Veterinarian Salary in Dodge City, KS: $118,103 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time veterinarian in Dodge City, KS earns a median $118,103/year (≈ $56.78/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1131). Once you factor in Dodge City's price level (9% below national, BEA RPP 90.9), that paycheck buys what $129,926 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.4% below the Kansas state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
The expected median annual salary for veterinarians in Dodge City, Kansas, stands at $118,103 in 2026, reflecting a substantial gap compared to the national median of $137,334. This market offers a salary range that varies from $69,685 at the lower end (P10) to $183,059 at the higher end (P90), indicating potential earnings corresponding to experience and specialization. These figures, based on 2025 BLS data projected to 2026, showcase the local economic environment, which includes a cost of living index of 90.9—suggesting affordability relative to national averages. Given this context, the veterinary field shows promise in terms of employment opportunities, albeit with some constraints due to lower salaries compared to national expectations.
About the Dodge City Market
Salary estimated from Kansas average ($102,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $69,685 | $33.50 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $92,993 | $44.70 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $118,103 | $56.78 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $147,456 | $70.89 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $183,059 | $88.01 |
Median Salary Position
14% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Dodge City
In Dodge City, KS, the veterinarian salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $113,374 (2026 est.). At $118,103, the local median is 14% below the national median of $137,334.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Dodge City: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Dodge City Veterinarian Pay Compares
Dodge City median: $118,103/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Dodge City Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Average | $124,844 | -5.40% less |
| National Average | $137,334 | -14.00% less |
Veterinarians in Dodge City, KS earn a median of $118,103 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.00% lower than the national median of $137,334 and 5.40% below the Kansas state average of $124,844.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Dodge City has a cost of living 9.10% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Dodge City, KS has a cost-of-living index of 90.9 (below the national average of 100). A veterinarian earning $118,103 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $129,926 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.01% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$82,093
2025 BLS Actual
$111,882
2026 Current Est.
$118,103
2019–2027 Growth
+51.9%
Salary Trajectory for Veterinarians in Dodge City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.56% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $82,093 | Actual |
| 2020 | $85,352 | Actual |
| 2021 | $86,315 | Actual |
| 2022 | $88,800 | Actual |
| 2023 | $102,422 | Actual |
| 2024 | $87,717 | Actual |
| 2025 | $111,882 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $118,103 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $124,669 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Dodge City metropolitan area, the median veterinarian salary grew 36.3% from $82,093 (2019) to $111,882 (2025). At a 5.56% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $124,669 by 2027 — a total increase of $42,576 (51.86%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Dodge City 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) | $69,685 – $92,993 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $92,993 – $118,103 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $118,103 – $147,456 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $147,456 – $183,059 |
DVM salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual veterinarian compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Veterinarian Job Market in Dodge City
In the Dodge City job market, where only five veterinarians are currently employed, practitioners should consider the underlying factors driving compensation. The cost of living in the area impacts real earnings and purchasing power, which often translates to higher take-home wealth for residents compared to more expensive regions. Employers that offer the most competitive pay tend to be corporate chains, small animal clinics, and specialty referral hospitals, where specialized skills are able to command premium wages. The disparity between salaries can be attributed to factors such as specialty board certification, production-based compensation, and ownership stakes in practices. Aspiring veterinarians and current practitioners in Dodge City, KS, may find that gaining certifications in surgical or emergency medicine can significantly enhance their earning potential, particularly in a landscape increasingly impacted by corporate consolidation trends, which can reshape traditional compensation structures.
More salary data for Dodge City, KS:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can veterinarians make $100K in Dodge City?
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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 $111,882 for veterinariansin the Dodge City 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
Salary data for Dodge City 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