How much does a Veterinarians earn in the UK?
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£45,362
Employment patterns
- 69% of Veterinarians work full-time
- 18% are self-employed
- 98.5% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Veterinarians pay in the UK
The typical veterinarians in the UK earns a median salary of £45,362 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
Employment patterns shape these numbers too: Around 18% of Veterinarians are self-employed, well above most occupations, so the employee pay above will not capture earnings for those working for themselves; only 69% work full-time, so part-time and flexible roles are common in this field.
Where you work changes the picture: veterinarians pay ranges from £32,285 in Wales up to £53,263 in North East, a difference of £20,978 (65%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see veterinarians pay in North East or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
North East is the highest-paying region for veterinarians at £53,263 — 17% above the UK median. Wales is lowest at £32,285.
UK median £45,362
| Region | Median payUK median £45,362 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North East | £53,263 | £53,263 | £55,783 | +17% |
| London | £49,971 | £49,971 | £51,572 | +10% |
| South East | £47,281 | £47,281 | £48,609 | +4% |
| North West | £45,577 | £45,577 | £45,984 | ±0% |
| East of England | £45,008 | £45,008 | £47,659 | -1% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £40,977 | £40,977 | £40,922 | -10% |
| South West | £37,527 | £37,527 | £38,890 | -17% |
| Scotland | £36,517 | £36,517 | £39,467 | -19% |
| West Midlands | £35,537 | £35,537 | £37,023 | -22% |
| East Midlands | £32,951 | £32,951 | £36,695 | -27% |
| Wales | £32,285 | £32,285 | £33,980 | -29% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| North East £53,263 | £53,263Mean £55,783 | +17% |
| London £49,971 | £49,971Mean £51,572 | +10% |
| South East £47,281 | £47,281Mean £48,609 | +4% |
| North West £45,577 | £45,577Mean £45,984 | ±0% |
| East of England £45,008 | £45,008Mean £47,659 | -1% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £40,977 | £40,977Mean £40,922 | -10% |
| South West £37,527 | £37,527Mean £38,890 | -17% |
| Scotland £36,517 | £36,517Mean £39,467 | -19% |
| West Midlands £35,537 | £35,537Mean £37,023 | -22% |
| East Midlands £32,951 | £32,951Mean £36,695 | -27% |
| Wales £32,285 | £32,285Mean £33,980 | -29% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£45,362); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local veterinarians pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow veterinarians pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for veterinarians by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25%–75% range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a vet earn in the UK?
- The median annual salary for a vet in the UK is £45,362, according to ONS ASHE 2025 data.
- What is the median vet salary?
- The median vet salary in the UK is £45,362 per year (ONS ASHE 2025). Half of all vets earn more than this figure, and half earn less.
- Which UK region pays vets the most?
- North East has the highest median vet salary at £53,263 per year, according to ONS ASHE 2025 data.
- How has vet pay changed in recent years?
- Median vet pay rose from £42,616 in 2024 to £45,362 in 2025 — a 6.4% increase (ONS ASHE 2025).
- What is the average vet salary in the UK?
- The mean (average) vet salary in the UK is £44,900 per year. The mean is lower than the median of £45,362 because low earners skew the average (ONS ASHE 2025).