If you are considering a career as a veterinarian, then you will likely want to know what kind of salary you can expect to make. Becoming a vet takes years of training and a lot of hard work and you can earn a respectable starting wage as a result, but once you have more experience, you can expect to earn some good money.
As well as experience, there are a few different factors that affect how much a vet will earn, so here’s everything you need to know about how much a vet can make in the UK.
Experience and specialism
The first thing to note is that, like most jobs, how much you make as a vet will be dependent on how many years of experience you have and, specifically for vets, what your specialism is.
For example, large animal vets tend to earn more than small animal vets, and the pay may be different if you specialise in an area of animal health such as cardiology or dermatology. The following salaries are the average for veterinary surgeons in the UK, and the pay will be different for other animal care roles such as veterinary nurses or technicians.
Starting salary for vets
In the UK, the starting salary for a new vet tends to be £25-35k per year. Even though it takes a lot of training just to become a vet, you need to get a few years of experience and some further training under your belt.
On this starting wage, you will likely be working long hours as well as some evenings and weekends on call, but all this experience is necessary in order to earn more down the line. It is also worth noting that veterinarians were found to be, on average, the highest-paid graduates in the UK in a 2019 study.
Further training
With further training and experience, a vet can make significantly more money. The starting salary can rise to an impressive £40-70k per year. Of course, this is dependent on what extra training and qualifications you have earned and, as mentioned earlier, will still be affected by the specialism you have chosen. The size and location of the practice you work in may also affect how much you make, with larger practices usually paying slightly higher wages.
Salary for experienced vets
The highest vet salaries go to the most experienced vets who can earn a very good wage. Depending on their practice, specialism, and position within a surgery (such as a partner), experienced vets can eventually make up to around £92,500 a year.
Becoming a vet is a long process, but also a rewarding one if you have a passion for animal wellbeing. As well as the varied responsibilities and fulfilling work, by getting experience and choosing a specialism, you can expect to earn a sizable wage befitting of the hard work you have put into your training.