National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Surgeons earn a national median of $297,800/year vs Veterinarians at $119,100/year. Surgeons earn 60% more nationally. The gap is $178,700 per year — or $14,892 per month.
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Surgeon
$297,800
national median/year
$24,817/mo • $143/hr
VS
Veterinarian
$119,100
national median/year
$9,925/mo • $57/hr
Annual salary gap
$178,700
Surgeons earn 60% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $2,025,617.
Best states for Veterinarians
vs Surgeons
Louisiana+$-165,900
Maine+$-165,900
Mississippi+$-165,900
Kentucky+$-166,900
Arkansas+$-167,900
Best states for Surgeons
vs Veterinarians
New Jersey+$192,900
Connecticut+$191,900
New York+$191,900
California+$189,900
Massachusetts+$189,900
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Surgeons earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Surgeons is $297,800 versus $119,100 for Veterinarians — a difference of $178,700 per year or $14,892 per month.
The national median salary gap between Surgeons and Veterinarians is $178,700 per year. Surgeons earn 60% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $2,025,617.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Surgeons the highest median salary at $338,000 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 — Surgeons earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. 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, Surgeons earn approximately $143 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.
