Side-by-side distribution
Surgeon
$406,375
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 43.7%
- Live roles
- 756
Veterinarian
$150,000
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 48.4%
- Live roles
- 1,206
Highest-paying jobs
Oral Surgeon
Cardiovascular Surgeon
Physician Orthopedic Surgeon (Total Joint)
Cardiac Surgeon Clinical Associate
Mohs Surgeon - Established Volume - Seattle/Puget Sound
Thoracic Surgeon
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
Cardiac Surgeon – AdventHealth Heart & Vascular Institute
PHYSICIAN: Family Medicine with Surgical OB - Virginia, MN
Highest-paying jobs
Emergency Veterinarian (Relief) - Nanuet, NY
Emergency Veterinarian (Relief) - Ralph Ave/Brooklyn, NYC
Emergency Veterinarian (Relief) - New Dorp/Staten Island, NY
Emergency Veterinarian - San Diego, CA (Otay Ranch)
Emergency Veterinarian (Per Diem) - Palo Alto, CA
Emergency Veterinarian (Part-Time) - Colorado Springs, CO
Emergency Veterinarian - Elk Grove, CA
Emergency Veterinarian (Part Time) - Palo Alto, CA
Emergency Veterinarian (Part Time) - Seattle, WA
Emergency Veterinarian (Part Time) - Larkspur, CA
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
Skilled Wound Care
|
$375,000 | 143 |
|
Aspen Dental
|
$7,500 | 19 |
| ME Medivet | $82,627 | 13 |
| MO Montefiore | $171,340 | 10 |
Trinity Health
|
$730,000 | 9 |
| HM Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians | $591,225 | 8 |
Rochester Regional Health
|
$387,500 | 8 |
Platinum Dermatology Partners - Physicians
|
$450,000 | 7 |
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
Lap of Love
|
$130,000 | 107 |
Heartstrings Pet Hospice, In-Home Euthanasia & Aftercare
|
$110,000 | 89 |
|
Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG)
|
$245,000 | 67 |
AmeriVet
|
$150,000 | 61 |
| VP Veterinary Practice Partners | $137,500 | 61 |
Modern Animal
|
$170,000 | 28 |
| DP Destination Pet | $155,000 | 24 |
Bond Vet
|
$165,000 | 15 |
Surgeon salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $375,000 | 6 |
| Austin | $375,000 | 6 |
| New York | $350,000 | 6 |
| London | $91,377 | 6 |
Veterinarian salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $196,250 | 4 |
| Los Angeles | $167,500 | 16 |
| San Francisco | $155,000 | 3 |
| New York | $140,000 | 27 |
| Boston | $140,000 | 5 |
| Chicago | $135,000 | 7 |
| London | $82,627 | 5 |
Surgeon vs Veterinarian: which pays more?
The median for Surgeon is $406,375 per year (typically $156,322–$602,250), versus $150,000 for Veterinarian ($120,000–$170,000). That puts Surgeon about 171% ahead at the median.
Both figures are computed live from active listings on JobsRadar and normalized to annualized USD, so Surgeon and Veterinarian are compared on equal terms regardless of the currency each role was originally posted in. Only roles that publish a salary range feed the medians; numbers refresh every few hours as new roles post and older ones close, so this comparison reflects the market right now rather than a fixed survey. Use it as a directional benchmark when weighing one path against the other.