Salary by Profession in the UK: Compare Jobs, Regions and Pay Levels

How Much Do Vets Earn in the UK? — 2026 Salary Guide

Complete guide to veterinary surgeon salaries in the UK for 2026. New graduate to partner pay, small animal vs farm vs equine, locum rates, specialist vets, pension, and career progression.

· · 4 min read

Salary and income data is based on ONS and other official UK statistical sources. Figures are averages and may not reflect your individual circumstances.

Veterinary medicine is a challenging profession requiring a 5-year degree. Salaries have improved significantly due to staff shortages. Here’s the complete breakdown of what vets earn.

For a broader comparison across occupations and pay bands, see our Salary by Profession hub.

Vet Salary by Experience (2025/26)

By Career Level

LevelSalary Range
New graduate (Year 1)£32,000-£40,000
Graduate (Years 2-3)£36,000-£46,000
Experienced vet (3-5 years)£42,000-£52,000
Senior vet (5-10 years)£48,000-£62,000
Very senior/lead vet£55,000-£75,000
Clinical director£60,000-£85,000
Practice owner/partner£65,000-£150,000+

Graduate Starting Salaries by Employer

Employer TypeStarting Salary
Independent small animal practice£32,000-£38,000
Corporate group (IVC, CVS, Pets at Home)£35,000-£42,000
Mixed practice£32,000-£38,000
Farm/large animal£30,000-£36,000
Equine practice£28,000-£35,000
Charity practice (PDSA, Blue Cross)£32,000-£38,000
Referral hospital£36,000-£44,000

Pay by Veterinary Sector

Small Animal Practice

LevelSalary
New graduate£34,000-£40,000
Experienced (3-5 years)£44,000-£54,000
Senior vet£52,000-£65,000
Clinical director£60,000-£80,000
Partner/owner£70,000-£120,000+

Farm/Large Animal

LevelSalary
New graduate£30,000-£36,000
Experienced£38,000-£48,000
Senior/TB tester£45,000-£58,000
Partner (farm practice)£55,000-£90,000

Farm vets often receive additional benefits like housing, vehicles, and TB testing income.

Equine Practice

LevelSalary
New graduate£28,000-£35,000
Experienced£35,000-£48,000
Senior equine vet£45,000-£60,000
Stud/racing specialist£50,000-£80,000
Partner£60,000-£100,000+

Equine starting salaries are lower, but top specialists (especially in racing) earn well.

Mixed Practice

LevelSalary
New graduate£32,000-£38,000
Experienced£40,000-£50,000
Senior£48,000-£62,000
Partner£60,000-£100,000

Specialist Veterinary Surgeons

Vets with RCVS certificates or diplomas command higher salaries:

By Specialism

SpecialismSalary Range
Certificate holder (general)£50,000-£70,000
Diploma holder (RCVS Specialist)£65,000-£100,000+
Surgery (orthopaedics, soft tissue)£60,000-£110,000
Internal medicine£60,000-£100,000
Oncology£65,000-£100,000
Neurology£70,000-£110,000
Cardiology£65,000-£100,000
Dermatology£60,000-£90,000
Ophthalmology£65,000-£100,000
Anaesthesia£55,000-£85,000
Diagnostic imaging£55,000-£90,000
Emergency and critical care£55,000-£85,000
Exotics£50,000-£75,000

Referral Hospital Pay

LevelSalary
Rotating intern£28,000-£34,000
Resident (training for diploma)£32,000-£42,000
Staff clinician£50,000-£70,000
Specialist clinician£65,000-£100,000
Head of department£80,000-£120,000
Hospital director£90,000-£140,000

Locum Vet Rates

LevelDaily RateAnnualised Equivalent
New graduate£300-£400£70,000-£90,000
Experienced£400-£550£90,000-£125,000
Senior/sole charge£500-£650£115,000-£150,000
Specialist/certificate£550-£750£125,000-£170,000
Emergency/OOH£500-£800Variable

Locum rates don’t include pension, leave, CPD, or insurance costs.

