Veterinarians play a vital role in maintaining animal health and welfare across Canada. As highly trained medical professionals, they diagnose, treat, and prevent illnesses and injuries in pets, livestock, wildlife, and zoo animals. The average veterinarian salaries in Canada can vary substantially based on years of experience, specialization, and geographic location.
Based on the latest available data, this article will provide a comprehensive overview of the average salaries Canadian veterinarians can expect to earn in 2025. Is it higher, or lower than the average Canadian salaries overall, let’s find out!
What are the Average Veterinarian Salaries in Canada?
According to the most recent salary surveys and labour market data, the average salary for a veterinarian in Canada is approximately CAD 139,100 per year as of 2025. This equates to around CAD 11,591 per month or CAD 56.41 per hour.
However, veterinarian salaries can range significantly, from new graduates earning entry-level wages of CAD 69,400 annually to experienced veterans commanding over CAD 211,200 per year after decades in the field.
Average Annual Veterinarian Salary in Canada:
- National Average: CAD 139,100
- Lowest Reported Average: CAD 69,400
- Highest Reported Average: CAD 211,200
These salary ranges account for base pay and other bonuses and benefits. Geographic location, years of experience, specialty, education credentials, and employer type all impact average earnings and lead to the abovementioned variability.
Highest Veterinarian Salaries Paying Provinces and Cities
Certain regions of Canada offer more lucrative salaries for veterinarians than others. Several factors contribute to higher wages, including greater demand in the local job market, higher costs of living, and concentrations of specialty clinics and hospitals.
Based on data from national salary surveys, these provinces and cities offer the highest veterinary salaries in 2025 on average:
Highest Paying Provinces:
- Alberta: $158,900 CAD
- British Columbia: CAD 153,700
- Ontario: $152,900 CAD
- Quebec: CAD 160,600
Highest Paying Cities:
- Edmonton, AB: CAD 152,900
- Vancouver, BC: $158,900 CAD
- Ottawa, ON: CAD 151,800
- Toronto, ON: $151,800 CAD
Conversely, provinces like Prince Edward Island (CAD 123,000) and cities such as Regina, SK (CAD 127,700) offer lower average veterinary salaries, often due to lower living costs and less access to specialized roles.
Detailed Comparison of Veterinarian Salaries by Province and Experience
To provide further insights into current veterinary salary trends, here is a detailed breakdown of average pay by years of experience across Canada’s provinces:
Alberta
- Entry-Level (0-2 Years): CAD 95,800
- Experienced (15+ Years): CAD 201,000
Due to robust economic conditions and service demand, Alberta offers Canada’s highest veterinary salaries, including CAD 201,000 for seasoned professionals.
Read more: Average Salaries in Alberta
Ontario
- Entry-Level (0-2 Years): CAD 85,100
- Experienced (15+ Years): CAD 198,200
Ontario provides the second highest salaries nationally, with experienced veterinarians earning up to CAD 198,200 annually.
Read more: Average Salaries in Ontario
Quebec
- Entry-Level (0-2 Years): CAD 77,500
- Experienced (15+ Years): CAD 178,800
Quebec’s entry-level wages are lower, but experienced professionals earn nearly CAD 180,000 annually.
British Columbia
- Entry-Level (0-2 Years): CAD 74,500
- Experienced (15+ Years): CAD 201,600
BC offers new veterinarians salaries of CAD 74,500, but compensation increases sharply with experience, exceeding CAD 200,000 annually.
Saskatchewan
- Entry-Level (0-2 Years): CAD 69,700
- Experienced (15+ Years): CAD 169,500
Despite below-average wages for new graduates, experienced veterinarians can eventually earn over CAD 169,000 in Saskatchewan.
Province | Entry-Level Salary | Experienced Salary |
Alberta | $95,800 CAD | $201,000 CAD |
Ontario | $85,100 CAD | $198,200 CAD |
Quebec | $77,500 CAD | $178,800 CAD |
British Columbia | $74,500 CAD | $201,600 CAD |
Saskatchewan | $69,700 CAD | $169,500 CAD |
Average veterinarian salaries across Canada reflect differences in demand, economic conditions, and living costs. However, experienced professionals can eventually command high wages exceeding CAD 170,000 in any province.
