National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Nurses earn a national median of $89,010/year vs Veterinarians at $119,100/year. Veterinarians earn 34% more nationally. The gap is $30,090 per year — or $2,508 per month.
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Nurse
$89,010
national median/year
$7,418/mo • $43/hr
VS
Veterinarian
$119,100
national median/year
$9,925/mo • $57/hr
Annual salary gap
$30,090
Veterinarians earn 34% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $341,079.
Best states for Veterinarians
vs Nurses
Virginia+$43,780
Maryland+$42,780
Colorado+$37,780
Florida+$37,780
Illinois+$37,780
Best states for Nurses
vs Veterinarians
California+$-16,630
Mississippi+$-21,780
West Virginia+$-21,780
Wyoming+$-23,780
Hawaii+$-25,780
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Veterinarians earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Nurses is $89,010 versus $119,100 for Veterinarians — a difference of $30,090 per year or $2,508 per month.
The national median salary gap between Nurses and Veterinarians is $30,090 per year. Veterinarians earn 34% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $341,079.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Nurses the highest median salary at $131,470 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 — Veterinarians earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Registered Nurses 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, Nurses earn approximately $43 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.
