Veterinarian Salary in Lawrence, KS — 2026
Veterinarian salary data for Lawrence, KS — adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.
The estimated median Veterinarian salary in Lawrence, KS is $117,741 per year ($9,812/month, $57/hr). This modeled estimate scales Salario's national benchmark (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median) by the local cost of living index of 90.5, which is 10% below the national average.
All four figures are Salario estimates (national benchmark scaled by Lawrence's cost-of-living index); BLS does not publish a metro median for this title here.
Veterinarian Take-Home Pay in Lawrence
Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)
| Gross Annual | $117,741 |
| Federal Tax | -$17,073 |
| State Tax (5.3% eff.) | -$6,281 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | -$9,007 |
| Annual Take-Home | $85,379 |
| Monthly Take-Home | $7,115 |
Living Cost Comparison
Veterinarian Requirements
Key Skills
Lawrence Job Market Overview
Lawrence, Kansas has a population of 94,934 and an unemployment rate of 2.4%. The top industries are Aviation, Agriculture, Healthcare. The local job growth rate is 2.9%, and the average commute time is 18minutes. These local figures come from Salario's city dataset; verify current values with BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Census QuickFacts.
Veterinarian Salary in Nearby Kansas Cities
Salary Percentile Breakdown — Veterinarian in Lawrence
Based on Salario's cost-of-living-adjusted salary tiers for Veterinarian in Lawrence, KS, here is an estimated percentile breakdown:
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Hourly Equivalent | Career Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (lowest) | $88,871 | $43/hr | Entry-level, < 1 yr exp. |
| 25th | $103,306 | $50/hr | Junior, 1-3 yrs exp. |
| 50th (median) | $117,741 | $57/hr | Mid-career, 0-2 years |
| 75th | $147,696 | $71/hr | Senior, 5-10 yrs exp. |
| 90th (top) | $185,525 | $89/hr | Lead/Principal, 10+ yrs |
Percentiles are approximations, not measured local percentiles: P10, P50, P75, and P90 map to Salario's entry, median, senior, and top salary tiers scaled by the local cost-of-living index, and P25 is interpolated halfway between entry and median. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Lawrence's Aviation sector.
5-Year Salary Trajectory
Salario's national dataset models approximately 13.0% salary growth for Veterinarians over the past 5 years. That national assumption is applied to the Lawrence estimate below; it is not a measured local trend, and it should be compared with cumulative CPI inflation before treating it as a real-terms gain:
Year-over-year, an average Veterinarian can expect a 13.5% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 4 years in Lawrence. Negotiation, certifications (State Veterinary License, NAVLE), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.
Lawrence vs National Average
The national median Veterinarian salary is $130,100 (BLS OEWS May 2025, Veterinarians). In Lawrence, the cost-of-living-adjusted median of $117,741 is 9.5% below the national figure. This reflects Lawrence's cost of living index of 90.5 (lower than the national average of 100).
For Veterinarians, this means: rent typically consumes 14.4% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered affordable), and a median home in Lawrence costs about 2.9× annual take-home. Homeownership is relatively attainable on this salary in Lawrence.
Industry Context: Aviation in Lawrence
Lawrence's economy is anchored by Aviation, Agriculture, Healthcare, with 94,934 residents and an unemployment rate of 2.4% in Salario's city dataset. Pay for Veterinarians can differ by sector, so compare Aviation employers with other local employers. The local job growth rate in Salario's city dataset is 2.9%, and Salario's job dataset lists a 19.0% growth outlook for Veterinarian roles; check the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for the official 2024-2034 projection for the closest matching occupation.
Methodology & Data Sources
How we calculate Veterinarian salaries in Lawrence, KS:
- Base salary model starts with Salario occupation data and public wage references, including BLS OEWS and O*NET when a direct or related occupational crosswalk is available (the national median is calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for Veterinarians). For niche titles, we do not treat a broader SOC family as an exact job-title wage.
- Cost-of-living adjustment applied using the Lawrence index of 90.5 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs stored separately in Salario's city dataset.
- Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
- Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), KS 2026 state income tax brackets after the standard deduction (top rate 5.6%), and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
- Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.
Authoritative data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — national and metro-area salary data
- O*NET OnLine — occupation tasks, alternate job titles, skills, and SOC crosswalks
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — occupation outlook where a matching profile is available
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation data (CPI measures price changes, not city-to-city price levels)
- U.S. Census Bureau — Lawrence QuickFacts — population and demographic data
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary — 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics — official local unemployment rates to verify the Lawrence figure above
Last reviewed: 2026. Salario's salary dataset is refreshed periodically, not automatically; check the linked BLS releases for the latest official data. Veterinarian salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Aviation vs others in Lawrence), specific skill set (Surgery, Diagnostics, Pharmacology), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Veterinarian salary in Lawrence, KS?
How much does a Veterinarian take home in Lawrence after taxes?
Is Lawrence a good city for Veterinarians?
What skills are needed for a Veterinarian in Lawrence?
How does Veterinarian salary in Lawrence compare to the national average?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Veterinarian salary in Lawrence, KS?
Salario estimates the median Veterinarian salary in Lawrence, KS at $117,741 per year for 2026. This is a modeled figure: Salario's national Veterinarian benchmark scaled by the local cost of living index of 90.5, not a measured local wage survey. The modeled entry-level estimate is around $88,871, and the senior estimate is $147,696 or more.
How much does a Veterinarian take home in Lawrence after taxes?
A Veterinarian earning the median salary of $117,741 in Lawrence, KS takes home approximately $85,379 per year ($7,115/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 27.5%.
Is Lawrence a good city for Veterinarians?
Lawrence, KS has a cost of living index of 90.5 (below national average). Veterinarians here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 2.4% and top industries include Aviation, Agriculture, Healthcare.
What skills are needed for a Veterinarian in Lawrence?
Key skills for Veterinarians include Surgery, Diagnostics, Pharmacology, Radiology, Client Communication. Typical education requirement is Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). Valuable certifications include State Veterinary License, NAVLE, Board Certification.
How does Veterinarian salary in Lawrence compare to the national average?
Salario's national median benchmark for Veterinarian is $130,100 (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median). In Lawrence, the cost-of-living-adjusted estimate is $117,741, which is 9.5% lower than the national average, reflecting the local cost of living.