Groundbreaking Survey Reveals Eye-Opening Facts About Bovine Vet Salaries and Satisfaction
For those curious about the earnings and job satisfaction of bovine veterinarians, the veil of mystery is finally being lifted. A pioneering online survey, the first of its kind, carried out between August and November 2022 by Texas Tech University's Sarah Wagner, DVM, and Amber McCord, PhD, with the backing of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP), is shedding light on this often-overlooked professional sector.
Dr. Wagner unveiled this groundbreaking study at the annual AABP conference in September, aiming to establish benchmarks for bovine-focused veterinarians in various employment areas and career stages. The survey delved into four crucial aspects: demographics, employment benefits, income, and job satisfaction, drawing 720 complete responses from AABP districts across the United States and Canada.
Key demographics revealed an almost equal distribution of male (47.8%) and female (47.4%) respondents, with a median age of 38. Most respondents (73.5%) worked in private practice or consultancy, while the rest (26.5%) had other industry-related jobs.
Here are five eye-opening insights from the survey:
Over half of the respondents (51.5%) reported working between 40 and 50 hours weekly.
Both practitioners and non-practitioners expressed equal satisfaction with their jobs and compensation, ranging from neutral to somewhat satisfied.
A higher income positively impacted job satisfaction, while longer working hours had a negative effect, particularly for private practitioners.
Men reported higher annual incomes than women in bovine veterinary medicine, with a significant gap ($172,783 vs. $112,884).
For private practice veterinarians, the average income was $143,333, compared to the American Veterinary Medical Association's reported averages for companion animal veterinarians.
Excitingly, Dr. Wagner announced that these findings will soon be published in an open-access journal for wide accessibility. The AABP also plans to make the full proceedings available on their website, offering a valuable resource for understanding the bovine veterinary profession better. This survey marks a significant step in bringing to light the realities of bovine veterinary careers, impacting future trends and policies in this vital field.