Also called: Veterinary Internist, DACVIM
Diagnoses complex illnesses in animals, like kidney disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Uses an endoscope to find a sock in a Labrador's stomach, runs ultrasound on a cat with liver problems, and solves medical mysteries that stumped the family vet.
Estimate; BLS veterinarians overall median about $130k (May 2025), specialists earn more.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Professional degree (MD, JD, DVM…), about 12 years after high school. Bachelor's, 4-year DVM, 1-year internship, then a 3-year specialty residency and board exam.
Ways in: 4-year college, Professional school. Training cost: Over $150k.
Majors to look at: Animal Science, Biology, Pre-Veterinary Studies.
Growing much faster than average. Veterinarians grow faster than average; specialists are in short supply.
Low risk for 10 years. AI suggests diagnoses from lab patterns; endoscopy, ultrasound and untangling medical mysteries stay with the specialist.
Classes: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Statistics, Microbiology.
Official data: O*NET occupation 29-1131.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.