Veterinarians are getting paid more and being promoted at a faster pace than any other specialty.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its 2018 Salary Report, which includes veterinarians who work in all areas of the farm animal industry.
The highest-paid veterinarians were veterinarians in the livestock, pet and fish industries, where they earn an average of $155,800 a year, according to the report.
Those in the agricultural and food services fields earn an estimated $93,400.
The report also said the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization reported a 4.6 percent increase in the number of veterinarians, and veterinarians with a bachelor’s degree are expected to earn an additional $1.1 billion by 2023.
That would make the U,S.
the fifth-largest vet trade group with an annual revenue of $14.4 billion, according the USDA.
The USDA said in the report that veterinarians will need to increase their productivity and expertise to continue to grow in the years ahead.
Veterinary schools have seen an increase in applications for degrees, said Lisa P. Kucharski, director of the National Association of Veterinary Colleges.
She said the veterinary community is in a strong position to grow because of the advances in technology and research.
