Market Research Statistics: U.S. Veterinarians 2009

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  Total (No.)1 Male Female    
Total 87,998 43,196 44,802
 
 

U.S. veterinary positions

Definitions of categories below
 
  Total as of December 31, 20091,2 Percent of Total Male Female 2007 Earnings Median Professional Income Before Taxes3
  No.   % % $

Private Clinical Practice

          
Food animal exclusive 1103 1.8% 82.5% 17.5% 109,000
Food animal predominant 3937 6.5% 81.4% 18.6% 91,000
Mixed animal 4328 7.1% 63.9% 36.1% 91,000
Companion animal predominant 6001 9.9% 59.6% 40.1% 97,000
Companion animal exclusive 41117 67.5% 44.7% 55.3% 91,000
Equine 3699 6.1% 54.5% 45.5% 91,000
Other 710 1.2% 36.2% 63.8% 91,000
Total Private Practice 60895 100% 51.1% 48.9% 91,000
 

Public & Corporate Employment

          
College or university 6356 41.9% 50.6% 49.4% 103,000
Federal government 1753 11.5% 64.9% 35.1% 97,000
State or local government 1118 7.4% 60.0% 40.0% 94,000
Uniformed services 688 4.5% 53.9% 46.1% 79,000
Industry 3235 21.3% 62.0% 38.0% 148,000
Other Public & Corporate 2029 13.4% 39.9% 60.1% 97,000
Total Public & Corporate 15179 100% 54.1% 45.9% 103,000
Employment Unknown 15092        
Not Listed Above 1881        
Total # of Positions held by
U.S. Veterinarians		 93047        
 

1 Includes active AVMA members (Regular, Recent Graduates, and Educational) and Non-members (Excludes non-members born prior to 1939 and non-members who received their veterinary degree prior to 1965)
2Veterinarians may hold multiple positions.
3 Data referenced from the AVMA Report on Veterinary Compensation, 2009 Edition

Updated 1/10

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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.