U.S. veterinarian numbers 2013

These statistics show U.S. veterinary positions (among employed veterinarians) as of December 31, 2013. 

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  Total (No.)1 Male Female  Unknown:
Total 99,720 44,281 55,253  186
 
 
 

Definitions of categories below
 
  Total as of December 31, 20131,2 Percent of total Male Female 2011 Earnings Median Professional Income Before Taxes3
  No.   % % $

Private clinical practice

          
Food animal exclusive 1,210 1.9% 81.4% 18.6% 100,000
Food animal predominant 3,492 5.4% 79.6% 20.4% 100,000
Mixed animal 4,186 6.5% 62.2% 37.8% 88,000
Companion animal predominant 6,027 9.3% 56.5% 43.5% 100,000
Companion animal exclusive 42,879 66.3% 41.7% 58.3% 100,000
Equine 3,827 5.9% 51.8% 48.2% 88,000
Other 713 1.1% 33.7% 66.3% 88,000
Species unspecified 2,385 3.7% 23.6% 76.4%  
Total private practice 64,719 100% 47.1% 52.9% 100,000
 

Public & corporate employment

          
College or university 6,545 41.7% 46.5% 53.5% 112,000
Federal government 1,803 11.5% 59.7% 40.2% 112,000
State or local government 1,057 6.7% 55.3% 44.7% 88,000
Uniformed services 783 5.0% 49.6% 50.4% 112,000
Industry 3,273 20.9% 59.0% 41.0% 160,000
Other public & corporate 2,222 14.2% 36.5% 63.5% 124,000
Total public & corporate 15,683 100% 49.8% 50.2% 124,000
Employment unknown 23,335        
Not listed above 1,784        
Total # of positions held by
U.S. veterinarians		 105,521        
 
1 Includes active AVMA members (Regular, Recent Graduates, and Educational) and Non-members (Excludes non-members born prior to 1943 and non-members who received their veterinary degree prior to 1969)
2Veterinarians may hold more than one position.
3 Data referenced from the AVMA Report on Veterinary Compensation, 2013 Edition

Updated 3/14.

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.