Veterinarians vs Nurse Practitioners
Median pay is about $2k higher for Nurse Practitioners. The usual entry education is doctoral (DVM) for Veterinarians and master's for Nurse Practitioners.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Veterinarians | Nurse Practitioners |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $130,100 | $132,300, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $101,460 | $117,990, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $166,120, higher | $156,700 |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +9.4% Growing fast | +41% Growing fast, higher |
| Openings a year | 3,100 | 29,400 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Doctoral (DVM) | Master's |
| Difficulty modeled | 4.6 / 5 | 4 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Very low | Low |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 27th pct | 63rd pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Veterinarians
- Science
Only Nurse Practitioners
- Writing
Both lean on reading comprehension, active listening, active learning, speaking, critical thinking.
More comparisons
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Compare Nurse Practitioners with
Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.