National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Doctors earn a national median of $236,000/year vs Veterinarians at $119,100/year. Doctors earn 50% more nationally. The gap is $116,900 per year — or $9,742 per month.
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Doctor
$236,000
national median/year
$19,667/mo • $113/hr
VS
Veterinarian
$119,100
national median/year
$9,925/mo • $57/hr
Annual salary gap
$116,900
Doctors earn 50% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $1,325,096.
Best states for Veterinarians
vs Doctors
California+$-104,220
Hawaii+$-108,220
Oregon+$-110,220
Washington+$-110,220
Arizona+$-112,220
Best states for Doctors
vs Veterinarians
Minnesota+$128,220
South Dakota+$128,220
Wisconsin+$128,220
Massachusetts+$126,220
Mississippi+$126,220
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Doctors earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Doctors is $236,000 versus $119,100 for Veterinarians — a difference of $116,900 per year or $9,742 per month.
The national median salary gap between Doctors and Veterinarians is $116,900 per year. Doctors earn 50% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $1,325,096.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, Massachusetts pays Doctors the highest median salary at $258,320 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Veterinarians the highest median salary at $148,100 per year.
Salary is one factor — Doctors earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Physicians and Surgeons and Veterinarians both have different educational paths, licensing requirements, and long-term growth projections. Use salary as a starting point, not the only factor.
Based on a standard 2,080-hour work year, Doctors earn approximately $113 per hour nationally and Veterinarians earn approximately $57 per hour. Actual hourly rates vary based on overtime, part-time work, and whether the role is salaried or hourly.
Methodology: Salary data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024-2025. Figures represent median annual wages for wage and salary workers. Self-employed excluded. Hourly rates calculated at 2,080 hours per year. State salary figures from same BLS OES dataset. Updated annually.
