Many people interested in becoming a veterinarian have a strong interest in easing suffering and making a difference in animals’ lives. As rewarding as this field can be, it does come with its fair share of challenges, including steep tuition costs and an emotionally demanding workload.
If you find yourself wondering, “Is becoming a vet worth it?” you’re not alone. Most aspiring veterinarians ask themselves this question before entering medical school and even throughout their studies.
While loving animals can factor into your decision, you should objectively weigh the rewards against the sacrifices to ensure this path truly matches your goals, values, and aspirations.
This blog breaks down the pros and cons of being a veterinarian.
The Pros of Becoming a Veterinarian
When weighing the benefits of being a veterinarian, don’t fixate solely on the salary. This is a unique path that allows you to make a difference in the lives of both animals and humans. It can also be a great starting point for even more exciting opportunities.
Below are a few advantages of being a veterinarian.
Rewarding Work Helping Animals
Helping a sick animal get better, easing their pain, and improving their overall quality of life is profoundly meaningful. Each day as a veterinarian offers new opportunities to improve an animal’s life, as well as the lives of those who love them. Depending on what sector you want to work in, your efforts can also improve public health.
If you choose to work in wildlife conservation, you can be on the front lines addressing global issues like endangered species protection, biodiversity protection, disease surveillance and control, and much more, helping to safeguard the health of our ecosystem and the planet’s future.
Strong Job Outlook and Career Options
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment of veterinarians will grow by 19% between 2023 and 2033 — compared to an average growth of 4% for all occupations. Should these projections hold, an average of 4,300 openings will be available each year over the decade.
What’s even better than a strong job outlook is the variety of career options you can pursue within this field. Regardless of where your interests lie — be it in research, public health, or even wildlife preservation — your skills can be adapted to the specialization of your choice.
High Job Satisfaction Rates
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association® (AVMA®), nearly 74% of veterinarians are satisfied with their career, while 92% take pride in their work ethic.
Saving an animal’s life or improving their quality of life can be emotionally rewarding and professionally fulfilling. Diagnosing complex cases or performing surgeries can add intellectual stimulation and variety to each day.
Ability to Start Your Own Practice
Although most veterinarians work in private clinics and hospitals, there’s no rule that says veterinarians can’t open their own practice. This route offers more independence and an opportunity to create a clinic that reflects personal values and priorities. Having control over your own business lets you carve out the space you want to see within the veterinary industry.
Startup costs can be significant, but the payoff may be higher earnings and greater career flexibility.
Diverse Opportunities in the Field
Veterinary medicine is versatile and covers a wide range of specialties, including oncology, anatomic pathology, large animal internal medicine, and more. If clinical work isn’t your thing, you can choose to pursue a career in education, public health, or research — either on a local or global scale. As a veterinarian, you may collaborate with animal shelters, wildlife sanctuaries, marine biology centers, academic institutions, and more.
The Cons of Becoming a Veterinarian
It would be disingenuous to say there are no disadvantages to being a veterinarian. For example, since 2020, there has been an increase in the average veterinarian’s workload due to a shortage of qualified practitioners. The mental toll of these extensive hours can be difficult and may be heightened by the emotional toll of caring for sick or dying animals and distraught pet owners.
Below are some of the challenges of being a veterinarian.
Long Work Hours
According to the 2024 AVMA® Report on the Economic State of the Veterinary Profession, the average workweek for full-time veterinarians was around 49 hours in 2023.
When it comes to veterinary training, the general limit is 80 hours a week for clinical residents, though some students have reported working more than 100 hours a week.
Demanding Educational Path
The cost of vet school isn’t solely financial — it’s also mental and emotional. Depending on the program, you’ll need to first complete a pre-veterinary track during your undergraduate studies and gain clinical experience.
The application process is highly competitive, and once accepted, you’ll complete a rigorous Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program.
You will have to learn a lot of information in your 3.25 to four years of schooling. And once clinical rotations begin, you must balance gaining clinical hours with completing coursework, which is a huge time commitment. If you want to pursue a specific specialization, you’ll need to participate in a residency or internship to ensure you’re eligible for the appropriate board certification.
Cost of Veterinary School and Veterinary Student Debt
According to a 2024 AVMA report, the average educational debt in 2024 for veterinary graduates was $202,647, and that is counting only debt incurred through DVM studies. Thirty-nine percent of graduating veterinarians in 2024 reported having debt of between $200,00 and $400,000, while just under 16.6% reported having no debt at all.
Lower Salary Compared to Other Medical Professions
Physicians, not including surgeons, generally earn anywhere from $66,260 to more than $239,200 annually.1 Veterinarians typically earn between $72,360 and $155,230.1 The pay gap may feel discouraging, especially when considering the amount of debt you’ll likely accrue throughout your education, but specializing in high-demand fields may, over time, help bridge that gap.
Make an Informed Decision
Answering, “Should I become a veterinarian?” requires deep reflection.
Although veterinary school is a huge commitment — of finance, emotion, and time — for many, the rewards outweigh the challenges. Veterinarians have the opportunity to save lives, create deep connections, and drive the future of veterinary medicine forward on a local or global scale.
If you’re ready to embrace everything veterinary medicine has to offer, apply to Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine today!
1 Bureau of Labor Statistics (as of May 2023). The 10th percentile figure reasonably represents entry level wages. BLS wages are national estimates and are not specific to graduates of RUSVM. Wages may vary by state or region. No guarantee is made that a person who enrolls at RUSVM will obtain a job or earn the estimated salaries.
