Prevailing Wage for Veterinarians
Prevailing wage requirements for Veterinarians under SOC 29-1131 are set by the DOL using regional wage surveys that cover every major U.S. metro. Whether you're filing as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), a Small Animal Veterinarian, or a Companion Animal Practitioner, DOL assigns one of four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts significantly by worksite city.
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Entry-level veterinarians with limited post-graduation experience, typically under two years in a supervised clinical or research setting. Role involves routine cases under direct oversight, with limited independent judgment on complex diagnoses or treatment plans.
Qualified veterinarians with moderate experience, typically two to five years, handling a broader case mix with some independence. Level 2 is the most common filing level for sponsored veterinarian positions across clinical practice and government service roles.
Experienced veterinarians who regularly handle complex cases, specialty referrals, or research independently. Often includes board-eligible or board-certified practitioners, government inspectors with supervisory scope, or those managing a caseload requiring advanced diagnostic judgment.
Fully competent veterinarians at the senior or lead level, including practice medical directors, principal research scientists, or chief veterinary officers. Role typically involves setting clinical protocols, supervising other DVMs, or leading regulatory or research programs.
Prevailing Wage for Veterinarians by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Veterinarians and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Veterinarians
Confirm your worksite before the LCA files
Veterinarians work at a fixed clinical or research site, so the prevailing wage on the LCA must match the actual worksite metro. A practice with locations in Manhattan, KS and San Jose, CA carries very different wage floors at each site.
Watch how signing bonuses are treated
Some veterinary employers structure compensation with a large signing bonus and a below-floor base salary. DOL counts only the guaranteed base wage toward prevailing wage compliance, not one-time bonuses or production-based incentives common in private practice.
Check which employers have sponsored DVMs before
Migrate Mate shows historical visa sponsorship counts by employer, so you can see which veterinary hospital groups, government agencies, and research institutions have actually sponsored Veterinarians rather than relying on unverified job postings.
Understand how specialty certification shifts your level
Board certification from the American Veterinary Medical Association in a specialty such as internal medicine or emergency critical care typically supports a Level 3 or Level 4 filing. Employers who file at Level 2 for a boarded specialist risk a DOL audit.
Jobs for Veterinarians are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for VeterinariansPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 29-1131.00 alongside Veterinarians, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Companion Animal Practitioner Prevailing Wage
Companion Animal Practitioner Prevailing Wage
Companion Animal Practitioner positions fall under SOC 29-1131.00 (Veterinarians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) Prevailing Wage
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1131.00 (Veterinarians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Emergency Veterinarian (Emergency Vet) Prevailing Wage
Emergency Veterinarian (Emergency Vet) Prevailing Wage
Emergency Veterinarian (Emergency Vet) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1131.00 (Veterinarians). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Large Animal Veterinarian (Large Animal Vet) Prevailing Wage
Large Animal Veterinarian (Large Animal Vet) Prevailing Wage
Large Animal Veterinarian (Large Animal Vet) positions fall under SOC 29-1131.00 (Veterinarians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Mixed Animal Veterinarian (Mixed Animal Vet) Prevailing Wage
Mixed Animal Veterinarian (Mixed Animal Vet) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Mixed Animal Veterinarian (Mixed Animal Vet) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1131.00 (Veterinarians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Small Animal Veterinarian (Small Animal Vet) Prevailing Wage
Small Animal Veterinarian (Small Animal Vet) Prevailing Wage
Small Animal Veterinarian (Small Animal Vet) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1131.00 (Veterinarians). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Veterinary Medicine Doctor (DVM) Prevailing Wage
Veterinary Medicine Doctor (DVM) Prevailing Wage
Veterinary Medicine Doctor (DVM) positions fall under SOC 29-1131.00 (Veterinarians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Veterinary Surgeon (Vet Surgeon) Prevailing Wage
Veterinary Surgeon (Vet Surgeon) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Veterinary Surgeon (Vet Surgeon) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1131.00 (Veterinarians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Veterinary Surgical Specialist (Vet Surgical Specialist) Prevailing Wage
Veterinary Surgical Specialist (Vet Surgical Specialist) Prevailing Wage
Veterinary Surgical Specialist (Vet Surgical Specialist) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1131.00 (Veterinarians). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Zoo Veterinarian (Zoo Vet) Prevailing Wage
Zoo Veterinarian (Zoo Vet) Prevailing Wage
Zoo Veterinarian (Zoo Vet) positions fall under SOC 29-1131.00 (Veterinarians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Veterinarians?
DOL sets prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For SOC 29-1131 Veterinarians, those survey results are published through OFLC and updated annually. The wage reflects what employers in a given metro area actually pay workers in the same occupation, not a national average.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
DOL's four levels reflect experience and autonomy. Level 1 covers entry-level work under supervision; Level 2 covers qualified practitioners with some independent judgment; Level 3 covers experienced veterinarians handling complex cases or specialty work; Level 4 covers senior or lead roles with supervisory or policy scope. The employer selects the level when filing the LCA, but it must match the actual duties and experience required in the job description.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role vary so much from city to city?
OFLC uses regional OES survey data, so wages reflect local labor market conditions. The LCA must list the actual worksite address, and DOL applies the wage floor for that specific metro area. A veterinarian position in Anchorage, AK carries a substantially higher floor than the same title in Manhattan, KS because local survey data in those markets differs. Employer concentration, cost of living, and regional demand all feed into the survey results.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA with a wage below the DOL prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite. USCIS will not approve an H-1B petition tied to a deficient LCA, and a PERM application for a green card faces the same requirement. If the offered salary falls short, the employer must either raise the salary to meet the floor or file at a lower wage level that accurately reflects the role's duties and experience requirements.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Veterinarians role at a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current DOL wage for SOC 29-1131 at any metro area. Select the occupation code, choose the worksite state and metro, and the tool returns all four level wages. For finding employers who have actively sponsored veterinarian roles in the past, Migrate Mate filters by role, location, and visa type so you can identify which practices and institutions have a real sponsorship track record.
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