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Sector

Careers in Veterinary Clinics

Veterinary clinics provide medical care for animals โ€” from routine checkups to emergency surgery. Almost entirely small practices with moderate credentials requiring professional degrees.

464K
U.S. jobs
In this sector
$53K
Median salary
Across all roles
Veterinary Clinics jobs by metro area
Bubble size = total employment
Veterinary Clinics employment by metro ยท ~393 areas
1.New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ7K
2.Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA5K
3.Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN4K
4.Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX4K
5.Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX3K

Jobs per 100K workforce โ€” measures industry density

1.Manhattan, KS326.9
2.Ames, IA304.1
3.College Station-Bryan, TX291.7
4.Corvallis, OR277.7
5.Athens-Clarke County, GA255.3
BLS OEWS May 2024
Understanding this Sector
What it's like to work in Veterinary Clinics

Veterinary clinics provide healthcare for animals โ€” there's satisfaction in helping animals, the variety of patients, and supporting the human-animal bond. Many find meaning in animal welfare and client relationships.

The challenge can come from emotional demands and economic limitations. Euthanasia is part of the job; emotional toll is real. Pet owners have limited ability to pay, constraining treatment options. Education is expensive; debt is significant. Physical demands of handling animals exist.

The field varies by setting and species. Small animal practice differs from large animal, equine, exotic, or specialty care. Private practice operates differently than corporate groups, emergency clinics, or shelters. Veterinarians have different paths than technicians or support staff.

For those who thrive here, the rewards are genuine: helping animals, variety of patients, client relationships, and work that combines medicine with animal care. If you love animals, can handle the emotional aspects, and want healthcare careers with furry patients, veterinary offers fulfilling opportunities.

How people break in

Veterinary assistant provides accessible entry. Vet tech requires certification. Veterinarian requires DVM (competitive admission). Passion for animals is assumed.

Work environment tends toward
DVM required for vetsEmotional demandsCompanion and large animalVet tech entry pathPractice ownership possible
Industries it connects to
AgricultureRetailResearchConsumer Services
Salary vs. national average
-25%
$53K median vs. $71K national
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0K$17K$37K$150K$239K*387 metro areas across 50 states, sorted by salary level โ†’
Salary range across all veterinary clinics roles
Where your dollar goes furthest
1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$91K
2. Boulder$78K
3. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$74K
4. Trenton-Princeton$70K
5. Durham-Chapel Hill$70K
BLS OEWS May 2024
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.

Median salaries range from ~$70K in mid-market metros to ~$103K in top-tier cities. But cost of living closes a lot of that gap โ€” metros with lower regional price parities often offer the best purchasing power.

Highest paying
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $103K
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ยท $87K
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $80K
Best purchasing power
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $91K adj.
Boulder ยท $78K adj.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $74K adj.
Most jobs
New York ยท 19M
Los Angeles ยท 12.3M
Chicago ยท 9M
BLS OEWS May 2024 ยท BEA Regional Price Parities

What the data says about this sector

Beyond salary and job counts โ€” signals that shape the day-to-day experience of working in Veterinary Clinics.

๐Ÿšช
Annual Quit Rate
Based on all Professional Services data
25%
Higher than average turnover. This could indicate challenging conditions, seasonal work, or abundant external opportunities.
โ†‘ 3%vs. 22% all industries
๐Ÿข
Typical Employer Size
Small-skewed
Small businesses dominate. More variety in roles but less formal structure and benefits.
97%
Small
<50
3%
Mid
50โ€“249
0%
Large
250+
๐Ÿ 
Remote / Hybrid Prevalence
mostly_onsite
Many roles can be done remotely. Location flexibility is a realistic expectation.
Mostly on-siteHybrid commonRemote-first
๐Ÿ“‹
Credential Density
Moderate
Most roles don't require formal credentials. Skills and experience matter more than certificates.
Few credentialsSome requiredMany required
๐Ÿค
Union Presence
Based on all Professional Services data
~1%
Minimal union coverage means compensation is individually negotiated. Know your market rate going in.
โ†“ 1%vs. 11% all industries
BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Union Members Summary 2024
Career Tracks

Career tracks in Veterinary Clinics

How jobs in this sector break down by function, and what they typically pay.

Healthcare ยท Healthcare consulting, medical device sales support, and clinical research. Business side of healthcare with clinical background.
22%
$56K median
Explore โ†’
Personal Care
15%
$37K median
Explore โ†’
Science ยท Research labs, testing facilities, and scientific consulting firms serving clients across industries with specialized expertise.
13%
$70K median
Explore โ†’
Admin & Office ยท Law firms, consulting, and agencies run on admin excellence. High expectations, fast pace, client visibility. You'll master systems and become indispensable.
8%
$46K median
Explore โ†’
Sales ยท B2B sales roles selling consulting, legal, accounting, and business services to corporate clients with complex, relationship-driven sales cycles.
7%
$44K median
Explore โ†’
Social Services ยท Private counseling practices, EAP providers, and social service consulting firms offering specialized support services.
7%
$98K median
Explore โ†’
Median salary for occupations employed within Veterinary Clinics. BLS OEWS May 2024.

Explore careers in Veterinary Clinics

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) ยท BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034
Truest editorial: Industry narrative, sector context, career track mapping, working signals analysis.