Veterinarian Hourly Pay in Arlington, MA: $67.45 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a veterinarian working in Arlington, MA runs $67.45 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $140,304 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1131). Weighted against Arlington's regional price level (BEA RPP 108.5, 9% above national), each hour of work buys what $62.17 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $84,181 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Arlington, Massachusetts, veterinarians earn a median hourly rate of $67.45, slightly above the national median of $66.03. This rate particularly benefits part-time and per-diem veterinarians, who typically work in settings such as general practice exam rooms, surgical suites, and specialty referral hospitals. For example, a part-time veterinarian working three days a week could expect to earn approximately $39,112 over the year, leveraging their expertise in environments that include university teaching hospitals and USDA inspection sites. Entry-level veterinarians can earn around $39.12 per hour, while top earners may see rates reaching $104.56 per hour, reflecting a diverse range of experience and specialization within the field.
About the Arlington Market
Salary estimated from Massachusetts average ($142,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Veterinarian Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $39.12 | $312.96 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $52.32 | $418.52 |
| Median (P50) | $67.45 | $539.62 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $84.89 | $679.13 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $104.56 | $836.46 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Arlington
Based on $67.45/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $67.45/hr, a veterinarian working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Arlington, MA can expect to earn approximately $140,302 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $80,943. With a cost-of-living index of 108.50 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Arlington.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Arlington
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,698.11 | $11,692 | $140,302 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,618.87 | $7,015 | $84,181 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $1,079.25 | $4,677 | $56,121 |
Compare DVM Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Veterinarian (Arlington) | $67.45 |
| Veterinary Technician (National Avg) | $19.39 |
| Physician (National Avg) | $113.07 |
| Dentist (National Avg) | $87.53 |
| Optometrist (National Avg) | $64.22 |
Veterinarians in Arlington, MA earn a median of $140,304 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.16% higher than the national median of $137,334 and 1.50% below the Massachusetts state average of $142,441.
Veterinarian Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $67.45/hr = $84,181/year (purchasing power: $77,586).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $140,302/year (purchasing power: $129,311).
CoL index: 108.5 (100 = national average).
2019 BLS Actual
$46.89/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$63.90/hr
2026 Current Est.
$67.45/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+51.9%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Veterinarians in Arlington (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.56% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $46.89/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $48.75/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $49.30/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $50.72/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $58.50/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $72.97/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $63.90/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $67.45/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $71.20/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for veterinarians in Arlington grew 36.3% from $46.89/hr (2019) to $63.90/hr (2025). At a 5.56% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $71.20/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem veterinarians can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Arlington metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.56% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Veterinarian in Arlington
Considering part-time options, a veterinarian working 24 hours a week at the median hourly rate would take home a substantial amount annually, though still less than their full-time counterparts. Per-diem veterinarians can command higher hourly rates, frequently billing between $90 and $140 at general practices, with specialty areas commanding even more—$150 to $250 for relief work in surgery or emergency care. In Arlington, hourly pay can vary significantly based on employer types, with corporate chains like VCA and BluePearl merging into the market, affecting pay structures and availability of benefits. Some veterinarians may accept lower hourly wages with corporate positions in exchange for health insurance, while others might prefer independent practices for the flexibility and potential for higher pay without benefits. Negotiating pay in a tight local labor market emphasizes understanding the value of experience and specialized training to compare effectively across various practice settings.
More salary data for Arlington, MA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Related Pages
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Written by Dr. Alice Nguyen, DVM
Career Analyst
Dr. Alice Nguyen has 10 years of experience in veterinary medicine. She specializes in small animal surgery. She currently works at a suburban veterinary clinic.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 5.56% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for veterinarians in Arlington. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Arlington is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.56%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for veterinarians (SOC 29-1131).
Compiled and verified by Dr. Alice Nguyen, DVM, a licensed veterinarian with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov