Veterinarians
SOC Code: 29-1131 Job Zone 5: Extensive Preparation Needed
Diagnose, treat, or research diseases and injuries of animals. Includes veterinarians who conduct research and development, inspect livestock, or care for pets and companion animals.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Veterinarians. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | $98,821 | $177,923 | $257,005 | $336,107 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $93,288 | $167,294 | $241,322 | $315,328 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $94,224 | $148,886 | $203,570 | $258,232 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $78,499 | $134,306 | $190,091 | $245,898 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $78,499 | $134,306 | $190,091 | $245,898 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $93,184 | $143,166 | $193,170 | $243,152 |
| Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $87,443 | $138,590 | $189,738 | $240,885 |
| Yuma, AZ | $88,504 | $138,590 | $188,698 | $238,784 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $111,946 | $153,962 | $195,998 | $238,014 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $92,706 | $139,589 | $186,451 | $233,334 |
H-1B Filing Data
Top H-1B Employers
| Employer | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Management International, Inc. | 68 | $155,165 |
| VCA INC. | 60 | $149,084 |
| North Carolina State University | 36 | $56,943 |
| University of California, Davis | 31 | $98,826 |
| VETERINARY EMERGENCY GROUP, LLC | 31 | $137,954 |
| Iowa State University of Science and Technology | 28 | $44,825 |
| Pathway Vet Alliance LLC dba Thrive Pet Healthcare | 22 | $191,517 |
| Cornell University | 19 | $52,138 |
| University of Illinois | 18 | $49,197 |
| A Caring Doctor (Minnesota), P.A. | 18 | $146,346 |
Filing Trend
| Year | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 58 | $120,558 |
| 2021 | 47 | $120,759 |
| 2022 | 63 | $123,991 |
| 2023 | 222 | $118,970 |
| 2024 | 304 | $137,407 |
| 2025 | 448 | $137,368 |
| 2026 | 55 | $148,064 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.1 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.1 | |
| Active Learning | 4.0 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.9 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 | |
| Science | 3.9 | |
| Speaking | 3.9 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 | |
| Writing | 3.5 | |
| Service Orientation | 3.4 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Medicine and Dentistry | 4.7 |
| Biology | 4.7 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 4.5 |
| English Language | 4.3 |
| Mathematics | 3.7 |
| Education and Training | 3.5 |
| Chemistry | 3.4 |
| Personnel and Human Resources | 3.3 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Post-first professional | 79.2% |
| Other | 11.7% |
| First professional degree (MD, JD) | 9.1% |
Typical Tasks
- Examine animals to detect and determine the nature of diseases or injuries.
- Treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds, or performing surgery.
- Inoculate animals against various diseases, such as rabies or distemper.
- Collect body tissue, feces, blood, urine, or other body fluids for examination and analysis.
- Operate diagnostic equipment, such as radiographic or ultrasound equipment, and interpret the resulting images.
- Educate the public about diseases that can be spread from animals to humans.
- Train or supervise workers who handle or care for animals.
- Euthanize animals.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Adobe Acrobat Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word American Data Systems PAWS Veterinary Practice Management Complete Clinic Eklin Information Systems VIA Henry Schein ImproMed IDEXX Laboratories IDEXX Cornerstone IDEXX Laboratories IDEXX VPM ImproMed Infinity InformaVet ALIS-VET
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