UK Veterinary Surgeon Salary Survey
United Kingdom - Below |
United Kingdom
January 2025 Update
Attracting, developing, and retaining top veterinary talent is more challenging than ever. While fair pay and benefits are still crucial, they’re just part of the picture. Today’s veterinary professionals – Veterinarians, Nurses, and Technicians – are looking for the whole package. This includes competitive salaries, of course, but also flexible schedules, a supportive team environment, and a real commitment to work-life balance. Getting this mix right is your key to building a strong, satisfied, and lasting veterinary team…
Explore our latest January 2025 Veterinary Surgeon Salary Survey for the United Kingdom…
Find your next job…the Fresh Way
[ Scroll to the end of the page to learn about our Methodology ]
United Kingdom – UK – January 2025
Six-Month Trend Analysis (July 2024 to January 2025):
- Low Range Median: Remained steady at £44,000, showing no change
- Mid Range Median: Increased from £59,000 to £60,000, representing a 1.7% rise
- High Range Median: Growth from £79,000 to £81,000, indicating a 2.5% increase
Annual Comparison (January 2024 to January 2025):
- Low Range Median: Solid growth from £40,000 to £44,000, a 10% increase
- Mid Range Median: Increased from £55,000 to £60,000, showing 9.1% growth
- High Range Median: Notable rise from £76,000 to £81,000, representing a 6.6% increase
Market Insights: The UK veterinary market shows interesting dynamics, with strong year-on-year growth but a more measured pace in recent months. The stability in entry-level salaries over the past six months, following significant earlier gains, suggests the market may be finding its equilibrium. Meanwhile, the continued growth in mid and high-range salaries indicates ongoing competition for experienced professionals.
Expectations for the Next 12 Months:
- Entry-level salaries will likely see modest growth to £45,000-£46,000
- Mid-range compensation will continue steady growth toward £62,000-£63,000
- High-range salaries will likely reach £83,000-£84,000
The UK veterinary sector enters 2025 with a more balanced and sustainable salary structure than seen in previous periods. The transition from rapid growth to more moderate increases, particularly in entry-level positions, suggests a market finding its natural equilibrium rather than losing momentum. While the pace of growth has moderated, the substantial year-on-year increases across all ranges demonstrate the sector’s underlying strength and stability. This evolution creates a more predictable market that supports both career progression and sustainable employment practices, benefiting both veterinary professionals and employers in the long term.
United Kingdom – UK – July 2024
Trend Analysis – January 2023 to July 2024:
- Low Range Median: Increased from £39,725 (Jan ’23) to £44,000 (Jul ’24), a notable 10.8% rise over 18 months.
- Mid Range Median: Remained relatively stable, moving from £59,033 (Jan ’23) to £59,000 (Jul ’24), a marginal 0.06% decrease.
- High Range Median: Slight increase from £77,183 (Jan ’23) to £79,000 (Jul ’24), a 2.4% growth.
Potential Expectations for the Next 12 Months:
- The low range will likely continue its upward trend, potentially reaching £46,000-£48,000.
- Mid-range salaries are expected to see modest growth, possibly hitting £61,000-£63,000.
- High-range compensation will likely see more significant increases to balance with other ranges, potentially reaching £82,000-£85,000.
Conclusion:
The UK veterinary job salary market shows signs of recovery and growth, particularly in entry-level positions. The notable increase in low-range salaries (10.8% over 18 months) indicates a concerted effort to attract new talent to practices. While mid-range salaries have remained stable, the most recent data suggests a potential for further growth. The high range has seen modest but steady growth. These trends point to a market that is actively working to balance the need for new professionals with the retention of experienced veterinarians. The UK veterinary sector appears to be entering a phase of cautious but consistent salary growth, creating opportunities across all experience levels. Employers in the UK market will need to stay attuned to these trends to ensure they remain competitive in attracting and retaining veterinary professionals.
United Kingdom – January 2024
Trend Analysis (2022-2024):
- Low-End Salary has shown fluctuations from £37,000 in January 2022, peaking at £43,000 in July 2023, and slightly reducing to £41,000 by January 2024. This indicates some volatility in starting salaries, possibly reflecting changes in demand or adjustments in entry-level positions.
