National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
Compare a different job:
VS
QUICK ANSWER
Veterinarians earn a national median of $119,100/year vs HVAC Technicians at $57,620/year. Veterinarians earn 52% more nationally. The gap is $61,480 per year — or $5,123 per month.
Built by Pierre — MBA, Business Strategist & AI Consultant, Founder of DayblipAbout the author →
Veterinarian
$119,100
national median/year
$9,925/mo • $57/hr
VS
HVAC Technician
$57,620
national median/year
$4,802/mo • $28/hr
Annual salary gap
$61,480
Veterinarians earn 52% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $696,894.
Best states for HVAC Technicians
vs Veterinarians
West Virginia+$-39,480
Mississippi+$-41,480
South Dakota+$-43,480
Arkansas+$-45,480
Wyoming+$-45,480
Best states for Veterinarians
vs HVAC Technicians
California+$74,480
Maryland+$63,480
Washington+$63,480
Colorado+$61,480
Connecticut+$61,480
Share Your Result
Surprised by this number? Share it with friends and family
Veterinarians earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Veterinarians is $119,100 versus $57,620 for HVAC Technicians — a difference of $61,480 per year or $5,123 per month.
The national median salary gap between Veterinarians and HVAC Technicians is $61,480 per year. Veterinarians earn 52% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $696,894.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Veterinarians the highest median salary at $148,100 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, Hawaii pays HVAC Technicians the highest median salary at $74,620 per year.
Salary is one factor — Veterinarians earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Veterinarians and Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers 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, Veterinarians earn approximately $57 per hour nationally and HVAC Technicians earn approximately $28 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.
