Veterinarians pay range in Los Angeles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,410 a year or less, while the top 10% make $284,050 or more. The middle half of veterinarians in Los Angeles earn between $121,590 and $212,090.
- $67K10th
- $122K25th
- $160KMedian
- $212K75th
- $284K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $164,460 | $13,705 | $79.07 |
| Median | $160,080 | $13,340 | $76.96 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $121,590 | $10,132 | $58.46 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $212,090 | $17,674 | $101.97 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Veterinarians pay in Los Angeles vs. California and the U.S.
Veterinarians in Los Angeles earn 3% less than the California average ($169,860) and 15% more than the U.S. average ($142,680). At the median the gap is +23% against the U.S. median of $130,100.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $164,460 | $160,080 | $67,410 | $284,050 | 2,740 |
| California | $169,860 | $163,920 | $74,850 | $286,330 | 9,170 |
| United States | $142,680 | $130,100 | $73,920 | $215,700 | 83,900 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Veterinarians salary after taxes in Los Angeles
On the average salary of $164,460, a single filer in Los Angeles takes home about $112,472 a year, or $9,373 a month and $4,326 every two weeks. Taxes take 32% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Los Angeles a good place for veterinarians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Los Angeles area are 14% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 113.6), so the average $164,460 buys what about $144,814 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Los Angeles ($55,850). A typical home costs $968,608, or 5.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Veterinarians salary in other California cities
Los Angeles ranks 9th of 21 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($195,160).
- San Francisco$195,160
- San Jose$192,030
- Sacramento$177,250
- Santa Rosa$171,160
- Santa Cruz$170,430
- Napa$168,500
- Riverside$168,240
- Vallejo$165,130
- Los Angeles$164,460
- San Diego$163,070
Highest-paying cities for veterinarians
Anchorage, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($215,060).
- Anchorage, AK$215,060
- San Francisco, CA$195,160
- Tucson, AZ$193,390
- San Jose, CA$192,030
- Phoenix, AZ$186,840
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Veterinarians salary in Los Angeles: questions
How much do veterinarians make an hour in Los Angeles?
$79.07 an hour on average, and $76.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level veterinarians salary in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,410 a year and the 25th percentile is $121,590, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the veterinarians take-home pay in Los Angeles?
About $112,472 a year ($9,373 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $164,460. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do veterinarians earn more in Los Angeles than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% more than the U.S. average for this job ($142,680).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1131; area Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (31080). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.81, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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