Veterinary surgeon: Salary and conditions

According to the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons , the average starting salary package is between £30,380 and £39,500. This package may include a salary of £18,000 - 20,000, a car and accommodation (salary data collected Nov 2009);
Further training and experience can increase salary from £20,000 to £35,000. Senior vets can earn around £48,000, depending on the size of their practice (salary data collected Nov 2009).
Salary levels can vary according to further training, specialisation and whether you are working as a practice partner.
Many veterinary practices offer 24 hour a day, 365 days a year service. This means that a vet’s working hours may be irregular as it is important to be available for emergencies. This can have an impact on social life;
Many vets work in private practices, and experience as a vet can lead to buying into a practice or setting up a practice;
Working conditions vary. Vets work in surgeries, farms, zoos, customers' homes and other environments. They may be required to work outdoors in poor weather conditions;
Locum work is often possible in this profession;
The job can be physically demanding, carry a high level of responsibility and be stressful;
There is a physical risk of scratching and biting from animals and also a risk of catching a trans-species disease.
Travel around a range of locations may be frequent, but travel overseas is uncommon.
There are approximately equal numbers of men and women in the profession.

AGCAS

Written by Paul Fitzgerald, AGCAS

Last updated:

November 2009