Careers · Explore one path
Veterinarians
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.
Other titles employers use
Companion Animal Practitioner · Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) · Emergency Veterinarian (Emergency Vet) · Large Animal Veterinarian (Large Animal Vet) · Mixed Animal Veterinarian (Mixed Animal Vet) · Small Animal Veterinarian (Small Animal Vet) · Veterinary Medicine Doctor (DVM) · Veterinary Surgeon (Vet Surgeon)
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
- Examine animals to detect and determine the nature of diseases or injuries.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical, analytical and organizing work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Active Learning
- Speaking
- Science
- Critical Thinking
Subjects to know
- Biology
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Mathematics
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.4 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 4.0 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 5.0 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 4.0 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Data base user interface and query software
- Document management software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Presentation software
- Word processing software
- Medical software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 10,400
- Job openings each year
- 510
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 23.8%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 10,400 | 510 | 23.8% |
| Texas | 7,980 | 440 | 35.5% |
| Florida | 7,170 | 390 | 34.8% |
| New York | 5,380 | 70 | 14.7% |
| North Carolina | 4,430 | 220 | 26.2% |
| Virginia | 4,010 | 200 | 26.5% |
| Colorado | 3,970 | 220 | 37.8% |
| Pennsylvania | 3,970 | 170 | 13.8% |
| Ohio | 3,870 | 170 | 17.3% |
| Illinois | 3,660 | 170 | 18.4% |
| Washington | 3,610 | 270 | 29.9% |
| Indiana | 2,820 | 140 | 27.0% |
| Wisconsin | 2,790 | 120 | 15.8% |
| Georgia | 2,780 | 130 | 17.8% |
| Michigan | 2,750 | 130 | 20.1% |
| Missouri | 2,720 | 140 | 25.9% |
| New Jersey | 2,550 | 100 | 9.9% |
| Oregon | 2,490 | 130 | 31.1% |
| Minnesota | 2,410 | 110 | 21.7% |
| Arizona | 2,390 | 120 | 30.6% |
| Maryland | 2,230 | 110 | 23.9% |
| South Carolina | 2,200 | 110 | 25.7% |
| Iowa | 1,840 | 80 | 17.9% |
| Tennessee | 1,760 | 70 | 7.3% |
| Kentucky | 1,600 | 70 | 19.4% |
| Alabama | 1,460 | 60 | 15.0% |
| Oklahoma | 1,380 | 60 | 17.9% |
| Connecticut | 1,300 | 70 | 28.7% |
| Kansas | 1,190 | 50 | 19.0% |
| Nebraska | 1,090 | 50 | 21.1% |
| Louisiana | 1,010 | 50 | 20.2% |
| Nevada | 970 | 50 | 29.3% |
| Utah | 970 | 60 | 42.6% |
| Idaho | 810 | 40 | 30.6% |
| Massachusetts | 770 | 40 | 18.5% |
| Montana | 770 | 40 | 32.8% |
| Mississippi | 690 | 30 | 21.1% |
| Arkansas | 660 | 30 | 17.9% |
| New Hampshire | 650 | 30 | 20.4% |
| Vermont | 640 | 30 | 30.6% |
| New Mexico | 590 | 30 | 28.3% |
| Maine | 570 | 20 | 5.6% |
| West Virginia | 520 | 20 | 18.2% |
| Rhode Island | 460 | 20 | 15.0% |
| North Dakota | 400 | 20 | 21.2% |
| Delaware | 370 | 20 | 12.1% |
| South Dakota | 320 | 10 | 14.3% |
| Wyoming | 310 | 20 | 34.8% |
| Puerto Rico | 270 | 10 | 22.7% |
| Alaska | 220 | 10 | 10.0% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
The University of Tennessee-Martin
- Degrees each year
- 48
- Admit rate
- 87%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 25
- Admit rate
- 54%
- Annual cost after aid
- $26,000
Morehead State University
- Degrees each year
- 14
- Admit rate
- 82%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
- Degrees each year
- 5
- Admit rate
- 77%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Compare every college offering veterinary residency/fellowship programs