.
More salary data for Traverse City, MI:
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 $124,330 for veterinariansin the Traverse City 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, 2-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