Veterinarians pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $89,130 a year or less, while the top 10% make $295,420 or more. The middle half of veterinarians in San Francisco earn between $138,880 and $243,550.
- $89K10th
- $139K25th
- $208KMedian
- $244K75th
- $295K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $195,160 | $16,263 | $93.83 |
| Median | $208,080 | $17,340 | $100.04 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $138,880 | $11,573 | $66.77 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $243,550 | $20,296 | $117.09 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Veterinarians pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Veterinarians in San Francisco earn 15% more than the California average ($169,860) and 37% more than the U.S. average ($142,680). At the median the gap is +60% against the U.S. median of $130,100.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $195,160 | $208,080 | $89,130 | $295,420 | 1,350 |
| 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 Francisco
On the average salary of $195,160, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $131,261 a year, or $10,938 a month and $5,048 every two weeks. Taxes take 33% 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 Francisco a good place for veterinarians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $195,160 buys what about $168,805 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.8 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 5.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Veterinarians salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 1st of 21 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 Francisco: questions
How much do veterinarians make an hour in San Francisco?
$93.83 an hour on average, and $100.04 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level veterinarians salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $89,130 a year and the 25th percentile is $138,880, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the veterinarians take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $131,261 a year ($10,938 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $195,160. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do veterinarians earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 37% 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.8%.
- 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 1.05, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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