Source: https://worldsalaries.com/average-veterinarian-salary-in-canada/
What are the Key Factors That Influence Veterinarian Salaries in Canada?
Major essential factors account for the wide variations in pay among veterinarians across Canada:
Years of Experience
Veterinary salaries increase substantially with more incredible experience, expertise, and responsibility. According to national labour data, these are the average salaries based on years of experience:
- 0-2 Years: CAD 83,800
- 2-5 Years: CAD 109,700
- 5-10 Years: CAD 147,900
- 10-15 Years: CAD 172,200
- 15-20 Years: CAD 189,800
- 20+ Years: CAD 201,000
The impact of experience on average salaries is dramatic, with pay nearly doubling between entry-level and senior positions.
Specialization
Pursuing specialties also boosts earning potential. Veterinarians who specialize in surgery, dentistry, ophthalmology, oncology, cardiology, neurology, and critical care earn over 30-50% more than general practitioners.
However, specialists represent under 15% of Canada’s veterinarians and are concentrated in metropolitan areas.
Education
Higher education credentials correlate to increased pay. The average salaries based on education are:
- Bachelor’s Degree: CAD 107,300
- Master’s Degree: CAD 148,300
- PhD: CAD 191,100
Advanced degrees and specializations lead to higher salaries but also require more significant investments of time and tuition expenses.
Geographic Location
Region significantly impacts pay. Rural and suburban areas often pay 10-15% less than urban centers. Cities with specialty practices and corporate clinics also offer higher wages.
Hours and On-Call Duties
Veterinarians who work weekends and nights or accept on-call responsibilities receive higher compensation, with hourly rates up to double during these high-demand times.
Type of Employer
Large veterinary chains, universities, and specialty/emergency hospitals typically pay more than small, independent general practices. Corporate settings also offer more significant benefits.
What Strategies for Advancing Your Veterinarian Salaries and Career?
Veterinarians have a list of options when it comes to maximizing their salary and reaching their earnings potential:
Develop Specialized Skills and Knowledge
Pursuing specializations and certifications in surgery, neurology, oncology, dentistry, or ophthalmology can significantly boost salaries. However, becoming a specialist requires dedication through a post-graduate residency program and passing board exams.
Consider Relocating
While relocation may not be feasible for all veterinarians, moving to regions with the highest demand and wages can be rewarding. Rural communities and underserved metropolitan neighbourhoods often pay above-average salaries and offer incentives.
Negotiate Salaries and Renegotiate Annually
Research average salaries and compensation data to negotiate your pay during recruitment or annual performance reviews. Quantify your contributions and special skills. Assess whether your role has expanded and merits more excellent pay.
Change Employers Strategically
Switching to corporate veterinary chains, universities, or specialty/emergency hospitals can increase earnings by 15-25%. Large employers offer more advancement opportunities.
Obtain Advanced Degrees
While DVMs allow general practice, Ph. D.s and postgraduate research or clinical programs qualify veterinarians for the most prestigious and highest-paying roles.
Source: https://www.salaryexpert.com/salary/job/veterinarian/canada
Are Veterinarian Salaries All the Same in Canada?
Just like salaries vary between other professions, such as engineers, software developers, registered nurses, or lawyers in Canada, veterinary salaries vary between roles and genders. But how are they different? Let’s see below!
Pay Gap Across Veterinary Roles
Significant pay differences emerge across the various veterinary career paths:
Veterinary Career | Average Salary |
Companion Animal General Practitioner | $85,000 – $118,000 CAD |
Mixed Animal General Practitioner | $78,000 – $115,000 CAD |
Specialist (Surgery, Emergency, etc.) | $130,000 – $180,000+ CAD |
Academic Veterinarian | $95,000 – $155,000 CAD |
Government Veterinarian | $110,000 – $157,000 CAD |
Industry/Research Veterinarian | $100,000 – $145,000 CAD |
While precise incomes vary across provinces, specialists earn 50-90% more than general practitioners on average, benefiting from greater flexibility and benefits in academic or government roles.
Gender Pay Gap Among Veterinarians
Research indicates a gender-based pay gap exists among veterinarians in Canada:
- Male veterinarians earn approximately 5% higher salaries than females nationally, around CAD 141,000 versus CAD 134,700.
- Divergent specialization choices, gaps in work history, differences in negotiation approaches, and unconscious biases in compensation and promotion rates are factors driving this gap.
