Veterinarian Salary in Memphis, TN: $132,087 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time veterinarian in Memphis, TN earns a median $132,087/year (≈ $63.50/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1131). Once you factor in Memphis's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 92.2), that paycheck buys what $143,294 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.7% above the Tennessee state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, veterinarians in Memphis, TN, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $132,087, which is slightly lower than the national median of $137,334. The salary range for this profession in the area spans from $106,352 at the 10th percentile to $183,949 at the 90th percentile, reflecting a variety of compensation levels influenced by experience, specialization, and the type of practice. These projections are based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, offering vital insights into the local job market. Memphis's veterinarian pay encapsulates a growing demand for skilled professionals, particularly in specialty areas such as surgery, internal medicine, and emergency care, where board-certified veterinarians often command significant salary premiums.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $106,352 | $51.13 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $113,920 | $54.78 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $132,087 | $63.50 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $163,671 | $78.68 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $183,949 | $88.44 |
Median Salary Position
3.82% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Memphis
In Memphis, TN, the veterinarian salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $77,597 (2026 est.). At $132,087, the local median is 3.82% below the national median of $137,334.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Memphis: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Memphis Veterinarian Pay Compares
Memphis median: $132,087/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Memphis Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Average | $128,615 | +2.70% more |
| National Average | $137,334 | -3.82% less |
Veterinarians in Memphis, TN earn a median of $132,087 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.82% lower than the national median of $137,334 and 2.70% above the Tennessee state average of $128,615.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Memphis has a cost of living 7.82% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Memphis, TN has a cost-of-living index of 92.179 (below the national average of 100). A veterinarian earning $132,087 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $143,294 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.48% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$87,390
2025 BLS Actual
$125,130
2026 Current Est.
$132,087
2019–2027 Growth
+59.6%
Salary Trajectory for Veterinarians in Memphis (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.56% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $87,390 | Actual |
| 2020 | $93,160 | Actual |
| 2021 | $101,520 | Actual |
| 2022 | $105,300 | Actual |
| 2023 | $123,110 | Actual |
| 2024 | $123,780 | Actual |
| 2025 | $125,130 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $132,087 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $139,431 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Memphis metropolitan area, the median veterinarian salary grew 43.2% from $87,390 (2019) to $125,130 (2025). At a 5.56% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $139,431 by 2027 — a total increase of $52,041 (59.55%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Memphis 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) | $106,352 – $113,920 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $113,920 – $132,087 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $132,087 – $163,671 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $163,671 – $183,949 |
DVM salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual veterinarian compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Veterinarian Job Market in Memphis
The local market for veterinarians is robust, with approximately 310 professionals currently employed in the Memphis area. Given that Memphis's cost of living index sits at 92.179, which is below the national average, veterinarians may find that their take-home pay stretches further than in more expensive locales. Among the various employers, corporate chains like VCA and BluePearl, constituting about 25% of the market, tend to offer competitive salaries, especially for entry-level positions and recent graduates, who currently see sign-on bonuses ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 in high-demand areas. This variance in pay can be driven by factors such as specialty board certification, practice ownership equity, and production-based compensation models. For those in Memphis aiming to maximize their veterinarian salary, pursuing specialty certifications through organizations like ACVIM or ACVS, and considering positions in corporate practices may yield the strongest financial benefits, alongside negotiation strategies focused on production incentives.
More salary data for Memphis, TN:
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 $125,130 for veterinariansin the Memphis 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