Veterinarians pay in California
$169,860avg. a year
$81.66 an hour · 9,170 employed
Veterinarians in California earn an average of $169,860 a year. That is $27,180 (19%) more than the U.S. average of $142,680. The best-paying metro area is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $195,160.
$163,920Median pay
$81.66Average hourly
+46%Avg. pay since 2020
#2Of 48 states + D.C.
Top-paying California metro areas
Average pay for veterinarians by metro area. Swipe to see all 21.
11,350 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$195,160
$93.83 an hour
2350 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$192,030
$92.32 an hour
3830 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$177,250
$85.22 an hour
4210 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$171,160
$82.29 an hour
5130 jobs
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
$170,430
$81.94 an hour
630 jobs
Napa, CA
$168,500
$81.01 an hour
7660 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$168,240
$80.89 an hour
870 jobs
Vallejo, CA
$165,130
$79.39 an hour
92,740 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$164,460
$79.07 an hour
101,080 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$163,070
$78.40 an hour
11120 jobs
Salinas, CA
$162,530
$78.14 an hour
12290 jobs
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$162,150
$77.96 an hour
13100 jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$160,850
$77.33 an hour
14120 jobs
Modesto, CA
$159,470
$76.67 an hour
1560 jobs
Chico, CA
$157,360
$75.65 an hour
1690 jobs
Stockton-Lodi, CA
$155,980
$74.99 an hour
17140 jobs
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$155,510
$74.76 an hour
1860 jobs
Redding, CA
$154,710
$74.38 an hour
19170 jobs
Fresno, CA
$153,870
$73.98 an hour
2050 jobs
Visalia, CA
$152,680
$73.40 an hour
21110 jobs
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$152,630
$73.38 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Veterinarians pay in California, charted
Pay over time
California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where California veterinarians work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $124k$124k–$134k$134k–$145k$145k+California
California vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $142,680 | $68.60 |
| California | $169,860 | $81.66 |
| Arizona | $187,410 | $90.10 |
| Nevada | $140,600 | $67.60 |
| Oregon | $133,560 | $64.21 |
Related jobs in California
- Registered Nurses$150,280
- Physicians, All Other$249,620
- Nurse Practitioners$176,760
- Pharmacists$162,340
- Physical Therapists$122,580
- Dental Hygienists$128,110
Average pay, California, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do veterinarians make in California?
The average is $169,860 a year, and the median is $163,920. That is $27,180 (19%) more than the U.S. average of $142,680.
What is the hourly wage in California?
$81.66 an hour on average; the median is $78.81.
Where in California do they earn the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($195,160), followed by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($192,030). The lowest average among 21 metro areas with data is San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA ($152,630).
How does California rank?
California ranks #2 of 49 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 29-1131. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national veterinarians page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.