- Average Salary has gradually increased from £55,000 in January 2022 to £61,000 by January 2024. This steady growth suggests a positive trend in the median compensation for veterinarians, indicating an overall healthy demand for veterinary professionals in the region.
- High-End Salary experienced a drop from £79,000 in January 2022 to £71,000 in July 2022, followed by a recovery to £84,000 by January 2024. This recovery highlights a resilience in the market for highly experienced or specialized veterinarians, with salary offerings bouncing back to attract top-tier talent.
Potential Expectations for the Next 12 Months:
- The salary trends indicate a general upward movement in compensation for veterinarians in the UK & Europe, albeit with some fluctuations, particularly at the low and high ends. This could be attributed to market adjustments in response to economic conditions, regulatory changes, or shifts in the supply and demand for veterinary professionals.
- The average salary’s consistent growth reflects a stable demand for veterinary services and professionals. This trend is likely to continue, supported by an increasing emphasis on animal welfare, the expansion of veterinary services, and technological advancements in veterinary medicine.
- Given the recovery in high-end salaries and a slight adjustment in low-end salaries, the next 12 months may see continued adjustments as the market stabilizes. Employers may need to focus on competitive compensation packages, considering not just base salary but also benefits, professional development opportunities, and work-life balance to attract and retain talent.
Conclusion:
The veterinarian salary trends in the UK & Europe from January 2020 to January 2024 indicate a healthy and dynamic market. While there are fluctuations, the overall trend is positive, suggesting a growing recognition of the value provided by veterinary professionals. Practices and organizations should remain adaptable, monitoring market trends and adjusting their compensation strategies to ensure they remain attractive to both new entrants and experienced veterinarians.
United Kingdom – July 2023
United Kingdom – January 2023
United Kingdom – July 2022
United Kingdom – January 2022
United Kingdom – July 2021
United Kingdom – January 2021
United Kingdom – July 2020
United Kingdom – January 2020
Methodology
About Our UK Veterinarian Salary Survey
We compile this survey twice yearly, in January and July, to give you a snapshot of the veterinary job market. Our data comes from a mix of public sources and our own research, offering a broad view of salary trends for both employers and job seekers.
Keep in mind that these figures are averages and don’t account for individual factors like specific qualifications, years of experience, areas of expertise, or location. Think of it as a starting point for understanding the market rather than a definitive guide for any particular role.
Understanding the Salary Ranges
Our data focuses on General Practice, Small Animal Veterinarians in their early career stage (1-3 years of experience). For a more comprehensive picture, consider these adjustments for different roles and experience levels:
- More Experienced Vets (3+ years): Add 25%+ to the figures
- Surgery-Focused Roles: Increase by 35% or more
- Specialty Fields: For roles in Emergency, Referral, Surgical, Internal Medicine, Oncology, Ophthalmology, and other specialties, expect salaries to be 50% higher or more
About Veterinary Jobs Marketplace…
We connect veterinary talent with the best veterinary jobs. Explore our Job Campaigns for GP Veterinarians, Emergency Vets, Veterinary Nurses, Technicians, and more, enriched with video insights. Find new team members using our unique Reach, Frequency, and Story strategy, now including One-to-One Outreach.
For Job Seekers: Discover your ideal veterinary jobs in cities across the UK and Europe. Register for custom Job Alerts, bringing the latest opportunities directly to your Inbox.
For Employers: Register to reach skilled veterinary professionals for your practice. From GP Veterinarians to Emergency Vets, our Job Campaigns help you find the perfect team members.
Worldwide Audience: Expand your reach internationally to the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. Our global reach will connect you to our global veterinary community.
Note: Glassdoor, Indeed, Payscale, Talent.com, and ERI – Economic Research Institute are business entities that publish publicly available information about salary data. We present these publicly available materials in fair use in a single location together with our own data as research to advance the understanding of the range of salary levels for Veterinarians in the United States. These business entities have not endorsed this Veterinarian Salary Survey nor any implication that may or may not be derived from the materials.
