The 2026 veterinary salary survey points to modest overall pay growth, stronger gains in some regions and career stages, and a continuing—although slightly narrower—gender pay gap. The findings also suggest that overtime remains widespread, while experience and additional responsibility continue to have a marked influence on earnings.
Across 753 full-time veterinary surgeons, the median whole salary package reached £59,800 in 2026, up from £58,277 in 2025—an increase of £1,523, or 2.6%. The median hourly rate for all vets, including full- and part-time respondents, rose more strongly to £30.12 from £28.56, a gain of 5.5%. Starting packages also moved upwards: among the 17 full-time vets qualified for less than a year, the median package was £38,950, compared with £37,023 last year. Their median basic salary increased from £35,000 to £36,000.
However, the national picture masks striking regional variation. The median package in Scotland and Northern Ireland climbed from £52,225 to £59,600, an increase of 14.1%, while Wales and the South West rose from £53,392 to £56,971, up 6.7%. By contrast, London’s median fell from £61,167 to £58,910, and the North of England edged down from £57,420 to £57,071. The South East remained among the strongest large regions at £64,050, broadly unchanged from £63,868.
Experience continues to translate into higher rewards. Median full-time packages ranged from £38,950 for those qualified for less than a year to £76,525 for vets qualified for 20 years or more. Those qualified for 10 to under 15 years received a median £72,875, up from £70,600. Responsibility also carried a clear premium: clinical directors and team leaders recorded a median package of £84,331, compared with £67,187 for senior vets and £51,890 for assistants. Respondents in leadership roles reported a median of £86,500, up from £83,230.
The gender pay gap narrowed, but remains substantial. Across all qualification periods, the median package was £68,000 for men and £58,262 for women—a 14% difference, compared with 16% in 2025. On an hourly basis, women earned a median £29.82 against £32.32 for men, an 8% gap, down from 11%. The survey population itself became more female: 83% of all respondents identified as female, seven percentage points higher than last year; among vets the figure was 78%, up four points.
There are tentative signs of reduced workload pressure. Some 61% of vets worked overtime, down from 65% last year, and their average overtime fell from 4.7 to 4.5 hours a week. Among nurses, the proportion working overtime also dropped from 65% to 59%, with average overtime falling from 3.7 to three hours. Nevertheless, 57% of vets who worked overtime received neither payment nor time off in lieu, compared with 10% of
nurses.
Benefits remain an important part of remuneration. Employers contributed towards continuing professional development for 74.9% of vets and 69.0% of nurses. Average CPD contributions were £1,539 for vets and £610 for nurses, compared with £1,487 and £608 respectively in 2025. Pension contributions reached 54.8% of vets and 47.2% of nurses. Overall, the survey shows improving headline pay and some progress on pay equality, but also a profession in which location, seniority and gender still shape outcomes, and unpaid overtime remains a significant concern.
