U.S. veterinarian numbers 2017
These statistics show U.S. veterinary positions (among employed veterinarians) as of December 31, 2017.
Total = 110,531
Male = 43,662
Female = 66,731
Unknown = 138
Definitions of categories below
Private clinical practice
Total as of
|
Percent of Total |
Male
|
Female
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food animal exclusive | 1,255 | 1.8% | 77.6% | 22.4% |
| Food animal predominant | 3,223 | 4.5% | 75.8% | 24.2% |
| Mixed animal | 4,220 | 5.9% | 57.6% | 42.4% |
| Companion animal predominant | 6,368 | 8.9% | 50.6% | 49.4% |
| Companion animal exclusive | 47,545 | 66.6% | 37.0% | 63.0% |
| Equine | 4,043 | 5.7% | 47.0% | 53.0% |
| Other | 293 | 0.4% | 35.5% | 64.5% |
| Species Unspecified | 4,446 | 6.2% | 22.8% | 77.2% |
Total Private Practice |
71,393 |
100% |
41.6% |
58.4% |
Public & corporate employment
Total as of
|
Percent of Total |
Male
|
Female
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| College or university | 6,878 | 40.9% | 42.0% | 58.0% |
| Federal government | 1,858 | 11.0% | 52.8% | 47.2% |
| State or local government | 1,109 | 6.6% | 47.2% | 52.8% |
| Uniformed services | 761 | 4.5% | 48.2% | 51.6% |
| Industry | 3,526 | 21.0% | 54.1% | 45.9% |
| Other Public & Corporate | 2,689 | 16.0% | 30.9% | 69.1% |
Total Public & Corporate |
16,821 |
100% |
44.3% |
55.7% |
Employment Unknown |
27,504 |
|||
Not Listed Above |
2,017 |
|||
Total # of Positions held by
|
117,735 |
1 Includes active AVMA members (Regular, Recent Graduates, and Educational) and Non-members (Excludes non-members born prior to 1947 and non-members who received their veterinary degree prior to 1973)
2 Veterinarians may hold more than one position.
Updated 1/18.
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.