Veterinary medicine is an extremely popular career choice in the animal industry, even though it requires a challenging, demanding education. It can be difficult to get accepted to vet school, but it can be well worth the effort in the long term.
To become a veterinarian, you need to complete an undergraduate or post graduate degree in veterinary science. Depending on the university, it takes between five and seven years of study to become a veterinarian. Australia has seven universities offering veterinary degrees.
Veterinary Medicine can be a stressful career choice. It is highly emotional at times and very rewarding at other times. Yes you have to enjoy animals to be a veterinarian. No you will not get rich being a veterinarian, but you can make a decent income (often very well if you own a successful practice).
The 10 highest paying jobs in Australia in 2020
- Property Development Director/General Manager.
- Head of Technology or Chief Technology Officer.
- Chief Financial Officer.
- Head of Operations (Mining)
- General Manager (Construction)
- In-House General Counsel (ASX 100)
Veterinary Employment - Australia (non residents)
There is currently a shortage of vets with two or more years' experience to fill roles in many areas of Australia. Vet practice owners in Australia regularly employ vets from overseas on both a short and long term basis.Applicants who achieved an ATAR (or notional ATAR) between 95.00 and 98.45 in Year 12 and commence and complete a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne with a weighted average mark of 70% or higher are guaranteed an Australian fee place (for domestic students) or international fee place in the six-year
Working as a vet nurse is one of the most rewarding careers. You get to help animals and their families make their lives better. You get to nurse them when they are not well, and keep them feeling great when they visit for an annual exam. While having a career as a vet nurse is a great job, it may not be for everyone.
National Average
| Salary Range (Percentile) |
|---|
| 25th | Average |
|---|
| Monthly Salary | $6,542 | $8,052 |
| Weekly Salary | $1,510 | $1,858 |
| Hourly Salary | $38 | $46 |
Both careers pay good wages, based on their education. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2011 veterinarians earned an average salary of $91,250 per year; while physicians and surgeons, which includes doctors, earned an average salary of $184,650 per year.
Australia's top 10 highest paying jobs
- Surgeons. Nearly 4,000 Australians work in this profession, and they top the earnings bracket with an average taxable income of $394,866.
- Anaesthetists.
- Internal Medicine Specialists.
- Financial Dealers.
- Psychiatrists.
- Other Medical Practitioners.
- Judicial and Other Legal Professionals.
- Mining Engineers.
OUR AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS
In Australia it was $1567.90 (before tax), according to the latest ABS statistics for November 2017. The ACT had the highest average weekly earnings at $1801 a week. This was followed by Western Australia on $1740, then Northern Territory on $1642 and NSW on $1582.Australia's top 10 highest paying jobs
- Surgeons. Nearly 4,000 Australians work in this profession, and they top the earnings bracket with an average taxable income of $394,866.
- Anaesthetists.
- Internal Medicine Specialists.
- Financial Dealers.
- Psychiatrists.
- Other Medical Practitioners.
- Judicial and Other Legal Professionals.
- Mining Engineers.
AVMA Report on Veterinary Compensation
The specialties with the highest median incomes were ophthalmology ($199,000), lab animal medicine ($169,000), pathology ($157,000), surgery ($133,000), internal medicine ($127,000), radiology ($121,000), and theriogenology ($121,000).The median income in Australia is $48,360 before tax, according to a report released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics this month that analysed data from the 2016/2017 financial year.
National Average
| Salary Range (Percentile) |
|---|
| 25th | Average |
|---|
| Monthly Salary | $6,542 | $8,037 |
| Weekly Salary | $1,510 | $1,855 |
| Hourly Salary | $38 | $46 |
- Anesthesiologist. #1 in Best Paying Jobs.
- Surgeon. #2 in Best Paying Jobs.
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. #3 in Best Paying Jobs.
- Obstetrician and Gynecologist. #4 in Best Paying Jobs.
- Orthodontist. #5 in Best Paying Jobs.
