Veterinarians pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,540 a year or less, while the top 10% make $276,230 or more. The middle half of veterinarians in San Diego earn between $124,530 and $199,580.
- $68K10th
- $125K25th
- $160KMedian
- $200K75th
- $276K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $163,070 | $13,589 | $78.40 |
| Median | $159,750 | $13,312 | $76.80 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $124,530 | $10,378 | $59.87 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $199,580 | $16,632 | $95.95 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Veterinarians pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Veterinarians in San Diego earn 4% less than the California average ($169,860) and 14% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $163,070 | $159,750 | $67,540 | $276,230 | 1,080 |
| 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 San Diego
On the average salary of $163,070, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $111,651 a year, or $9,304 a month and $4,294 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 San Diego a good place for veterinarians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $163,070 buys what about $145,745 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.7 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Veterinarians salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 10th 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 San Diego: questions
How much do veterinarians make an hour in San Diego?
$78.40 an hour on average, and $76.80 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level veterinarians salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,540 a year and the 25th percentile is $124,530, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the veterinarians take-home pay in San Diego?
About $111,651 a year ($9,304 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $163,070. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do veterinarians earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- 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 1.30, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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