Veterinarian Job Description, Career as a Veterinarian, Salary, Employment - Definition and Nature of the Work, Education and Training Requirements, Getting the Job
Salary: Median—$66,590 per year
Employment Outlook: Very good
Definition and Nature of the Work
Veterinarians, also called doctors of veterinary medicine, study, treat, and control animal injuries and diseases. They immunize healthy animals against disease and inspect animals and meat products to be used as food. Veterinarians also perform surgery, set broken bones, establish diet and exercise routines, and prescribe medicines for animals.
Most people think of veterinarians as doctors who treat the family cat or dog; however, of the more than sixty-one thousand veterinarians that the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates are working in the United States, only about one-third treat small pets exclusively. Small-animal veterinarians usually have private practices. Many large-animal veterinarians are employed by farms, ranches, and even zoos. They immunize cattle and treat diseases contracted by the animals. Some veterinarians who specialize in the treatment of large animals are self-employed.
A large number of veterinarians are employed by federal and state governments as meat and livestock inspectors. Some of these doctors inspect all the meat that is to be fed to members of the armed services. Other veterinarians are employed by meat and poultry packing houses to inspect meat that is to be sold to the public.
Veterinarians also work for pharmaceutical companies, helping to develop drugs and vaccines for animals, and for the federal government's space programs. Some veterinarians are employed by universities in teaching and research positions. Much of the research currently being conducted by veterinarians involves studying the relationship between animal and human disease and how animal diseases are transmitted to humans.
Education and Training Requirements
To earn the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M. or V.M.D.) degree, candidates must graduate from one of the twenty-eight schools of veterinary medicine in the United States, or they may study abroad. To become licensed to practice veterinary medicine, candidates must also pass your state's oral and written licensing examinations.
A veterinarian examines a bulldog in his office.
Prospective veterinarians must have at least two years of undergraduate training at a college or university before applying for admission to a veterinary college. Preveterinary study should emphasize physical and biological sciences. Many students earn a bachelor's degree before they apply for admission. Because there are so few schools of veterinary medicine in the United States, it is very difficult to be accepted into a program. Only students with the best academic records are admitted.
Getting the Job
Many recent graduates enter the field by becoming associated with an established veterinarian. Candidates can contact local veterinarians, clinics, and animal hospitals and inquire about opportunities for employment. Those interested in a government job should apply directly to state and federal agencies that employ veterinarians. School placement offices may help graduating students find a job. Prospective veterinarians can also answer advertisements placed in newspapers and professional journals.
Advancement Possibilities and Employment Outlook
Veterinarians who are in private practice advance by expanding their practice and by developing a good reputation in their community. Those who work for government agencies or private corporations generally receive regular promotions. Some veterinarians who work for large organizations are promoted to supervisory or management positions.
Although there will be competition among graduates in establishing new practices, the employment outlook for veterinarians is very good through the year 2014. Veterinarians will be needed to treat the increasing number of household pets and to care for and prevent diseases in animals raised for food. Those veterinarians specializing in toxicology, laboratory animal medicine, animal behavior, and pathology will have increasing job opportunities. Farm animal specialists will also have better prospects, because most veterinarians prefer to work in cities.
Working Conditions
Veterinarians in private practice establish their own office hours, although they may be called out in the middle of the night for emergencies. Private practitioners often work well over forty hours a week, especially if they must travel to farms and ranches to treat animals. Most veterinarians work outdoors at least part of the time, especially those who treat large animals on farms.
Earnings and Benefits
Earnings vary depending on experience, location, and whether the veterinarian is salaried or in private practice. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income of veterinarians is $66,590 per year. The average salary for those working for the federal government is $78,769 per year. Benefits for salaried veterinarians include paid holidays and vacations, health insurance, and pension plans. Self-employed veterinarians must provide their own benefits.
User Comments Add a comment…
2 months ago
J Jones
I am very interested in working in this field. I am about to begin school to become a veterinarian assistant but I want to become a DVM in the future. I only have one problem, I have a felony convivtion on my record, to make matters worse it is a possession charge I acquired when I was a teenager. The conviction is 5 years old. By the time I was to complete all the required school the conviction would be 8-10 years old if not older. Does anyone know if a felony conviction will stop me from obtaining my license when the time comes? Please help me with this issue, I dont know if I need to give up my dreams or keep on trying...
11 months ago
Dr. Viram Khatri » vetdrakash ((at)) yahoo dot com
That's really a good idea to share the knowledge for being a veterinarian.
But there is still a need to share the careers in USA for foreign graduates.