- Psychiatrist. #6 in Best Paying Jobs.
- Physician. #7 in Best Paying Jobs.
- Prosthodontist. #8 in Best Paying Jobs.
As of May 2016, the annual median income for veterinarians was $88,770, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10 percent earned an average of $52,470, while the top 10 percent brought home an average of $161,070. Vets in Hawaii earned the most, with an annual mean wage of $201,250.
The lowest paid positions are level 1 helpdesk providers in NSW ($31), service desk support providers in WA ($32) and service and help desk workers in Queensland ($40).
In Australia, to be employed as a qualified veterinary nurse you need a specific qualification: ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. This qualification is gained through a combination of theoretical training and practical work experience in a veterinary hospital.
Veterinary nurses play an important role in the care of pets and are a vital member of the veterinary team. They carry out technical work and are skilled in undertaking a range of diagnostic tests, medical treatments and minor surgical procedures, under veterinary surgeon direction.
A degree in veterinary nursing will not qualify you to be a veterinary surgeon, no. It is unheard of to transfer onto a veterinary medicine course from another degree.
The distance learning study mode is preferred by most of our nurses as it combines an income with the qualification they require for their position. Qualifications in Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing are competency based and can take the average student up to 3 years to complete.
To become a Veterinary Nurse you need to complete a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing ACM40412 as a minimum requirement. It's important to be aware that a Certificate II in Animal Studies ACM20110 is a progression towards this objective; however, it does not have identifiable employment outcomes.
A Veterinary Nurse is the new name for Veterinary Assistants and sometimes Veterinary Technicians. The difference between a Veterinary Technician and a Veterinary Assistant is that Veterinary Assistants take a fast paced course of the Veterinary Technician Program.
The veterinary practice must be an RCVS approved Training and Assessment Practice (TP) or Auxiliary TP (aTP). All placement students are on unpaid placements, so you are not expected to pay the student a wage, including any benefits in lieu of payment.
Fully qualified nurses start on salaries of £24,214 rising to £30,112 on Band 5 of the NHS Agenda for Change pay rates. Salaries in London attract a high-cost area supplement. With experience, in positions such as nurse team leader on Band 6, salaries progress to £30,401 to £37,267.
Vets make decent money if they practice in areas with enough of a client pool and clients with the resources to take their pets to the vet … so the vet would have enough to invest , which could generate enough to eventually become a millionaire .
Many clients appreciate the hands-on care that most veterinarians can give, a kind of care that is sometimes hard to find in human medicine. A vet visit can often be more client-friendly, more efficient and, frankly, more personal than going to a physician.
They believe human doctors make more money and how much money you make determines your worth as a human being. One reason may be that vets euthanize a lot more of their patients. It gives people the impression that you're not as skilled.
An interest in science (as an aside: you don't have to be good at math to be a vet, in case that is a concern for you; it was for me). A strong work ethic (and not just for school; try to get a job working for a vet clinic and learn vet med from the bottom up, even though it's hard work).
Why most veterinarians don't recommend going into their profession. Veterinarians often work long hours, make less money than human care providers, and deal with sometimes unruly or ungrateful clients. Contrary to popular belief: veterinary medicine does not involve cuddling puppies, kittens, and foals all day long.
Not surprisingly, veterinarians with no debt after graduation identified more often as happy than those with more than $100,000 in debt after graduation. Homeowning veterinarians identify more often as happy than those who do not own a home.
As of May 2011, veterinarian salaries ranged from a low of $50,480 per year, or $24.27 per hour, to a high of $141,680 annually, or $68.11 hourly, according to the BLS. The mean wages for 55,410 vets was $91,250 yearly, or $43.87 per hour.
A separate survey of working vets found that about 37% were considering leaving the industry within a year, and 40% were contemplating leaving their current job. Stress, poor work conditions and low remuneration were listed as the top reasons, and 40% would not recommend becoming a veterinarian.
