Veterinarian Salary in Canada | Breakdown by Province

In Canada, the median wage for veterinarians is $60.00/hr

Veterinarians in Canada: job prospects, employment requirements, licensing.

In Canada, veterinarians are classified under NOC 31103, prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and disorders in animals while advising clients on feeding, hygiene, housing and general care in private clinics, animal hospitals, farms, zoos, research facilities and government agencies. Approximately 12,600 people worked in this occupation in 2023. Job prospects indicate a strong risk of labour shortage nationally through 2033, with about 6,500 projected job openings relatively similar to the expected number of job seekers, supported by growing pet ownership, agricultural needs and replacement demand.

Median hourly wages stand at about 60.00 Canadian dollars nationally, with typical ranges from 29.81 to 86.54 dollars per hour depending on experience, location, type of practice such as companion animal or large animal, and whether the role involves ownership or specialization. Most positions require a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, successful completion of national licensing examinations, and provincial registration, with work conditions often involving full-time or part-time clinical hours that may include evenings, weekends, on-call duties and emergency responses in emotionally demanding environments with exposure to animals, biological hazards and high levels of client interaction.

Licensing

Veterinarians are regulated everywhere in Canada except Yukon. Veterinarians must be registered with one of the provincial or territorial regulatory authorities to be authorized to practise anywhere in Canada, except in Yukon.

VETERINARIAN (NOC 31103)
2025	Wages/hr
Community/Area	Low	Median	High
Canada	34.15	60.00	84.13
Newfoundland and Labrador	40.13	57.35	76.72
Prince Edward Island	29.33	51.82	71.23
Nova Scotia	49.31	52.20	71.23
New Brunswick	29.33	51.82	71.23
Quebec	25.00	64.10	70.00
Ontario	29.81	60.00	86.54
Manitoba	38.46	50.48	72.12
Saskatchewan	38.65	52.88	65.00
Alberta	40.75	62.50	88.94
British Columbia	35.58	60.00	86.54
Yukon Territory	N/A	N/A	N/A
Northwest Territories	N/A	N/A	N/A
Nunavut	N/A	N/A	N/A
Source: Job Bank. 2026

In 2021, veterinarians in Ontario reported higher wages.

VETERINARIANS (NOC 3114)
Community/Area	Wages ($/year)
	Low	Median	High
Canada	30,229	85,074	139,667
Newfoundland	N/A	N/A	N/A
PEI	N/A	N/A	N/A
Nova Scotia	27,273	73,259	104,357
New Brunswick	N/A	N/A	N/A
Quebec	40,081	83,200	130,549
Ontario	30,296	83,697	148,842
Manitoba	27,001	86,801	129,322
Saskatchewan	24,933	83,911	131,550
Alberta	41,090	96,817	145,253
British Columbia	35,894	85,140	141,503
Yukon Territory	N/A	N/A	N/A
NWT	N/A	N/A	N/A
Nunavut	N/A	N/A	N/A
Source: Job Bank. Nov 2021

In 2017, veterinarians in Quebec reported higher salaries.

VETERINARIANS (NOC 3114-A)
2017	Wages ($/yr)
Province/Territory	Low	Median	High
Canada	30,079	81,640	147,954
Québec	35,682	80,857	185,774
Ontario	24,126	83,175	160,808
Alberta	33,040	86,620	145,471
British Columbia	32,764	78,026	139,403
Manitoba	59,915	94,922	131,548
Saskatchewan	23,969	72,178	128,002
Nova Scotia	22,101	70,254	124,281
New Brunswick	45,924	82,914	104,141
Newfoundland and Labrador	N/A	N/A	N/A
Northwest Territories	N/A	N/A	N/A
Nunavut	N/A	N/A	N/A
Prince Edward Island	N/A	N/A	N/A
Yukon	N/A	N/A	N/A
Source: Job Bank. September 2017*

According to Canada’s Job Bank, the veterinarian median wage was $81,640/yr. in 2016.

In Quebec, veterinarians reported the highest median wages.

VETERINARIANS (NOC 3114-A)
2016	Wages ($/yr)
Province/Territory	Low	Median	High
Canada	30,079	81,640	147,954
Québec	35,682	80,857	185,774
Ontario	24,126	83,175	160,808
Alberta	33,040	86,620	145,471
British Columbia	32,764	78,026	139,403
Manitoba	59,915	94,922	131,548
Saskatchewan	23,444	72,178	128,002
Nova Scotia	21,796	70,254	124,281
New Brunswick	45,924	82,914	104,141
Newfoundland and Labrador	N/A	N/A	N/A
Northwest Territories	N/A	N/A	N/A
Nunavut	N/A	N/A	N/A
Prince Edward Island	N/A	N/A	N/A
Yukon	N/A	N/A	N/A
Source: Job Bank. November 2016*

*Wages are reviewed and updated on the Job Bank Web site on an annual basis.

VETERINARIAN SALARY IN CANADA (2017)