Veterinarian
Nature of the work
- take care of sick animals
- dress wounds, set broken bones
- perform surgery on animals
- prescribe medicines
- give vaccinations
Work Enviornment
- animal clinic/hospital
- noisy
- large animal vets practice in mobile offices and come to their patients
- risk of being kicked, bitten, or scratched
- most vets work 50+ hours a week
- people owning private practices may work nights and also weekends
- veterinarians are mainly employed in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, Public Administration and Safety and Education and Training
Training Required
- vets must be licensed
- obtain a license, applicants must have a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M. or V.M.D.) degree from an accredited college of veterinary medicine and pass a State board examination
Earnings
- median salary of $87,590 in 2014
- best-paid veterinarians earned $157,390
- lowest-paid earned $52,530
Related Occupations
- animal trainers
- veterinary technicians
- zoologists
- marine biologists
- naturalists
Job Outlook & Employment
- expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations
- number of pets is expected to show a steady increase because of rising incomes and the movement of baby boomers