Veterinarian salary in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
Veterinarians in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median of $160,860 a year ($77.34 an hour), based on BLS data for 660 workers.
Pay ranges from $82,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $273,210 for the top 10%. That is 24% higher than the national median of $130,100. Pay here is 2% lower than the California statewide median of $163,920. There are 0.39 veterinarians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.72). The average (mean) salary is $168,240, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for veterinarians in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,240 | $39.54 |
| 25th percentile | $124,650 | $59.93 |
| Median | $160,860 | $77.34 |
| 75th percentile | $214,150 | $102.96 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $273,210 | $131.35 |
| Average (mean) | $168,240 | $80.89 |
Half of veterinarians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $13,405 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,702.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,186.92 |
| Weekly | $3,093.46 |
| Hourly | $77.34 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $160,860 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Veterinarian salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $208,080 | 1,350 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $192,160 | 350 |
| Napa, CA | $172,600 | 30 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $165,260 | 830 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $164,820 | 130 |
| Salinas, CA | $163,080 | 120 |
| Modesto, CA | $162,160 | 120 |
| Chico, CA | $160,180 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $160,080 | 2,740 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $159,750 | 1,080 |
| Redding, CA | $159,010 | 60 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $158,840 | 140 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $158,810 | 290 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $158,770 | 210 |
| Vallejo, CA | $157,710 | 70 |
| Fresno, CA | $157,460 | 170 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $151,990 | 110 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $150,780 | 100 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $144,020 | 90 |
| Visalia, CA | $133,370 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for veterinarians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $163,920 |
| Maryland | $163,170 |
| Washington | $160,510 |
| New Jersey | $160,140 |
| Arizona | $152,020 |
| Massachusetts | $140,260 |
| District of Columbia | $134,530 |
| Illinois | $133,580 |
| Pennsylvania | $133,520 |
| Minnesota | $133,110 |
See Veterinarian pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $133,940 | $64.40 |
| Pharmacist | $161,870 | $77.82 |
| Physical Therapist | $120,110 | $57.74 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $100,480 | $48.31 |
| Physicians, All Other | $279,090 | $134.18 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $118,560 | $57.00 |
| Dental Hygienist | $105,730 | $50.83 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $169,920 | $81.69 |
| Dentists, General | $125,230 | $60.21 |
| Occupational Therapist | $119,530 | $57.47 |
| Physician Assistant | $165,490 | $79.56 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $95,280 | $45.81 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $99,840 | $48.00 |
| Optometrist | $129,990 | $62.50 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1131. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a veterinarian make in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?
The median salary for veterinarians in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $160,860 a year, or $77.34 an hour. Pay ranges from $82,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $273,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid veterinarians make in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?
The top 10% of veterinarians in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn at least $273,210 a year. The top 25% earn $214,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for veterinarians in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $82,240 a year, and a quarter of veterinarians earn $124,650 or less.
How many veterinarians work in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?
About 660 veterinarians are employed in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.