Top 9 Highest-Paying Countries for Veterinarians

According to U.S. News & World Report, the median annual salary of veterinarians living in the United States was $88,490 in 2015. That got us thinking about veterinarian salaries in other countries throughout the world. Where do we rank? And are the wallets greener elsewhere?

Investment company Insider Monkey gathered data from a survey administered by the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe as well as information Payscale.com to determine the top 9 highest-paying countries for veterinarians.

If you’re thinking of relocating to another country and still plan to practice veterinary medicine, then you should probably consider your salary options before you make any moves. Take a closer look at the pay in each of these countries before you take the leap. And keep in mind that there may be salary differences within any single country.

9. Denmark

• The average salary is €47,000 ($51,216) per year for veterinarians.
• The University of Copenhagen ranks #17 on the QS World University Rankings list of the top 50 universities for veterinary science.

8. Luxembourg

• The average salary for veterinarians in Luxembourg is $53,040 per year.

7. Germany

• The average salary is €49,261 ($53,650) per year for veterinarians living in Germany.
• Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München is #25 on the list of the top 50 universities for veterinary science.

6. Canada

• The average veterinarian salary for Canadians is $53,915 per year.
• The University of Guelph is #4 on the list of the top 50 universities for veterinary science.

5. Qatar

• Qatar is one of the world’s richest countries.
• The average salary there is $60,959 per year for veterinarians.

4. Iceland

• The average salary in Iceland is $65,935 per year for veterinarians.

3. Switzerland

• The average salary is $68,722 per year for veterinarians in Switzerland.
• The University of Zurich is #32 on the list of the top 50 universities for veterinary science.

2. Netherlands

• The average salary is $69,244 per year for veterinarians.
• Utrecht University ranks #5 on the list of the top 50 universities for veterinary science.

1. USA

• As noted above, the median annual salary of veterinarians living in the United States is $88,490. While this wage is higher than those in any other country, Hawaii takes the cake. The average veterinarian in Hawaii earns $95 per hour, or $198,600 per year.
• The University of California, Davis and Cornell University rank #1 and #2, respectively, on the list of the top 50 universities for veterinary science.