Burnout and pay are only part of what’s changing in veterinary medicine. With a 19% projected employment jump for U.S. veterinarians from 2022 to 2032, the workforce is set to grow while retention and workload pressures remain prominent. Even details like 74% of practices using management software in 2019 and consultant times averaging 18 minutes in 2019 raise questions about how clinics are adapting as demand shifts.
Key Takeaways
- 14.2% of U.S. veterinarians identified as female in 1970
- 10.8% of U.S. veterinarians were non-White in 2017
- 9% unemployment rate for veterinarians in the U.S. (seasonally adjusted, 2024)
- 32% of U.S. veterinary practices reported having no associates in 2020
- $155,000 90th percentile annual pay for veterinarians in the U.S. (2023)
- $73,980 median annual wage for veterinary technicians and technologists in the U.S. (May 2023)
- $2.0 billion expected annual growth in U.S. veterinary spending from 2024 to 2028
- 3.0% decline in U.S. veterinary services revenue in 2020 (vs. 2019)
- 74% of veterinary practices use practice management software (2019)
- Veterinarians reported burnout at 36.8% in a 2021 survey (U.S.)
- Electronic prescribing was reported by 23% of veterinary practices in a 2020 survey
- Average veterinary clinic marketing spend was $1,200 per year per clinic (benchmark, 2021)
- In 2022, 27% of U.S. adults used telehealth services (CDC/NCHS survey) — enabling remote vet care adoption parallels consumer behavior
- 0.7% annual growth rate in U.S. number of veterinary establishments from 2018 to 2022
- 90% of U.S. dogs and cats receive at least one vaccination in a typical year (2018 survey)
With strong job growth ahead, U.S. veterinary care is growing, but burnout and mental health risks persist.
Related reading
01 · Category
Workforce & Employment4 stats
01
14.2% of U.S. veterinarians identified as female in 1970[1]
02
10.8% of U.S. veterinarians were non-White in 2017[2]
03
9% unemployment rate for veterinarians in the U.S. (seasonally adjusted, 2024)[3]
04
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects veterinarian employment will grow by 19% from 2022 to 2032[3]
Interpretation
Workforce & Employment Interpretation
In Workforce and Employment trends, veterinarian labor remains strongly in demand with projected 19% employment growth from 2022 to 2032, even as the unemployment rate sits at 9% in 2024 and workforce representation shifts over time from 14.2% female in 1970 to 10.8% non White in 2017.
02 · Category
Compensation & Economics4 stats
01
32% of U.S. veterinary practices reported having no associates in 2020[2]
02
$155,000 90th percentile annual pay for veterinarians in the U.S. (2023)[3]
03
$73,980 median annual wage for veterinary technicians and technologists in the U.S. (May 2023)[3]
04
Veterinary median student loan debt for those graduating from veterinary programs was $175,000 (U.S., 2019 survey)[2]
Interpretation
Compensation & Economics Interpretation
In the Compensation & Economics snapshot, veterinarians face high earning potential but uneven practice support, with the 90th percentile annual pay reaching $155,000 in 2023, while 32% of U.S. veterinary practices reported having no associates in 2020 and graduates carried a median $175,000 in student loan debt.
03 · Category
Market Size & Demand1 stats
01
$2.0 billion expected annual growth in U.S. veterinary spending from 2024 to 2028[4]
Interpretation
Market Size & Demand Interpretation
U.S. veterinary spending is projected to rise by $2.0 billion annually from 2024 to 2028, signaling strong, growing market demand for veterinary services.
04 · Category
Industry Trends7 stats
01
3.0% decline in U.S. veterinary services revenue in 2020 (vs. 2019)[5]
02
74% of veterinary practices use practice management software (2019)[2]
03
Veterinarians reported burnout at 36.8% in a 2021 survey (U.S.)[6]
04
Veterinary workers had a 44% prevalence of symptoms consistent with anxiety in a 2021 meta-analysis[1]
05
13.3% of veterinary professionals reported suicidal ideation in a 2019–2020 survey (U.S.)[7]
06
The global veterinary services market is forecast to reach $?? by 2030[8]
07
15% of U.S. veterinary practices were under corporate ownership in 2019[2]
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Industry Trends show mounting operational and wellbeing pressure, with U.S. veterinary services revenue down 3.0% in 2020 and burnout reaching 36.8% in 2021 alongside anxiety symptoms reported in 44% of veterinary workers.
