Veterinarian salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Veterinarians in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn a median of $158,840 a year ($76.36 an hour), based on BLS data for 140 workers.
Pay ranges from $64,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $260,480 for the top 10%. That is 22% higher than the national median of $130,100. Pay here is 3% lower than the California statewide median of $163,920. There are 0.69 veterinarians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $155,510, close to the median.
Pay range for veterinarians in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,390 | $30.96 |
| 25th percentile | $113,630 | $54.63 |
| Median | $158,840 | $76.36 |
| 75th percentile | $194,260 | $93.39 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $260,480 | $125.23 |
| Average (mean) | $155,510 | $74.76 |
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 | $13,236.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,618.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,109.23 |
| Weekly | $3,054.62 |
| Hourly | $76.36 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $158,840 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 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $160,860 | 660 |
| 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 |
| 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 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $137,360 | $66.04 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $287,230 | $138.09 |
| Physical Therapist | $128,680 | $61.87 |
| Pharmacist | $162,520 | $78.13 |
| Physicians, All Other | $296,960 | $142.77 |
| Dental Hygienist | $135,990 | $65.38 |
| Physician Assistant | $158,360 | $76.14 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $165,580 | $79.60 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $126,850 | $60.99 |
| Occupational Therapist | $125,890 | $60.53 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $81,550 | $39.21 |
| Dentists, General | $170,940 | $82.18 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $108,600 | $52.21 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $102,060 | $49.07 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, 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 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median salary for veterinarians in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $158,840 a year, or $76.36 an hour. Pay ranges from $64,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $260,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid veterinarians make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The top 10% of veterinarians in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn at least $260,480 a year. The top 25% earn $194,260 or more.
What is the starting pay for veterinarians in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $64,390 a year, and a quarter of veterinarians earn $113,630 or less.
How many veterinarians work in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
About 140 veterinarians are employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.