Veterinary Salary Estimator for Current Students FAQ
Q: What is the AVMA Veterinary Salary Estimator for Current Students?
A: The estimator is a predictive tool for veterinary students that can help you address a wide range of decisions regarding your career path. It provides ranges of possible salaries for employment scenarios for veterinarians seeking their first job, based on historical data. Because it is based on historical data, it is not an indication of "what should be" but, rather, "what has been." Fourth-year veterinary students can use this along with other information sources to inform their first salary negotiations, as well as to make decisions regarding internships, post-graduate education and other options. First-through third-year students can use this tool to get an idea of possible salary ranges as they consider budgeting after graduation.
Q: Who should use the AVMA Veterinary Salary Estimator for Current Students?
A: This estimator is specifically designed for veterinary students, particularly fourth-year students. If you are a veterinarian with one to six years of work experience, use the AVMA Veterinary Salary Estimator for Early-Career Veterinarians.
Q: How should the AVMA Veterinary Salary Estimator for Current Students be used?
A: Veterinary students (zero years of experience in the workforce as a veterinarian) should use this estimator as one piece of information in an overall strategy for career management and salary negotiations. The estimator is designed to encourage you to think about the choices and factors that impact possible salary ranges, based on data collected from previous graduates. We encourage you to run multiple scenarios to see how various factors have historically influenced possible salary ranges. Rather than accepting the results of any scenario at face value, use the estimator as part of your individual strategy to advocate for yourself during salary negotiations or to help guide your career decisions.
Q: Am I guaranteed to get a salary that is within the range shown?
A: No. This estimator is a predictive tool that provides possible salary ranges based on historic trends. The results are a reference and are not intended to be used as recommendations or suggestions for a specific individual's salary. Actual salaries must be negotiated between the employer and the veterinarian, in light of all relevant factors. A salary may be more or less, given the facts of the particular situation.
Q: What's the source of the data used to develop the AVMA Veterinary Salary Estimator for Current Students?
A: The estimator is based on data collected from the AVMA Senior Survey, which has been compiled annually since 2001. The AVMA Senior Survey collects information from soon-to-be-graduates at U.S. veterinary colleges. The statistically significant factors used here from the AVMA Senior Survey are graduation year, age, entry into a post-DVM/VMD educational program, entry into private practice vs. public practice, species focus, geographic location of the practice, student debt load and hours worked per week.
Q: Why is age included?
A: Age has been found to be a statistically significant variable that historically has affected possible salary ranges for new graduates. If you are concerned about age bias, we encourage you to run the estimator with several different age scenarios to explore potential bias and determine how to use this information in developing your salary negotiation strategy.
Q: Why is the veterinary school attended not included as a variable?
A: The veterinary school attended has not been a statistically significant factor in predicting possible salary ranges. There is no evidence in our data that it is correlated to statistically significant differences in starting salary.
Q: Why do you ask about additional post-DVM/VMD education?
A: For veterinary students, the estimator produces a lower possible salary range for those pursuing post-DVM/VMD education. This adjustment is based on the AVMA Senior Survey data, which shows that starting salaries (or stipends) for those enrolling in advanced education after veterinary school are not, on average, comparable with those in private or public practice. This applies specifically to the salary for a graduate who is pursuing post-graduate education, NOT the salary range you may possibly receive upon completing that education. The AVMA Veterinary Salary Estimator for Early-Career Veterinarians indicates a higher possible salary range for many veterinarians who have completed post-DVM/VMD educational programs.
Q: Why do you ask about geographic location (ZIP code)?
A: Regardless of your profession, the area of the country in which you work has an effect on your possible salary range. A primary factor influencing this variable is the cost of living in that geographical area.
Q: Why does species focus affect salary results?
A: Data from the AVMA Senior Survey indicate that possibly salary ranges are impacted by the species focus of the clinical practice. The AVMA is not passing judgment on the suitability, future career opportunities or earning potential for any given species focus. If you are interested in pursuing a specific career opportunity, it's important to have an idea of possible salary ranges for budgeting and planning purposes. In some cases, salaries can increase with years of work experience. For salaries of veterinarians currently working in various species of interest with one to six years of experience, please see the AVMA Veterinary Salary Estimator for Early-Career Veterinarians.
Q: How does the number of hours expected to work in a week influence salary results?
A: For fourth-year veterinary students, there is a negative correlation between the number of work hours and possible salary ranges. We agree that this seems counterintuitive. Our research so far shows that for veterinarians already in practice, the trend is what you'd expect: increased hours are associated with higher salaries (Check out the AVMA Veterinary Salary Estimator for Early-Career Veterinarians to see it for yourself.)
It's likely that there's something else going on that is masking a separate, not-yet-identified variable (e.g., practice setting, number of doctors in practice). The data could also be a reflection that veterinary students who are anticipating longer working hours tend to get paid less overall. The best example of this involves intern hours, with the average intern working about 10 hours more per week than those in full-time positions with significantly lower pay.
Finally, the AVMA Salary Estimator for Current Students is based on data from those respondents to the Senior Survey who are planning to work full-time, defined as at least 37 hours per week. Entering fewer than this number of weekly hours may result in inaccurate possible salary ranges.
Q: What if I don't know how many hours per week I'll be working?
A: If you are not sure of your anticipated hours, we recommend using 40 hours per week.