05 · Category
Digitalization & Tech4 stats
01
Electronic prescribing was reported by 23% of veterinary practices in a 2020 survey[6]
02
Average veterinary clinic marketing spend was $1,200 per year per clinic (benchmark, 2021)[9]
03
In 2022, 27% of U.S. adults used telehealth services (CDC/NCHS survey) — enabling remote vet care adoption parallels consumer behavior[10]
04
AI-assisted imaging tools were adopted by 6% of veterinary imaging centers in 2023 (industry survey)[11]
Interpretation
Digitalization & Tech Interpretation
Veterinary digitalization is gaining traction, with 23% of practices using electronic prescribing and AI imaging tools adopted by 6% of centers in 2023, while telehealth familiarity for 27% of U.S. adults in 2022 suggests remote vet care is poised to expand.
More related reading
06 · Category
Performance & Outcomes7 stats
01
0.7% annual growth rate in U.S. number of veterinary establishments from 2018 to 2022[12]
02
90% of U.S. dogs and cats receive at least one vaccination in a typical year (2018 survey)[2]
03
Average veterinary diagnostic imaging use increased by 9% over 5 years in a 2020 industry survey[2]
04
In a 2021 study, 86% of veterinary clients were satisfied with online appointment booking[13]
05
Pet insurance holders were 2.1x more likely to complete recommended veterinary treatment in a 2020 study[1]
06
Average length of veterinary consults was 18 minutes in 2019 (U.S. observational study)[1]
07
Veterinary practice waiting times exceeded 20 minutes for 35% of appointment visits (2018–2019 survey)[6]
Interpretation
Performance & Outcomes Interpretation
From 2018 to 2022 the U.S. veterinary establishment base grew just 0.7% annually, yet care delivery performance appears to be improving with diagnostic imaging use up 9% over five years and client satisfaction with online booking reaching 86%, even as wait times still ran beyond 20 minutes for 35% of visits and average consults were 18 minutes.
07 · Category
Market Size1 stats
01
In 2023, the U.S. veterinary services industry revenue declined by 0.6% from 2022 (U.S. year-over-year change)[5]
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
For the market size angle, the U.S. veterinary services industry revenue dipped 0.6% year over year in 2023, signaling a slight contraction in demand levels compared with 2022.
08 · Category
Workforce Metrics3 stats
01
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that veterinarians worked a median of 40 hours per week in May 2023 (typical weekly hours)[3]
02
In the U.S., veterinary technicians and technologists employment was 99,700 jobs in 2023 (employment level)[3]
03
In 2023, the U.S. veterinary workforce included 110,558 licensed veterinarians nationwide (licensed veterinarians count, U.S.)[2]
Interpretation
Workforce Metrics Interpretation
Workforce metrics show that U.S. veterinarians typically work 40 hours per week while the broader veterinary workforce reached 99,700 veterinary technicians and technologists and included 110,558 licensed veterinarians in 2023.
09 · Category
Cost Analysis1 stats
01
In the U.S., veterinary technicians and technologists 90th percentile hourly wage was $40.39 in May 2023 (wage distribution)[3]
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
From a Cost Analysis perspective, the 90th percentile hourly wage for U.S. veterinary technicians and technologists reached $40.39 in May 2023, indicating the higher-end labor cost can be a key budget factor.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Timothy Grant. (2026, February 13). Veterinarian Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/veterinarian-statistics
MLA
Timothy Grant. "Veterinarian Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/veterinarian-statistics.
Chicago
Timothy Grant. 2026. "Veterinarian Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/veterinarian-statistics.
Sources & references
13 sources cited across this report