National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Police Officers earn a national median of $72,280/year vs Veterinarians at $119,100/year. Veterinarians earn 65% more nationally. The gap is $46,820 per year — or $3,902 per month.
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Police Officer
$72,280
national median/year
$6,023/mo • $35/hr
VS
Veterinarian
$119,100
national median/year
$9,925/mo • $57/hr
Annual salary gap
$46,820
Veterinarians earn 65% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $530,718.
Best states for Veterinarians
vs Police Officers
North Carolina+$57,780
Virginia+$57,780
New Hampshire+$53,780
Washington+$53,780
Georgia+$51,780
Best states for Police Officers
vs Veterinarians
Wyoming+$-33,780
Alaska+$-35,780
Mississippi+$-35,780
North Dakota+$-37,780
West Virginia+$-37,780
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Veterinarians earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Police Officers is $72,280 versus $119,100 for Veterinarians — a difference of $46,820 per year or $3,902 per month.
The national median salary gap between Police Officers and Veterinarians is $46,820 per year. Veterinarians earn 65% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $530,718.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Police Officers the highest median salary at $108,320 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 — Veterinarians earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers 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, Police Officers earn approximately $35 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.
