Bovine Veterinary Salary and Benefits Survey Results

Survey questions posed to bovine veterinarians addressed topics in four key areas: income, employment benefits, satisfaction and demographics.
Survey questions posed to bovine veterinarians addressed topics in four key areas: income, employment benefits, satisfaction and demographics.
(Sarah Wagner, DVM, Texas Tech University)

If you’ve looked online to glean information and insights on bovine veterinarian salaries and benefits, you already know there’s little information readily available.

That’s changing, though, thanks to an online survey – the first of its kind – conducted between August and November of 2022 by Texas Tech University faculty Sarah Wagner, DVM, and Amber McCord, PhD, with the support of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP). 

“This study is our first attempt to establish some benchmark for bovine-focused veterinarians across areas of employment and across the span of their careers,” said Wagner during her presentation on the topic at the annual AABP conference in September.

Survey questions posed to bovine veterinarians addressed topics in four key areas:
•    Demographics – the number of years since graduation, AABP district or country of residence, age and gender
•    Employment benefits – including health, dental and retirement
•    Income – specifically, all income related to veterinary pursuits in 2021
•    Satisfaction – respondents gave ratings of satisfaction with their jobs and incomes.

There were 720 completed and usable survey responses from all 13 districts of the AABP in the United States and Canada. 

Responses were nearly evenly distributed between men (47.8%) and women (47.4%), and the median age was 38. Of the respondents, 73.5% were in private practice or consultancy, and 26.5% reported as having other, industry-related employment.

Here are five additional insights from the survey:
1.    Just over half of the respondents (51.5%) reported working between 40 and 50 hours per week. 
2.    Practitioners and non-practitioners were equally satisfied with their jobs and compensation, and that satisfaction levels fell between “neither satisfied or dissatisfied” and “somewhat satisfied”. 
3.    Factors that affected job satisfaction included a positive effect of higher income and a negative effect of more hours worked each week for those in private practice. 
4.    Across employment types and decades since graduation, men have higher annual incomes than women in bovine veterinary medicine ($172,783 versus $112,884). 
5.    For veterinarians in private practice, mean-reported income was $143,333. By comparison, the American Veterinary Medical Association reported in October 2023 that the mean salary in 2022 for companion animal associate veterinarians was $141,000,  and for companion animal veterinarian practice owners it was $191,000.

In the near future, Wagner said the survey results will be published. “We’re  going to try and get it into an open-access journal, so everyone can read it for free,” she said.

AABP adds that once the written proceedings are completed, they will be available on the association’s website.
 

 

Latest News

New Regulations Proposed by FDA for Animal Drug Labeling
New Regulations Proposed by FDA for Animal Drug Labeling

New rules would provide animal drug sponsors with predictable requirements for the labeling of prescription and over-the-counter new animal drugs, as well as new animal drugs for use in animal feeds

Calf-Raising Success is All in the Details
Calf-Raising Success is All in the Details

Raising a heifer from newborn up to 20-plus months until she becomes a productive milk cow is more important than ever. Dairy producers are increasingly looking to heifer growers to lend a helping hand with the process.

Who “Nose” When a Calf is Getting Sick?
Who “Nose” When a Calf is Getting Sick?

If you want to stay ahead of calf health and catch sickness in its earliest stage, University of Minnesota Graduate Student Abbigail Prins offers a handy detection tip.

7 Ways To Prioritize Employee Retention
7 Ways To Prioritize Employee Retention

Want to keep your valued team players? Learning how to avoid these frustrating and deal-breaking mistakes can help.

Aggie Serves As Houston Livestock Show And Rodeo Veterinarian For 21st Year
Aggie Serves As Houston Livestock Show And Rodeo Veterinarian For 21st Year

Professor at Texas A&M's Large Animal Teaching Hospital leads a team of volunteers in caring for the 18,000 livestock animals at the annual event.

DT_Dairy_Udder_Parlor_Teats
NMC Webinar Addresses Feeding Trace Minerals to Enhance Udder Health

By participating in this educational offer, you can gain a better understanding of the role trace minerals play in immunity and udder health.