Last updated: September 2026
How much do veterinarians and veterinary nurses earn in Australia?
There are several different ways to answer that question. The legal minimum under the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award is one figure, while salaries advertised by employers on SEEK and estimates from Indeed provide a picture of the broader job market. The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) Workforce Survey offers another perspective, based on information provided by practising veterinarians.
Looking at all of these sources gives a more useful picture of veterinary salaries in Australia than any single salary figure.
Veterinary salaries in Australia: Award vs market data
| Source | Veterinary Nurse | Veterinarian | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Award minimum – Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award (MA000118), Level 4 | $32.13/hr(~$63,500/yr) | $48.38/hr (~$95,600/yr) | Legal minimum for the relevant classification |
| SEEK (Aug 2026) | $70,000–$80,000/yr | $115,000–$135,000/yr | Salaries advertised by employers |
| Indeed (Aug 2026) | ~$73,500/yr | ~$120,000/yr | Salary estimate based on reported salary data |
| AVA Workforce Survey (2023/24, published 2026) | — | $60/hr small animal; $62/hr production; $50/hr equine; $51/hr mixed practice | Data reported by practising veterinarians |
The AVA Workforce Survey covers veterinarians only and does not provide comparable salary data for veterinary nurses. Annual equivalents are approximate and assume 38 hours per week. The Award figures are minimum rates, not typical market salaries. The different sources use different methodologies and should not be treated as directly comparable.
Source dates matter: SEEK and Indeed figures are snapshots of available data and can change as new jobs and salary reports are added. The AVA figures are from its 2023/24 Workforce Survey, published in 2026.
What is the average veterinarian salary in Australia?
Current Australian salary data puts veterinarian salaries at around $120,000 per year, although there is considerable variation depending on experience, location, practice type and responsibilities.
Indeed’s Australian veterinarian salary data was around $120,000 per year in August 2026, based on approximately 1,100 reported salaries. SEEK’s advertised salaries also show a broad market range, with many veterinarian positions advertised around $115,000–$135,000.
These figures are useful as a general guide, but a graduate veterinarian, experienced small-animal GP veterinarian, emergency veterinarian, specialist and practice owner can have very different earning potential.
What is the average veterinary nurse salary in Australia?
Veterinary nurse salaries vary according to experience, qualifications, responsibilities and the type of practice.
Current SEEK advertisements commonly show veterinary nursing positions around $70,000–$80,000 per year, with some senior, specialist, emergency and management roles paying more.
Indeed’s salary data similarly places average veterinary nurse earnings in the low-$70,000s.
For nurses, the difference between an entry-level position and an experienced or highly skilled role can be significant. Surgical and emergency experience, specialist nursing skills, leadership responsibilities and additional qualifications can all influence salary.
What is the Veterinary Award minimum wage?
The Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020 (MA000118) sets minimum employment conditions for employees covered by the Award, including veterinary nurses, practice managers, animal attendants, assistants and veterinary surgeons.
From 1 July 2026, the Award lists a minimum hourly rate of:
- $32.13/hr for a Level 4 veterinary nurse
- $33.77/hr for a Level 5 practice manager
- $48.38/hr for a Level 4 veterinary surgeon
These are minimum Award rates rather than market salary recommendations. (Fair Work Ombudsman)
The Award also contains provisions covering overtime, penalty rates, public holidays, shiftwork, casual employment and other employment conditions. For veterinary surgeons, for example, the Award provides specific arrangements for work beyond 38 hours and on-call duty. (Fair Work Ombudsman)
This means that simply comparing an annual salary with an Award hourly rate does not always give a complete picture of the value of a job.
What does the AVA Workforce Survey tell us about vet salaries?
The Australian Veterinary Association’s 2023/24 Workforce Survey, published in 2026, provides some of the most useful recent information about veterinary earnings in Australia.
Unlike salary websites and job boards, the survey collects information from veterinarians working in the profession.
One of its clearest findings is that practice type makes a substantial difference to veterinary earnings.
The median effective hourly rates reported were:
| Practice type | Median hourly rate |
|---|---|
| Production animal | $62/hr |
| Small animal | $60/hr |
| Mixed practice | $51/hr |
| Equine | $50/hr |
The difference is substantial. The median reported rate for production-animal veterinarians was $12 per hour higher than for equine veterinarians. (Australian Veterinary Association)
Hours and on-call commitments
The AVA data also shows why annual salary figures can be difficult to compare between different veterinary jobs.
Median weekly working hours were:
- Small animal: 38 hours
- Production: 40 hours
- Mixed practice: 40 hours
- Equine: 49 hours
On-call commitments varied considerably as well. Equine veterinarians reported a median of 25.5 hours per week on call, compared with no median on-call hours for small-animal veterinarians. Mixed-practice veterinarians reported a median of 22 hours on call and production veterinarians nine hours. (Australian Veterinary Association)
For someone comparing two veterinary positions, these differences can have a major impact on the value of the overall employment package.