Corporate vs Independent

Corporate Groups (IVC, CVS, Medivet, Linnaeus)

FactorDetails
Starting salaryOften higher (£35,000-£42,000)
Career progressionStructured, with regional/national roles
BenefitsOften better (CPD, pension, insurance)
WorkloadCan be higher
Clinical freedomMay be more restricted

Independent Practices

FactorDetails
Starting salaryOften slightly lower
Partnership potentialPossible to buy into practice
FlexibilityOften more
BenefitsVariable
Long-term earningPartnership can be very lucrative

Regional Pay Differences

RegionNew GraduateSenior Vet
Central London£38,000-£45,000£58,000-£75,000
Greater London£36,000-£42,000£52,000-£68,000
South East£34,000-£40,000£50,000-£65,000
South West£32,000-£38,000£48,000-£62,000
Midlands£32,000-£38,000£46,000-£60,000
North West£32,000-£38,000£46,000-£60,000
Yorkshire£31,000-£37,000£45,000-£58,000
North East£30,000-£36,000£44,000-£56,000
Scotland£32,000-£38,000£46,000-£60,000
Wales£30,000-£36,000£44,000-£56,000
Northern Ireland£30,000-£35,000£42,000-£54,000

Other Veterinary Careers

Non-Clinical Roles

RoleSalary Range
Government vet (APHA)£38,000-£65,000
Official Veterinarian (OV, meat inspection)£45,000-£65,000
Pharmaceutical industry (clinical)£50,000-£90,000
Pharmaceutical (commercial/marketing)£55,000-£120,000
Pet insurance (claims vet)£45,000-£65,000
Academic/university£45,000-£85,000
Charity sector (senior roles)£50,000-£75,000
Regulatory (VMD)£45,000-£70,000

Veterinary Nurses

LevelSalary
Student veterinary nurse£18,000-£22,000
Newly qualified RVN£23,000-£27,000
Experienced RVN£26,000-£32,000
Senior/Head RVN£30,000-£38,000
Practice manager (RVN)£32,000-£45,000
Certificate holder (RVN)£30,000-£40,000

Training and Qualifications

Path to Qualification

StageDurationCost
Veterinary degree (BVetMed, BVMS, etc.)5 years~£9,250/year (£46,250 total)
Professional Development Phase (PDP)1 yearEmployer-funded
RCVS registrationOngoing~£400/year
Certificate (if pursuing)2-4 years part-time£10,000-£20,000
Diploma/residency3-4 yearsOften salaried training

CPD Requirements

RequirementDetails
RCVS CPD requirement35 hours/year minimum
Employer fundingUsually provided
Certificate studyOften supported by employers

Pension and Benefits

Typical Benefits Package

BenefitTypical Offering
Pension3-6% employer contribution
CPD allowance£1,500-£3,000/year
RCVS feesOften paid
Professional indemnityIncluded
VDS membershipOften paid
Health insuranceSometimes
Annual leave25-30 days
Out-of-hours arrangementVaries (co-op, in-house, none)

Corporate vs Independent Benefits

BenefitCorporateIndependent
Pension4-6%3-5%
CPDOften goodVariable
Career progressionStructuredPartnership potential
Work-life balanceVariableVariable

Career Progression

StageYears Post-GradRoleSalary
New graduate0-1Vet£32,000-£40,000
Building experience1-3Vet£38,000-£48,000
Competent3-5Senior Vet£46,000-£56,000
Experienced5-10Senior/Lead Vet£52,000-£68,000
Leadership8-15Clinical Director£60,000-£85,000
Ownership10+Partner/Owner£70,000-£150,000+
Specialist route6-10Diploma-holder£70,000-£110,000

Summary

LevelSalary Range
New graduate£32,000-£40,000
Experienced vet (3-5 years)£42,000-£54,000
Senior vet£50,000-£68,000
Clinical director£60,000-£85,000
Partner/owner£70,000-£150,000+
Specialist (diploma)£65,000-£110,000
Locum (daily)£400-£650/day
Veterinary nurse (RVN)£23,000-£38,000

Sources

  1. ONS — Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings