Veterinarian Salary in Kentucky (2026)

Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.

Median Annual Salary$104,100
Median Hourly Wage$50.05
National Median$132,782
Jobs in Kentucky1,190

Veterinarian Salary in Kentucky vs. National Average

KentuckyNationalDifference
Median annual salary$104,100$132,782-22%
Median hourly wage$50.05$63.84-22%

Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $115,410.

Veterinarian Salary in Top Kentucky Cities

CityMedianEntry LevelExperiencedCost of Living
City-level data coming soon.

FAQ

How much does a Veterinarian make in Kentucky?

The median annual salary for a Veterinarian in Kentucky is $104,100, or about $50.05 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.

How does this compare to the national average?

The national median for Veterinarians is $132,782. Kentucky is -22% below the national median.

What is the entry-level salary for a Veterinarian in Kentucky?

Entry-level veterinarians in Kentucky typically earn from varies by experience depending on the city and employer.

Is Kentucky a good state for veterinarians?

With 1,190 veterinarian jobs on record and a median salary of $104,100, Kentucky offers competitive pay compared to the rest of the country.

Where does Veterinarian pay rank in Kentucky?

By median annual wage, veterinarians rank 63 of the 699 occupations reported in Kentucky — higher than 91% of them.

What do similar occupations pay in Kentucky?

Among occupations in the same job family, Cardiologists at $558,180, Anesthesiologists at $347,960, Neurologists at $338,850 — all figures are median annual wages for Kentucky.

Do these figures include taxes?

No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. Kentucky levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 89.0 (100 = national average).

Veterinarian in Kentucky: where it sits among all occupations

By median annual wage, veterinarians rank 63 of the 699 occupations reported in Kentucky — higher than 91% of them.

Occupation in the same job familyMedian in KentuckyJobs
Cardiologists$558,180—
Anesthesiologists$347,960$1,090
Neurologists$338,850$230
Physicians, All Other$327,390$3,340
Physicians, Pathologists$324,390—
Obstetricians and Gynecologists$317,110$240

Kentucky levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 89.0 (100 = national average).

Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 699 occupations in Kentucky.