The gender pay gap in veterinary medicine
The AVA survey found a substantial difference in median effective hourly earnings between male and female veterinarians:
- Women: $56/hr
- Men: $70.50/hr
The AVA attributes much of the overall difference to the age and seniority distribution of the profession. Veterinary medicine has feminised rapidly, with women more heavily represented among younger veterinarians and men more heavily represented among older and more senior veterinarians.
However, the survey also found differences in hourly earnings between men and women in several older age groups, including 45–54, 60–64 and 70+. (Australian Veterinary Association)
The finding is therefore worth considering when looking at remuneration across the veterinary profession, while recognising that individual salaries are influenced by many factors.
Are veterinarians working fewer hours?
Veterinary working patterns have changed over time.
The AVA’s latest survey found that median weekly working hours for male veterinarians had fallen from 43 hours in the 2013 survey to 40 hours in 2023/24. Female median working hours remained around 38 hours per week. (Australian Veterinary Association)
The survey also highlights the pressures involved in attracting and retaining veterinarians. 36.8% of veterinary recruitment vacancies took 12 months or longer to fill, rising to 44% in regional areas. (Australian Veterinary Association)
For employers, that makes remuneration and working conditions an important part of building an attractive veterinary position.
Veterinary graduate debt has increased significantly
The financial picture for new veterinarians has also changed.
The AVA reported median student debt of $84,640 among recent veterinary graduates, compared with just $5,000 among veterinarians who graduated in the 1980s and 1990s. (Australian Veterinary Association)
This is important context when considering graduate salaries. A new veterinarian entering the profession today may have very different financial pressures from a veterinarian who started their career several decades ago.
Flexibility is increasingly part of the employment conversation
The AVA survey also found that 41% of respondents had caring responsibilities, most commonly for young children. (Australian Veterinary Association)
For veterinary professionals, the value of a job can therefore extend beyond salary. Part-time hours, predictable rosters, flexible working arrangements and reasonable after-hours expectations can make a significant difference to whether a position works in practice.
For more information, see our guide to Flexible Work Arrangements for Veterinary Professionals.
How should you compare a veterinary job offer?
Whether you’re a veterinarian or veterinary nurse, it is worth looking at the whole employment package before comparing two roles.
Consider:
- Base salary or hourly rate
- Expected weekly hours
- Overtime arrangements
- Weekend and public holiday work
- On-call requirements
- Superannuation
- Annual leave and other leave entitlements
- CPD and professional development support
- Professional membership fees
- Flexible working arrangements
- Roster and shift requirements
- Clinical responsibilities
- Leadership or management responsibilities
- Your qualifications, experience and specialised skills
For nurses, additional qualifications, emergency or surgical experience, specialist skills and leadership responsibilities can all influence remuneration.
For veterinarians, experience, practice type, location, clinical skills, emergency or after-hours work, leadership responsibilities and specialist qualifications can have a substantial effect on earning potential.
Veterinary salaries in Australia: the bigger picture
The available salary data shows a veterinary employment market with considerable variation.
Award rates provide a legal minimum. SEEK provides a snapshot of what employers are advertising. Indeed provides an estimate based on reported salary information. The AVA Workforce Survey adds information about actual practising veterinarians and reveals differences in earnings between practice types, as well as differences in working hours, on-call commitments and gender.
The AVA data also highlights broader workforce issues, including rising graduate debt and difficulties recruiting veterinarians, particularly in regional areas.
For anyone considering a veterinary position, these factors are useful context when deciding whether an offer is competitive and whether the job is a good fit.
Sources and methodology
This article brings together several different types of salary information.
Fair Work Ombudsman: Minimum rates and employment conditions under the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020 (MA000118).
SEEK: Salary information based on salaries disclosed in job advertisements. The figures can change as the jobs advertised on the platform change.
Indeed: Salary estimates based on reported salary information. These figures can change as new data is added.
Australian Veterinary Association: 2023/24 Workforce Survey, published in 2026. The AVA survey relates to practising veterinarians and is not a live 2026 salary survey. It does not provide equivalent salary data for veterinary nurses.
Because these sources measure different things, their figures should be treated as benchmarks rather than directly comparable salary statistics.
Disclaimer: This article is provided by Vets Unlimited for general information only. Salary figures are indicative and will change over time. Different sources use different methodologies, and actual pay can vary depending on experience, qualifications, location, practice type, hours, responsibilities and employment conditions.
The information about the Fair Work Award is general in nature and does not constitute legal or industrial relations advice. Always check the current Award and your individual employment contract, or seek professional advice, to determine your specific entitlements.