Salary distribution
Where Illinois veterinarians fall on the wage curve.
Distribution not available
The Bureau of Labor Statistics suppresses wage percentiles for this occupation and state when the surveyed cell has too few employers to publish without revealing individual firm pay. National figures and adjacent states below remain a useful reference.
Veterinarians in Illinois: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 8 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $87,413. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 2 | $81,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 1 | $146,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $183,498 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Veterinarians in Illinois. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois | Veterinary Resident | 3 | $45,000 |
| ZSDVM IL, PLLC | Associate Veterinarian | 1 | $82,826 |
| Noah's Ark Animal Sanctuary Inc. | Associate Supervised Veterinarian | 1 | $112,320 |
| VCA Inc. | VETERINARIAN | 1 | $92,000 |
| Veterinary Emergency Group, LLC | Emergency Veterinarian | 1 | $183,498 |
| Animal Protective League of Springfield and Sangamon County | Veterinarian | 1 | $70,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Associate Veterinarian at ZSDVM IL, PLLC$82,826ChicagoDecided Dec 19, 2025I-203-25346-478786
- Associate Supervised Veterinarian at Noah's Ark Animal Sanctuary Inc.$112,320RockfordDecided Dec 16, 2025I-200-25343-468950
- VETERINARIAN at VCA Inc.$92,000AuroraWage Level IDecided Jul 21, 2025I-200-25195-172126
- Emergency Veterinarian at Veterinary Emergency Group, LLC$183,498ChicagoWage Level IIIDecided Jun 26, 2025I-203-25169-107412
- Veterinary Resident at University of Illinois$45,000UrbanaDecided Jun 9, 2025I-200-25153-042737
- Veterinarian at Animal Protective League of Springfield and Sangamon County$70,000SpringfieldWage Level IDecided Jun 5, 2025I-200-25149-031682
- Veterinary Resident at University of Illinois$45,000UrbanaDecided May 27, 2025I-200-25139-990369
- Clinical Assistant Professor at University of Illinois$146,000UrbanaWage Level IIDecided Dec 30, 2024I-200-24354-560022
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Veterinarians pay by experience level in Illinois
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Veterinarians in Illinois, by industry
Median offered wage across 8 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $92,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | ZSDVM IL, PLLC | 5 | $92,000 |
| Education | University of Illinois | 3 | $45,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Illinois over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.7 / 5
Biology
Knowledge
- 4.7 / 5
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds, or performing surgery.
- 02
Inoculate animals against various diseases, such as rabies or distemper.
- 03
Examine animals to detect and determine the nature of diseases or injuries.
- 04
Collect body tissue, feces, blood, urine, or other body fluids for examination and analysis.
- 05
Operate diagnostic equipment, such as radiographic or ultrasound equipment, and interpret the resulting images.
- 06
Educate the public about diseases that can be spread from animals to humans.
- 07
Counsel clients about the deaths of their pets or about euthanasia decisions for their pets.
- 08
Specialize in a particular type of treatment, such as dentistry, pathology, nutrition, surgery, microbiology, or internal medicine.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+9.6%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for veterinarians in major Illinois metropolitan areas.
- Chicago$134,430
Compare Veterinarians pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Veterinarians in Illinois?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Veterinarians in Illinois is $128,290.
- How does Illinois compare to the national median for Veterinarians?
- The Illinois median is +4.4% versus the BLS national figure of $122,859.
- Is Veterinarians a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 9.6% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Veterinarians?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Doctoral or professional degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.