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Some 59,700 veterinarians were employed in 2008. Most were of them self-employed or were salaried employees of a veterinary practice. Other employers of veterinarians include the U.S. government, chiefly the Departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security; state and local governments; colleges of veterinary medicine; medical schools; research laboratories; animal-food companies; and pharmaceutical companies. A few veterinarians work full-time for zoos, but most zoo veterinarians are private practitioners providing part-time services.

Through 2018, veterinary medicine is expected to be one of the fastest growing professions, increasing much faster than the average rate for all occupations. Surveys and projections indicate a steady demand for veterinary medical services. Because there are only twenty-eight schools of veterinary medicine, there are a limited number of graduates each year. Those newly minted veterinarians can expect very good job opportunities, not only in private practice but also in animal welfare, in areas associated with biomedical and environmental quality, biosecurity, public health, regulatory medicine, and agricultural-animal health.

Quality of pet food and human health are also concerns that involve veterinarians, so jobs in those fields will likely increase as well. If you have an interest in working for the federal or state government, seek training in food safety, animal health and welfare, and public health and epidemiology. A currently inadequate supply of veterinarians in food-supply medicine (that is, dealing with animals used for food), biomedical research, public health, large-animal medicine, and companion-animal medicine means that good jobs will be available in those areas.

Veterinary medicine is a career in transition. Societal changes in demographics as well as approaches to politics, the environment, the economy, technology, and disease will all significantly affect the future of veterinary medicine and the education of veterinary students. Their concern for the health and well-being of animals, as well as their relationships with people, makes veterinarians critical to public health not only locally but also nationally and internationally. The convergence of animal health and public health in the area of zoonotic and newly emerging diseases is a critical link to societal well-being, according to a 2007 report in the Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, which states that research in veterinary science transcends species boundaries and is critical to the protection of public health. The need for good veterinarians has never been more important.

As in most professions, salaries depend on the chosen field, time since graduation, and geographic location. Small-animal veterinarians tend to make slightly more than large-animal veterinarians, and veterinarians on the East and West Coasts tend to make more than those in the South or Midwest. A veterinarian in Los Angeles might have a salary range of $66,000 to more than $94,000. Of course, living expenses in areas are also different, so such variations are not always as significant as they appear.

New graduates who enter private practice can expect an average starting salary of about $65,000 per year. For most veterinarians in the United States, that salary increases to more than $70,000 per year within a few years. Veterinary salaries range from $41,635 to more than $143,660. In 2009, the average annual salary for veterinarians in the federal government was approximately $93,500.

For veterinarians employed by a clinic or animal hospital, other factors to look at beyond salary are the length of the work week, the option for buy-in or corporation-share ownership, and the benefits package, which might include such things as a 401K match, health insurance with a health savings account, dental insurance, or a continuing-education stipend.

While compensation varies significantly, superior professional service usually is rewarded by an appropriate income. But the greatest reward for most veterinarians, is not measured in dollars. Says Perea, “The best thing about being a veterinarian is seeing the positive results you can have in individual pet’s and people’s lives. It is great to see a sick pet recover, and see how you are able to help out an important family member.”

BECOMING A VETERINARIAN RESOURCES

 American Animal Hospital Association, http://aahanet.org/OtherSites/jobbank.aspx

 American Association of Housecall Veterinarians, www.homevets.org

 American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians, www.aawv.net/index.html

 American Veterinary Medical Association, www.avma.org

 Arizona Animal Welfare League and SPCA, Camp Vet, www.aawl.org/ed/ED_Camp_Vet_Summer.asp

 Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, www.aavmc.org

 Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Adventures in Veterinary Medicine program, www.tufts.edu/vet/avm/

 University of California, Davis, Koret Shelter Medicine Program, www.sheltermedicine.com

 University of Florida, Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program, www.ufsheltermedicine.com

 University of Florida, Veterinary Forensic Science Distance Education, www.forensicscience.ufl.edu

See appendix for a list of veterinary colleges.