Veterinarian Salary in Bend, OR: $125,638 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time veterinarian in Bend, OR earns a median $125,638/year (≈ $60.40/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1131). Once you factor in Bend's price level (4% above national, BEA RPP 103.6), that paycheck buys what $121,264 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 6.9% below the Oregon state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Bend, Oregon, the 2026 median salary for veterinarians is projected to be $125,638, reflecting a challenging yet rewarding market for veterinary professionals. This figure, derived from the 2025 BLS OEWS data, indicates a salary range from $81,788 at the 10th percentile to $183,991 at the 90th percentile. As the veterinary field increasingly emphasizes specialty board certifications in areas such as surgery, internal medicine, and emergency critical care, those who obtain such credentials can command significantly higher compensation. Despite being lower than the national median of $137,334, Bend's salary figures illustrate a market that offers growth opportunities, especially for those engaged in specialized practices or corporate veterinary environments.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $81,788 | $39.32 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $106,510 | $51.21 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $125,638 | $60.40 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $161,327 | $77.57 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $183,991 | $88.46 |
Median Salary Position
8.52% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Bend
In Bend, OR, the veterinarian salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $102,203 (2026 est.). At $125,638, the local median is 8.52% below the national median of $137,334.
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At 40 hours/week in Bend: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Bend Veterinarian Pay Compares
Bend median: $125,638/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Bend Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon Average | $134,949 | -6.90% less |
| National Average | $137,334 | -8.52% less |
Veterinarians in Bend, OR earn a median of $125,638 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.52% lower than the national median of $137,334 and 6.90% below the Oregon state average of $134,949.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Bend has a cost of living 3.61% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Bend, OR has a cost-of-living index of 103.607 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $125,638 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $121,264 — a 3.48% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$73,740
2025 BLS Actual
$119,020
2026 Current Est.
$125,638
2019–2027 Growth
+79.9%
Salary Trajectory for Veterinarians in Bend (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.56% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $73,740 | Actual |
| 2020 | $75,580 | Actual |
| 2021 | $100,430 | Actual |
| 2022 | $98,420 | Actual |
| 2023 | $106,720 | Actual |
| 2024 | $106,160 | Actual |
| 2025 | $119,020 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $125,638 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $132,623 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Bend metropolitan area, the median veterinarian salary grew 61.4% from $73,740 (2019) to $119,020 (2025). At a 5.56% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $132,623 by 2027 — a total increase of $58,883 (79.85%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Bend 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) | $81,788 – $106,510 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $106,510 – $125,638 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $125,638 – $161,327 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $161,327 – $183,991 |
DVM salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual veterinarian compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Veterinarian Job Market in Bend
The local veterinarian job market in Bend employs around 140 professionals, suggesting a concentrated yet competitive environment. With a cost-of-living index of 103.607, veterinarians may find that their take-home pay does not stretch as far as in other regions. Employers that tend to offer the most lucrative positions include corporate chains like VCA and BluePearl, which constitute about 25% of local practices, as compared to independent clinics. Factors influencing the pay disparity in Bend include the market's demand for specialty veterinarians, production-based compensation models, and incentives like sign-on bonuses that can range from $50,000 to $150,000 for recent graduates. To maximize pay, aspiring veterinarians should consider obtaining specialty board certifications and exploring employment opportunities with corporate practices that may provide better benefits and salary structures.
More salary data for Bend, OR:
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 $119,020 for veterinariansin the Bend 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