Best wishes for joining this site. Dr. iram Khatri
11 months ago
nicole » unknowndoughnuts ((at)) yahoo dot com
this was mine i just finished. its sposed to be 12 font but 12.5 is easier.Veterinarians can get paid between $30,000 - $120,000. “Students interested in a career in veterinary medicine should begin their preparation by doing well in general science and biology in junior high school. They need to take a strong science, math, and biology program in high school. To be considered for admission to a college of veterinary medicine, a student must first complete undergraduate medical coursework, which usually includes three to four years of college study, with specific course requirements. Each college of veterinary medicine establishes its own requirements. Typical requirements include basic language and communication skills, social sciences, humanities, mathematics, chemistry, and the biological and physical sciences.”(Veterinary Education Website 2005)
Responsibilities vary on the type of field you chose. They should get to work on. They should keep their place clean and neat for the animals. They need to diagnoses and treats the diseases, injuries and disorders of animals. Perform surgery, supervise the shop and animals, and train new employees even. They might even have to put the animals to sleep.
Right now there is not a high demand for vets. However, “Employment of veterinarians is expected to increase for all occupations over the 2004–14 projection period. Despite this average growth, very good job opportunities are expected because the 28 schools of veterinary medicine, even at full capacity, result in a limited number of graduates each year.”(Job Outlook 2003) If you have the right education, you can easily become a vet.
The veterinarian turn-over rate probably depends on experience too but the job hob says “Average annual employee turnover at veterinary practices is at 29.7 percent, or about double the national average of 12 to 15 percent, according to the fifth edition of Compensation & Benefits, a guide compiled by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).
Broken down, that figure includes turnover rates of 20 percent for associate veterinarians, 13 percent for managers, 35 percent for technicians and 44 percent for other staff, with turnover rates reaching the highest in urban and mid-sized practices.”(Job Hob) It could be hard to move up in this career but it depends on what you are trying to do. Some vet’s day will just be to go to the office and give shots to some animals while some will have to do major surgery in the ER.
I was interested in this career a few years ago but I get dizzy at the sight of a lot of blood and I am terrified of shots, even giving them. I don’t think being a veterinarian would be the best job for me. I do like animals though so maybe some volunteer work at an animal shelter of babysitting a friend’s dog. Being a vet would be really sad sometimes. If an animal comes in that needs to be but down, I wouldn’t want to do it. I don’t like birds or cats really. Birds are meant to be free, not in a small cage. Cats can be feisty so I don’t want to go shave its fur and give it a shot.
Being a veterinarian sounds like fun but a lot of work. It would be cool to meat all those animals and their owners. Maybe I would meat a cat as fat as Garfield is. Or a dog as big as Beethoven was. Being a vet would not be my dream career.
12 months ago
nikki » hersheybar_2 ((at)) hotmail dot com
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about 1 year ago
Jami Whitehead » nikegrl92 ((at)) hotmail dot com
This site is VERY helpful. I have to write a report on what career I want to do. I've always wanted to be a veterinarian and this site has helped me alot. THANK YOU!! Jami
about 1 year ago
Keneesha » gentle-giant23 ((at)) hotmail dot com
This has all the basic information that I wanted to know about becoming a veterinarian.
about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
lynn » arieal_butler11 ((at)) yahoo dot com
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about 1 year ago
emily » ezez ((at)) hotmail dot com
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about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
Alex » ABCordero820 ((at)) yahoo dot com
I've been having a hard time deciding on a major, for i have just started college. This page was really informative. It brings op a lot of good points I can use to convince my family to help support me through vet med. thanks! :]
about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
Kirstin Tadlock » hyperjetic09 ((at)) yahoo dot com
Thank you for all your help. Not only did I need this information to do a essay it provided me more information that I need to proceed to get my degree in Veterinary Technology.
KT
about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
David21 » minet_david ((at)) hotmail dot com
when you are going into vet school, what would you put in your essay? i mean would you put " i think i should get in because i love animals or what"
about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
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Thanks for this website, its going to help me with my project for school. I love working with animals snakes, dogs, cats, anything. I would love to be a Animal Resucer but they dont seem to have a good description of there job on there sites, im glad i know others love animals just as much as i do.
about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
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Thank you so much or this site. It helped me with my report so much and Im gonna be a vet when I'm older. Thanks again!
about 1 year ago
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This website have helped me alot because when I finish high school I would like to become a professional Veterinarian. Even though I am in the 10th grade right now I am starting a head of time to fulfill my dreams.
Thank you
Love Jessica Ashley Williams
about 1 year ago
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about 1 year ago
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I am writting this because i wanted to tell you that this site was very usefull to me. I had to write a career report and i chose Veterinarians. I found all the answers to my questions. Thanks!
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