Entry-level Veterinarian salary in Washington, DC

Based on 13 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Leesburg, Fairfax, Rockville, Sterling, Greenbelt.

Also listed as: Associate Veterinarian, Emergency Veterinarian

Median salary$150,000
Middle 50%$81.8k–$175k
vs. all levels here+3%comparison median $145,000
Filings13FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $57,480 and $208,800.
PercentileSalary
10th$61,000
25th$81,806
50th (median)$150,000
75th$175,000
90th$200,000

Cost of living

Washington's median entry-level Veterinarian salary of $150,000 is worth about $137,800 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Washington = 108.9).

Compared with all workers here

All Veterinarians in the Washington, DC area earned a median of $154,350 in May 2025 (1,740 employed). The H-1B median here is $150,000, 3% lower.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.

Employers filing at this level

EmployerMedianFilings
Sterling Animal Care PLLCtoo few3
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State Universitytoo few3
Virginia Animal Care PLLCtoo few2

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I $150,000 13
Mid-level · Level II too few 6
Senior · Level III – 0
Expert · Level IV – 0

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Minimum H-1B salary by level

Wage levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Entry-level · Level I$92,706$150,00013

The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.