Placement Opportunities

Students graduating with a DVM from the College of Veterinary Medicine have a strong history of finding employment or furthering their education after completing their studies at Iowa State University.

For the most recent classes surveyed the following information is available from surveys conducted six months after graduation.

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Within 6 months of graduation

badge Employment

Source: OASA/Assessment Placement Survey

2016-2023 Employment

2016-2023 employment graph

educational debt icon Educational Debt

Data represent debt incurred while at ISU, including students with no debt. Values are in thousands of dollars.
Source: ISU Office of Financial Aid

Median Debt
Edcuational Debt Chart

map marker icon Clinical Practice Salary by Location

Data represent student's salary reported regarding their first job in the field. Values rounded to the nearest hundred.
For breakdown by practice type please see tables below.
Source: AVMA Senior Survey

2023 Clinical Practice Salary Map

2023 Clinical Practice Salary by Location Map
 

2022 Clinical Practice Salary Map

2022 Clinical Practice Salary by Location Map
 

2021 Clinical Practice Salary Map

2021 Clinical Practice Salary by Location Map
 

2020 Clinical Practice Salary Map

2020 Clinical Practice Salary by Location Map
 

2019 Clinical Practice Salary Map

2019 Clinical Practice Salary by Location Map
 

2018 Clinical Practice Salary Map

2018 Clinical Practice Salary by Location Map
 

2017 Clinical Practice Salary Map

2017 Clinical Practice Salary by Location Map
 

2016 Clinical Practice Salary Map

2016 Clinical Practice Salary by Location Map
 



One year post-graduation

salary icon Salary

First job - data include both full and part-time employment
Source: Alumni Survey, one year post graduation

Private Practice Salary clinic icon

Year Min Median Max
2016 $30,000 $69,000 $112,000
2017 $45,000 $70,000 $136,000
2018 $21,000 $71,000 $120,000
2019 $40,000 $72,000 $85,000
2020 $62,000 $82,000 $130,000
2021 $66,000 $80,000 $125,000
2022 $77,000 $90,000 $135,000

Advanced Training Salary advanced medical training

Year Min Median Max
2016 $30,000 $32,500 $80,000
2017 $30,000 $37,000 $95,000
2018 $21,000 $32,000 $59,000
2019 $30,000 $70,000 $90,000
2020 $42,000 $66,000 $100,000
2021 $28,000 $74,000 $87,500
2022 $32,000 $46,000 $82,000

Mixed Animal Salary cat and cow

Year Min Median Max
2016 $57,000 $60,000 $72,000
2017 $60,000 $67,500 $80,000
2018 $50,000 $69,000 $80,000
2019 $40,000 $70,000 $80,000
2020 $63,000 $77,500 $90,000
2021 $70,000 $77,000 $80,000
2022 $77,000 $85,000 $95,000

Food Animal Salary

Year Min Median Max
2016 $60,000 $72,500 $112,000
2017 $67,000 $71,000 $77,000
2018 $65,000 $73,500 $88,500
2019 $55,000 $67,500 $85,000
2020 $72,000 $82,000 $105,000
2021 $75,000 $77,500 $80,000
2022 $42,000 $82,500 $100,000

Small Animal Salary dog

Year Min Median Max
2016 $30,000 $66,200 $85,000
2017 $58,000 $74,750 $100,000
2018 $30,000 $74,000 $120,000
2019 $30,000 $73,500 $85,000
2020 $62,000 $85,000 $130,000
2021 $28,000 $85,000 $125,000
2022 $80,000 $100,000 $135,000

 

Equine Salary horse

Year Min Median Max
2016
2017 $30,000 $32,500 $34,000
2018 $21,000 $28,500 $36,000
2019
2020 $86,000 $86,000 $86,000
2021 $74,000 $74,000 $74,000
2022

time Average Hours Worked

Data represent student's hours as reported regarding their first job in the field. Students going on to advanced training are not represented.
Source: Alumni Survey, one year post graduation
Graduates not in advanced training

average hours worked

 

11-19 hours

 

20-29 hours

 

30-39 hours

 

40-49 hours

 

50-59 hours

 

60-69 hours

 

70 or more hours

Average Hours Worked 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2022 2023
11-19 hours 0% 0% 0% 0% 3.2% 0% 0%
20 - 29 hours 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 6.7% 0%
30 - 39 hours 18% 8% 12% 0% 12.9% 3% 10.8%
40 - 49 hours 36% 33% 42% 47% 45.2% 47% 37.8%
50 - 59 hours 32% 33% 35% 24% 32.3% 37% 35.1%
60 - 69 hours 9% 13% 8% 12% 3.2% 3% 16.2%
70 or more hours 5% 13% 4% 18% 3.2% 3% 0%
Total 100% 100% 101% 101% 100%