The Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeon (SPVS) has published the results of its 2025 Salary Survey, which found that veterinary salary increase have been slowing across the board, reflecting underlying market uncertainty. 

SPVS had over 1600 responses to the survey, which ran from February to May 2025.

The majority of responses came from either veterinary surgeons (72%) or vet nurses (22%), 81% of whom were female and 18% male. 

  • The survey found that new graduate median BASIC starting salary increased by 3% this year to £35,000
  • For all vets working full time the median annual salary PACKAGE (including all benefits) increased by 2.2% to £58,277. The largest increase was in the Southeast of England at 7%
  • The overall median hourly rate package for vets working both full and part time increased by 9%
  • All QVN salary packages increased by 5% compared to last year and student increases were negligible
  • For locums vets the daily rate increased by 11% to £500. Hourly rates stayed the same at £50. For locum nurses the hourly rate increased by 4% to £25/hour.
  • Yet again, for all periods qualified, the salaries and hourly rates for females were lower than males (ranged from 3% to 23% variance)
  • Overtime has increased (65% of vets compared to 44% last year and 65% of nurses compared to 39% last year)
  • More vets are working out of hours and weekend work alongside their regular daytime work. 74% work Saturdays compared to 47% last year, 44% work Sundays compared to 27% last year. For out of hours, 37% of vets work OOH in the week compared to 20% last year and 35% work weekend OOH compared to 19% last year.

SPVS notes that as well as salary increases slowing, locum rates have also slowed as recruitment is slowly becoming less of a problem and there is a move towards permanent positions being more favourable.

In addition, the overtime and out of hours work has increased significantly which SPVS says may be because of new start ups doing their own out of hours and a shift with some practices being fully staffed now and able to take back their own out of hours.

SPVS members have access to the full survey results, plus there is a Nurses Salary Survey and Highlights summary report available too: https://spvs.org.uk/spvs-survey 

PS: Whilst you're here, take a moment to see our latest job opportunities for vets.