What is the average pay to be a veterinarian?

This depends a little bit on where you live in the country and what kind of practice you engage in. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reports that the average starting salary for newly graduated vets is $76,000 (1) . However, a vet who practice exclusively on horses earns less their first year out, $47,000 (2). The further you progress in your career the more you will make: a vet out in practice for 5-10 years or a vet who owners her own practice may make $120,000-200,000. If the vet specializes, which takes additional training after vet school, they could make $100,000-$300,000 (average $180,000), depending on the specialty and where they practice. (3)

One thing to keep in mind, is that most vets graduate with ten to hundreds of thousands of dollars in school loan debt. The average 2016 graduate was $141,000 in debt when they left vet school, with some students taking on $300,000 or more in debt.