- Veterinary practices seeking to promote equity could implement standardized pay scales, regular audits, transparent promotion criteria, and diversity/inclusion initiatives.
- Female veterinarians can also take proactive steps like consistently negotiating salaries, seeking mentors, building networks, and asking peers about compensation.
Closing the gender pay gap requires a concerted effort from veterinary employers and employees. By taking positive actions, the profession can recruit and retain top talent regardless of gender and better reward skills, hard work, and contributions to animal welfare.
Source: https://thevetrecruiter.com/articles/salary-of-a-current-vet/
How to Negotiate Your Income as a Veterinarian?
Veterinarians can employ several strategies to negotiate higher salaries effectively, raises, and benefits with their employers.
Quantify Your Contributions
Track key metrics such as patient visits, revenue generated, new client referrals, and procedures performed. Use these data points to demonstrate your value to the practice during salary discussions.
Leverage Competing Offers
Securing a job offer from another veterinary practice, even if you don’t plan to accept it, can leverage negotiations, encouraging your current employer to offer a competitive raise.
Request Inflation-Matching Raises
The veterinary profession saw a 28.2% cumulative salary growth between 2018 and 2022. Use this as a benchmark to request annual raises that at least keep pace with inflation.
Utilize Salary Data
Compare your compensation to industry norms by referencing average salaries for your province, city, or specialization. This is particularly effective as you gain more experience.
Highlight Specialized Skills
Advanced certifications in dental procedures, ultrasound, exotic animal care, or surgery increase your value and justify higher pay.
Strategic Job Changes
Switching employers strategically can boost earnings by 15-25%. Corporate veterinary chains, universities, and specialty or emergency hospitals often offer higher salaries and more opportunities for advancement.
The key to successful negotiation is quantifying your contributions and confidently requesting fair, competitive compensation supported by relevant data. Revisiting these discussions annually ensures your pay keeps pace with your growing value. Employers are incentivized to retain top talent through competitive compensation packages in an industry facing veterinarian shortages.
Curious about other professions' salaries in Canada? Learn more here:
Average Software Developer Salaries in Canada
Average Engineer Salaries in Canada
Average Registered Nurse Salaries in Canada
Average Lawyer Salaries in Canada
The Bottom Line
Veterinarian salaries in Canada can vary substantially based on experience, education, specialization, and location. However, the average pay of CAD 139,100 nationally represents the tremendous value society places on this profession dedicated to animal welfare.
Passionate veterinarians will find Canada a rewarding country to practice in, especially given the current high demand in provinces like Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario, which helps boost compensation.
While salaries are only one aspect of finding career fulfillment, understanding pay ranges and growth opportunities can support financial planning and professional development.
FAQs about Average Veterinarian Salaries in Canada
Here are the FAQs related to average veterinarian salaries in Canada:
How much does a veterinarian make per year in Canada?
The average annual salary for a veterinarian in Canada is approximately $139,100 CAD as of 2025. Veterinarian salaries can range from $69,400 CAD for entry-level roles to over $211,200 CAD for experienced veterinarians depending on factors like location, experience, and specialty.
What province has the highest paying veterinarian jobs in Canada?
The provinces with the highest average veterinarian salaries are Alberta (average $158,900 CAD), British Columbia ($153,700 CAD), Ontario ($152,900 CAD), and Quebec ($160,600 CAD). Higher wages are driven by greater demand and higher costs of living in major metro areas.
Why do veterinary specialists make more than general practitioners?
Veterinary specialists in fields like surgery, critical care, dentistry, dermatology, and internal medicine earn 50-90% higher salaries than general practitioners on average. These roles require additional years of advanced training and certification, specialized skills, and long hours, which justify the increased compensation.
How can veterinarians increase their salary in Canada?
Veterinarians can boost salaries by gaining specialized skills and credentials, relocating to high-demand regions, negotiating pay raises annually, pursuing advanced degrees, changing employers strategically, and quantify their value to practices.
What is the job outlook for veterinarians in Canada?
The job outlook for veterinarians is very strong. High demand and labor shortages are projected over 2022-2031, with 5,000 job openings versus only 4,300 new veterinary graduates forecast. Salaries and signing bonuses will need to remain competitive to attract talent.