Veterinarian Salary in Charlottesville, VA: $134,547 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time veterinarian in Charlottesville, VA earns a median $134,547/year (≈ $64.69/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1131). Once you factor in Charlottesville's price level (1% below national, BEA RPP 99.1), that paycheck buys what $135,706 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 6.2% above the Virginia state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Veterinarians in Charlottesville, Virginia, find the 2026 median annual salary at $134,547, which is slightly below the national median of $137,334 for the same year. With a salary range stretching from $60,824 at the 10th percentile to $232,528 at the 90th percentile, this data reflects the diverse structures of veterinary practices in the area. Corporate clinics like VCA and BluePearl represent about 25% of the local market, often influencing pay scales significantly compared to their independent counterparts. This disparity creates a competitive environment for veterinarians as they choose between the benefits of corporate employment and the autonomy of private practice.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $60,824 | $29.24 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $102,889 | $49.47 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $134,547 | $64.69 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $195,518 | $94.00 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $232,528 | $111.80 |
Median Salary Position
2.03% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Charlottesville
In Charlottesville, VA, the veterinarian salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $171,704 (2026 est.). At $134,547, the local median is 2.03% below the national median of $137,334.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Charlottesville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Charlottesville Veterinarian Pay Compares
Charlottesville median: $134,547/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Charlottesville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Average | $126,692 | +6.20% more |
| National Average | $137,334 | -2.03% less |
Veterinarians in Charlottesville, VA earn a median of $134,547 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.03% lower than the national median of $137,334 and 6.20% above the Virginia state average of $126,692.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Charlottesville has a cost of living 0.85% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Charlottesville, VA has a cost-of-living index of 99.146 (below the national average of 100). A veterinarian earning $134,547 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $135,706 in an average-cost city — an effective 0.86% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$105,280
2025 BLS Actual
$127,460
2026 Current Est.
$134,547
2019–2027 Growth
+34.9%
Salary Trajectory for Veterinarians in Charlottesville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.56% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $105,280 | Actual |
| 2020 | $88,180 | Actual |
| 2021 | $101,620 | Actual |
| 2022 | $101,100 | Actual |
| 2023 | $105,990 | Actual |
| 2024 | $120,180 | Actual |
| 2025 | $127,460 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $134,547 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $142,028 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Charlottesville metropolitan area, the median veterinarian salary grew 21.1% from $105,280 (2019) to $127,460 (2025). At a 5.56% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $142,028 by 2027 — a total increase of $36,748 (34.91%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Charlottesville 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) | $60,824 – $102,889 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $102,889 – $134,547 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $134,547 – $195,518 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $195,518 – $232,528 |
DVM salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual veterinarian compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Veterinarian Job Market in Charlottesville
Charlottesville's local job market currently employs around 90 veterinarians, which complements the moderate cost of living indicated by a CoL index of 99.146. This relatively balanced cost environment means that take-home pay can stretch further for practitioners in the area. Among the highest-paying employers are specialty referral hospitals and university teaching hospitals, particularly for those with board certifications such as surgery or internal medicine. The wide pay range results from factors like production-based compensation structures, ownership equity in practices, and enticing sign-on bonuses that can reach up to $150,000 for new graduates in areas experiencing shortages. To maximize their veterinarian pay in Charlottesville, veterinary professionals should consider specializing in high-demand areas, seeking positions in lucrative corporate practices, and leveraging opportunities for practice ownership to optimize earnings potential.
More salary data for Charlottesville, VA:
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 $127,460 for veterinariansin the Charlottesville 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