Veterinarian Salary in Blacksburg, VA: $111,155 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time veterinarian in Blacksburg, VA earns a median $111,155/year (≈ $53.43/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1131). Once you factor in Blacksburg's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 92.7), that paycheck buys what $119,895 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 12.2% below the Virginia state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Earning a veterinarian salary in Blacksburg, Virginia, involves navigating the dichotomy between corporate and independent practice structures, which significantly impacts pay levels. The 2026 median annual salary stands at $111,155, representing a notable distinction when compared to the national figure of $137,334. Salary ranges vary widely, with entry positions starting at $86,485 and top earners commanding as much as $215,923, according to estimates based on 2025 BLS data, projected to 2026. This growing salary landscape reflects the complexities of practice type and the competitive recruitment strategies employed by larger corporate entities, reshaping job opportunities for veterinarians in this area.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $86,485 | $41.58 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $88,660 | $42.63 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $111,155 | $53.43 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $158,857 | $76.37 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $215,923 | $103.81 |
Median Salary Position
19.06% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Blacksburg
In Blacksburg, VA, the veterinarian salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $129,438 (2026 est.). At $111,155, the local median is 19.06% below the national median of $137,334.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Blacksburg: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Blacksburg Veterinarian Pay Compares
Blacksburg median: $111,155/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Blacksburg Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Average | $126,600 | -12.20% less |
| National Average | $137,334 | -19.06% less |
Veterinarians in Blacksburg, VA earn a median of $111,155 per year (2026 est.), which is 19.06% lower than the national median of $137,334 and 12.20% below the Virginia state average of $126,600.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Blacksburg has a cost of living 7.29% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Blacksburg, VA has a cost-of-living index of 92.71 (below the national average of 100). A veterinarian earning $111,155 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $119,895 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.86% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$75,730
2025 BLS Actual
$105,300
2026 Current Est.
$111,155
2019–2027 Growth
+54.9%
Salary Trajectory for Veterinarians in Blacksburg (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.56% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $75,730 | Actual |
| 2020 | $61,850 | Actual |
| 2021 | $97,230 | Actual |
| 2022 | $96,280 | Actual |
| 2023 | $100,900 | Actual |
| 2024 | $104,300 | Actual |
| 2025 | $105,300 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $111,155 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $117,335 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Blacksburg metropolitan area, the median veterinarian salary grew 39.0% from $75,730 (2019) to $105,300 (2025). At a 5.56% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $117,335 by 2027 — a total increase of $41,605 (54.94%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Blacksburg 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) | $86,485 – $88,660 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $88,660 – $111,155 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $111,155 – $158,857 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $158,857 – $215,923 |
DVM salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual veterinarian compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Veterinarian Job Market in Blacksburg
As of 2026, Blacksburg sees approximately 60 veterinarians actively working within its confines. With a cost-of-living index of 92.71, the purchasing power for these professionals, while lower than the national average, remains reasonable. Corporate veterinary practices like VCA and BluePearl, which account for about 25% of the market, generally offer higher salaries compared to independent clinics, appealing to new graduates through lucrative sign-on bonuses ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 in certain shortage areas. The disparity in pay can also be influenced by factors such as specialty board certification in fields like surgery and internal medicine, alongside production-based compensation models. To maximize pay in this specific market, veterinarians should consider pursuing additional certifications and leveraging opportunities in corporate practice settings, where the compensation tends to be more competitive.
More salary data for Blacksburg, VA:
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 $105,300 for veterinariansin the Blacksburg 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