Veterinarian Salary

Veterinarian Salary in Altus, OK: $115,751 (2026)

Quick Answer:A full-time veterinarian in Altus, OK earns a median $115,751/year (≈ $55.65/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1131). Once you factor in Altus's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 88.9), that paycheck buys what $130,204 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.2% below the Oklahoma state average.

$115,751
Median Annual Salary
$55.65/hr
Median Hourly Rate
$67,135
Entry Level (P10)
$179,414
Top Earners (P90)

Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

Veterinarian Salary in Altus, OK — 2026 est., based on 2025 BLS
Altus, OK veterinarian salary overview (2026 est., based on 2025 BLS)

In Altus, Oklahoma, the 2026 projected veterinarian salary is set at $115,751, reflecting a compensation structure influenced heavily by productivity and revenue generation. With a salary range spanning from $67,135 at the 10th percentile to $179,414 at the 90th percentile, veterinarians in this region face a compensation climate that significantly differs from the national average, which stands at $137,334. These figures are derived from state-level data and adjusted for local cost considerations, making them especially relevant for professionals navigating the unique job market in Altus. This information sheds light on the income dynamics for veterinarians in the area, illustrating their compensation in the broader context of the veterinary profession.

About the Altus Market

Salary estimated from Oklahoma average ($100,000) adjusted for local cost of living.

Salary Breakdown

PercentileAnnualHourly
Entry Level (P10)$67,135$32.28
Lower Range (P25)$90,195$43.36
Median (P50)(typical)$115,751$55.65
Upper Range (P75)$140,091$67.35
Top Earners (P90)$179,414$86.25

Median Salary Position

$67,135$179,414
City Median: $115,751
National: $137,334
P10–P90 Range

15.72% below the national average

2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Altus

Vertical bar chart of 10th through 90th percentile salaries for veterinarians in Altus. The median salary is $115,751, compared to the national median of $137,334.$60.4K$92.4K$124.4K$156.4K$188.4K$67.1K10th Pctl$90.2K25th Pctl$115.8KMedian$140.1K75th Pctl$179.4K90th PctlUS Median$137.3K

In Altus, OK, the veterinarian salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $112,279 (2026 est.). At $115,751, the local median is 15.72% below the national median of $137,334.

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

Salary Calculator

8 hrs (1 day)24 hrs (3 days)40 hrs (full-time)
$2,226
per week
$9,646
per month
$115,755
per year

At 40 hours/week in Altus: You'd be in the lower-middle range

How Altus Veterinarian Pay Compares

Altus median: $115,751/year (2026)

Compared ToMedian SalaryAltus Pays
Oklahoma Average$122,100-5.20% less
National Average$137,334-15.72% less
Horizontal bar chart comparing veterinarian median salary in Altus ($115,751) with Oklahoma average ($122,100) and the US national median ($137,334).Altus$115,751Oklahoma Avg$122,100-5.20%US National$137,334-15.72%

Veterinarians in Altus, OK earn a median of $115,751 per year (2026 est.), which is 15.72% lower than the national median of $137,334 and 5.20% below the Oklahoma state average of $122,100.

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary

$115,751
Nominal Salary
88.9
CoL Index
$130,204
Adjusted Salary

Altus has a cost of living 11.10% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.

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

The nominal salary is $115,751. After adjusting for a cost-of-living index of 88.9, the purchasing-power equivalent is $130,204, a gain of $14,453.$98.4K$113.3K$128.2K$143.0K$157.9K$115,751NominalSalary$130,204CoL Adjusted(CoL: 88.9) 12.49%US Median $137.3K

Altus, OK has a cost-of-living index of 88.9 (below the national average of 100). A veterinarian earning $115,751 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $130,204 in an average-cost city — an effective 12.49% boost.

Compare Purchasing Power

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2019 BLS Actual

$80,458

2025 BLS Actual

$109,654

2026 Current Est.

$115,751

2019–2027 Growth

+51.9%

Salary Trajectory for Veterinarians in Altus (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 Altus. Baseline $80,458 in 2025, projected to $122,187 by 2027.$72.1K$86.7K$101.3K$115.9K$130.5K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$80.5K$83.7K$84.6K$87.0K$100.4K$84.3K$109.7K$115.8K$122.2K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$80,458Actual
2020$83,652Actual
2021$84,596Actual
2022$87,032Actual
2023$100,383Actual
2024$84,285Actual
2025$109,654Actual
2026(current)$115,751Estimated
2027$122,187Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Altus metropolitan area, the median veterinarian salary grew 36.3% from $80,458 (2019) to $109,654 (2025). At a 5.56% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $122,187 by 2027 — a total increase of $41,729 (51.86%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Altus 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)$67,135$90,195
3-5 years (Mid Career)$90,195$115,751
5+ years (Experienced)$115,751$140,091
10+ years (Top Earner)$140,091$179,414

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

Veterinarian Job Market in Altus

The local job market for veterinarians in Altus is relatively niche, with only five veterinarians currently employed in the area. The cost-of-living index, measured at 88.9, suggests that while salaries may be lower than the national average, the purchasing power remains competitive due to reduced living costs. Among various employers, small animal companion clinics, particularly those under corporate chains like VCA and BluePearl, dominate, accounting for nearly 25% of the local market and often offering higher salaries than independent practices. Factors such as specialty board certifications and production-based compensation are key determinants of pay disparity. To maximize earnings in Altus, new graduates should consider the benefits of joining corporately managed practices, which often provide substantial sign-on bonuses in addition to competitive salaries—ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 in shortage areas. Embracing these job opportunities could enhance financial stability while contributing to the local animal health community.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do veterinarians make in Altus, OK in 2026?

The estimated 2026 median veterinarian salary in Altus is $115,751/year ($55.65/hour), based on estimated 2026 salary (projected from 2025 BLS data at 5.56% annual growth). Salaries range from $67,135 at entry level (10th percentile) to $179,414 for experienced top earners (90th percentile). This puts Altus at 15.7% 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 Altus, OK a good place to work as a veterinarian?

Altus veterinarian salaries are 15.7% below the national average and 5.2% below the Oklahoma state average. The metro area employs approximately 5 veterinarians. With a cost-of-living index of 88.9, your salary stretches further here than in higher-cost metros. Job availability depends on population density, the number of practices, and retirement turnover in the area.

Can veterinarians make $100K in Altus?

Yes — the median veterinarian salary in Altus is already $115,751, meaning more than half of veterinarians here earn six figures. Top earners (90th percentile) make $179,414/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 Altus?

After adjusting for Altus's cost-of-living index of 88.9 (where 100 equals the national average), the $115,751 nominal salary has purchasing power equivalent to $130,204 in an average-cost city. This means your dollar goes 12.5% further in Altus compared to the national average, making it an attractive location for veterinarians seeking strong real wages.

How much does a veterinarian make per hour in Altus?

Veterinarians in Altus earn a median hourly rate of $55.65, which translates to approximately $115,751/year for full-time work (40 hours/week, 2,080 hours/year). Hourly rates range from $32.28 for entry-level positions to $86.25 for the most experienced practitioners. Part-time and per diem veterinarians sometimes command premium hourly rates because practices need flexible scheduling coverage.

Related Pages

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AN

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 $109,654 for veterinariansin the Altus 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 Altus is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).

View estimation methodology

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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