Veterinary Services — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the veterinary services industry earns $54,535 per year ($26.22/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$54,535
Avg Annual Pay
460,717
Total Employees
34,867
Total Establishments
13
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Veterinary Workers Earn?

At $54,535/year (equivalent to $26.22/hour for a full-time worker), veterinary services wages are below the national average of ~$65,000.

Lower wages in this industry are common in service-oriented or retail-adjacent sectors where entry barriers are lower. This can be an advantage for business owners managing payroll costs, but may contribute to higher turnover.

The typical veterinary services business employs 13 people. These are mid-sized operations where payroll is a significant but manageable expense.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

49.3%

For the average veterinary services business generating $1.4M/year with 13 employees at $54,535 each, total payroll represents roughly 49.3% of revenue. Labor is a significant cost but leaves room for other expenses and profit.

What This Means for Business Owners

If you're starting or running a veterinary servicesbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $70,896/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 13 employees = ~$708,955/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $26.22/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $1.4M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.

See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.

View full Veterinary Services revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do veterinary services employees make?
The average veterinary services employee earns $54,535 per year, which is equivalent to $26.22/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is below the national average of approximately $65,000.
How many people work in the veterinary services industry?
The veterinary services industry employs 460,717 workers across 34,867 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 13 employees.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).