110 2026 | Tennessee Career Guide Do you dream of helping animals? Whether you picture yourself saving a beloved family pet, assisting in a wildlife rescue, or ensuring farm animals stay healthy and safe, a career in veterinary medicine could be the perfect path for you. Veterinarians (Doctor of Veterinary Med- icine, or DVM) care for animals of all shapes and sizes. This includes pets, horses, farm animals, zoo animals, and even aquatic animals. But being a vet isn't just about caring for animals. Veterinarians are also scientists, public health experts, teach- ers, and leaders in animal and human safety. A career as a licensed veterinarian is one of the most challenging and reward- ing careers in healthcare. Veterinarians perform surgeries, utilize diag- nostic laboratory tests, apply imaging tech- niques like x-rays and ultrasound, and perform procedures to diagnose and treat ail- ments in many species of animals. Animal doctors advise clients about preventive health care, diet, vaccines and behavioral condi- tions. Specialization in certain areas of vet- erinary medicine is possible with additional studies required after obtaining a DVM de- gree. Some of these specialty areas include surgery, internal medicine, emergency med- icine & critical care, ophthalmology (eye con- ditions), dermatology (skin conditions), oncology (cancer) and many more. Veterinary salaries vary with type of prac- tice, years in practice, geographic location, specialization, and whether the veterinarian is an employee or owner of the practice. Characteristics of a Veterinarian Animal doctors need compassion, strong communication skills, and the ability to handle the tough physical and emotional demands of the job. The hours can be long and often include weekends and holi- days, especially in emergency care. Learn- ing to balance the demands of the profession while maintaining your personal health and well-being are essential for a successful career in veterinary medicine. Photography by Shutterstock® Profession Overview Work Sector: Health Related Fields Number Licensed Veterinarians (TN)*: 3,296 Number Licensed Vet. Technicians (TN)* 1,248 Mean Salary Veterinarians (TN)** $126,525* Salary Range Veterinarians (TN)** $109,000-$146,000 Avg. Starting Salary Veterinarians (TN)** $109,000 *Source: TN Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners December 2024 Meeting Minutes **Source: TVMA 2024 Survey of Compensation & Benefits for Associate Veterinarians Information Provided Within This Career By: Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association 1820 Huntsville Hwy., Ste C PO Box 803 Fayetteville, TN 37334 www.tvmanet.com Keeping Animals and People Healthy Veterinary Medicine and Related Fields
