Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Do veterinarians actually make a lot of money?
Do veterinarians actually make a lot of money?
Do veterinarians actually make a lot of money in Western countries ie America, Canada, Australia, UK? I've been told a lot of conflicting information.... Some people say that veterinarians are reallly rich....on the basis that they charge so much But then I've been told, veterinarians don't make anything at all ...because what they charge is practically only the cost of the medicine, and that the amount that they actually get for their labour is almost nothing... SO,, does anyone actually know? Also, which type of vet makes the most money? Which country do they make the most...taking into account the cost of living in that country. Any vets out there? " $200k for equine, livestock, or avian vets or those who specialize in oncology (cancer) or orthopedics (bones)." Is that with 10yrs exp? or 20+? How about ophthamology? ..Also, why do avian vets get so much? ...I'm sort of trying to work out what path I am most probably going to want to take...so I can get the prac exp earlier AND although money isn't the biggest factor...I DO have to take it into account. ----> is it better to open up your own vet clinic or work for someone......lifestyle wise/work hrs
Other - Pets - 4 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
They do quite well around here. SE Oklahoma. That may be because there may not be much with which to compare them.
2 :
I'm no vet, but seeing as that's my chosen career path and I've been doing some looking into the profession, I'll give this a go. A vet's salary TOTALLY depends on countless factors. Traditionally, the vets that make the most money live in urban areas or large cities, work on large animals/equines or exotics and birds, and have been practicing for many years. So on the other hand, the vets that make the least money work in rural areas, practice only or mostly on dogs and cats, and are new to the workforce. I can't speak for other countries, but in the US, vets tend to live a rather comfortable life in the long run, though not a lavish lifestyle. In my state, starting salary is about $80k with the salary rising to $150k or so after 5-10 years. Vet techs generally make less than veterinarians. School costs are incredibly high for this profession, and you can expect to be paying off loans for many years after graduation. So the key here is, if you plan to be a vet, SPECIALIZE SPECIALIZE SPECIALIZE. You will be greatly rewarded in the long run, since in my state salary with experience can run over $200k for equine, livestock, or avian vets or those who specialize in oncology (cancer) or orthopedics (bones). State is Iowa, USA, by the way. @ the adds: "over $200k for equine, livestock, or avian vets or those who specialize in oncology (cancer) or orthopedics (bones)." This is WITH experience (5-10+ years) Opthalmology is another specialization. Generally, most specializations can drastically increase your salary, just like with doctors. I don't have any figures for this sepcialization, sorry. If you start your own business, you must take on the start-up costs. This is very tough to do if you're still trying to pay off loans. My recommendation is to start off working in someone else's established practice, then maybe moving and starting your own once your school loans are fully or mostly paid off. This way, you can expect more income available that's not going to pay loans. This "extra" income can be used to purchase equipment, hire help, rent a building, start advertising, etc. Be very careful to keep a good credit score, so banks will loan you money for these purchases. Avian vets make a LOT of money for one good reason: There aren't very many, and many people have birds. Supply and demand. Because there is a low supply of avian qualified vets and a high number of bird owners, avian vets can charge more. Plus, there is more schooling involved. Fewer people are willing to take on that extra schooling, which helps keep supply low.
3 :
guess that would depend on the vet.. if they do specialized care, etc. Keep in mind, most vets do have costs of operating their building, paying staff, student loans, buying expensive medical equipment (I find that the most expensive vets generally have the most up-to-date equipment),etc. Most vets I know live comfortably, but not rich.
4 :
I live in Australia, and it is quite common for people to finish their studies for Veterinary Science then head to the UK where vets are known to be paid better. Vets are paid a lot for treatments, but the only make a marginal profit out of that. They might make more than the average person in a day, but their days are 2 or three times longer, they work very hard for every cent. I have never met a rich vet, nor have I ever met a poor one. They are relatively well off, but are paid less than dentists to put it into perspective.
