Veterinarian Salary in Tallahassee, FL: $148,660 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time veterinarian in Tallahassee, FL earns a median $148,660/year (≈ $71.47/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1131). Once you factor in Tallahassee's price level (6% below national, BEA RPP 93.9), that paycheck buys what $158,285 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 7.3% above the Florida state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Tallahassee, Florida, veterinarians can expect a competitive median annual salary of $148,660 in 2026, which is notably higher than the national median of $137,334. This salary figure comes from official BLS OEWS surveys and reflects a wide salary range from $72,858 at the 10th percentile to $202,717 at the 90th percentile. The growing presence of specialty board-certified veterinarians in fields like surgery, internal medicine, and emergency care is contributing to this upward trend. Tallahassee's veterinary job market appears robust, indicating a strong demand for skilled practitioners, especially those looking to specialize.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $72,858 | $35.02 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $105,919 | $50.92 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $148,660 | $71.47 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $162,288 | $78.02 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $202,717 | $97.46 |
Median Salary Position
8.25% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Tallahassee
In Tallahassee, FL, the veterinarian salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $129,859 (2026 est.). At $148,660, the local median is 8.25% above the national median of $137,334.
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At 40 hours/week in Tallahassee: You'd be above the median
How Tallahassee Veterinarian Pay Compares
Tallahassee median: $148,660/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Tallahassee Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Average | $138,546 | +7.30% more |
| National Average | $137,334 | +8.25% more |
Veterinarians in Tallahassee, FL earn a median of $148,660 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.25% higher than the national median of $137,334 and 7.30% above the Florida state average of $138,546.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Tallahassee has a cost of living 6.08% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Tallahassee, FL has a cost-of-living index of 93.919 (below the national average of 100). A veterinarian earning $148,660 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $158,285 in an average-cost city — an effective 6.47% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$99,500
2025 BLS Actual
$140,830
2026 Current Est.
$148,660
2019–2027 Growth
+57.7%
Salary Trajectory for Veterinarians in Tallahassee (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.56% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $99,500 | Actual |
| 2020 | $100,120 | Actual |
| 2021 | $94,050 | Actual |
| 2022 | $98,310 | Actual |
| 2023 | $124,960 | Actual |
| 2024 | $135,760 | Actual |
| 2025 | $140,830 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $148,660 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $156,926 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Tallahassee metropolitan area, the median veterinarian salary grew 41.5% from $99,500 (2019) to $140,830 (2025). At a 5.56% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $156,926 by 2027 — a total increase of $57,426 (57.71%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Tallahassee 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $72,858 – $105,919 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $105,919 – $148,660 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $148,660 – $162,288 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $162,288 – $202,717 |
DVM salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual veterinarian compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Veterinarian Job Market in Tallahassee
Currently, 170 veterinarians are employed in the Tallahassee area, where the cost of living index sits at 93.919, suggesting that veterinarians' salaries allow for a favorable purchasing power compared to the national average. Among local employers, corporate entities such as VCA, BluePearl, and NVA, which together account for approximately 25% of the market, often provide higher salaries, particularly for new graduates who can attract sign-on bonuses ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 in shortage areas. However, independent practices and specialty referral hospitals may vary significantly in compensation based on board certifications and ownership structures. The spread in pay is influenced by factors like production-based compensation and the value of equity in practice ownership. For those looking to maximize their earnings in Tallahassee, pursuing further education to gain specialty certifications and exploring opportunities within corporate practices may prove to be effective strategies.
More salary data for Tallahassee, FL:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $140,830 for veterinariansin the Tallahassee metropolitan area. A 5.56% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
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