U.S. veterinarian numbers 2018

These statistics show U.S. veterinary positions as of December 31, 2018.

View current statistics

Total = 113,394

Male = 43,345
Female = 69,908
Unknown = 141

U.S. veterinary positions (among employed veterinarians)
Definitions of categories below

Private clinical practice

 
Total as of
December 31, 20181,2
Percent of Total
Male
%
Female
%
Food animal exclusive 1,286 1.8% 77.1% 22.9%
Food animal predominant 3,105 8.7% 74.3% 25.7%
Mixed animal 4,182 5.7% 56.0% 44.0%
Companion animal predominant 6,372 8.7% 49.0% 51.0%
Companion animal exclusive 48,898 66.6% 35.9% 64.0%
Equine 4,125 5.6% 45.8% 54.2%
Other 309 0.4% 35.3% 64.7%
Species Unspecified 5,096 6.9% 21.8% 78.1%
Total Private Practice
73,373
100%
40.1%
59.9%

Public & corporate employment

 
Total as of
December 31, 20181,2
Percent of Total
Male
%
Female
%
College or university 6,889 40.8% 41.2% 58.8%
Federal government 1,869 11.1% 51.0% 49.0%
State or local government 1,122 6.6% 45.3% 54.7%
Uniformed services 760 4.5% 48.2% 51.7%
Industry 3,555 21.0% 53.1% 46.9%
Other Public & Corporate 2,702 16.0% 30.1% 69.9%
Total Public & Corporate
16,897
100%
43.3%
56.7%
Employment Unknown
28,375
 
 
 
Not Listed Above
2,007
Total # of Positions held by
U.S. Veterinarians
120,652

1 Includes active AVMA members (Regular, Recent Graduates, and Educational) and Non-members (Excludes non-members born prior to 1948 and non-members who received their veterinary degree prior to 1974)
2 Veterinarians may hold more than one position.
Updated 1/19.

The species categories listed under private clinical practice can be defined by the following calculations.

Species categories

  • Food animal exclusive: Sum of (Bovine, Porcine, Ovine/Caprine, Camelid, Cervid and Poultry) is at least 90% of the contact.
  • Food animal predominant: Sum of (Bovine, Porcine, Ovine/Caprine, Camelid, Cervid and Poultry) is at least 50% of the contact.
  • Mixed animal: Varied species with at least 25% from companion animal and 25% from either food animal or equine.
  • Companion animal predominant: Sum of (Canine, Feline, Avian (non-poultry) and Exotics) is at least 50% of the contact.
  • Companion animal exclusive: Sum of (Canine, Feline, Avian (non-poultry) and Exotics) is at least 90% of the contact.
  • Equine: Combination of equine predominant and exclusive where there's at least 50% contact with equines.

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