isworthit

Is a Veterinarian a Good Career in Hawaii?

Hawaii · 2026 BLS salary data

a Veterinarian pay in Hawaii

The median wage is $130,120/yr — about the same as the national median. Among U.S. states, Hawaiiranks #17 of 49 states by median pay.

The numbers in Hawaii

Real BLS state-level figures for Veterinarian.

Median salary
$130,120/yr
Pay range (25th–75th)
$103,760 – $134,000
National median
$130,100/yr
Employed in Hawaii
370

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS), state estimates, May 2025 release.

What that pay is really worth in Hawaii

Salary alone can mislead — Hawaii costs 10% more than the U.S. average. Here's the median adjusted for local prices (real purchasing power).

Cost of living (US=100)
110
Nominal median
$130,120
Adjusted for cost of living
≈ $118,291
State income tax
Up to 11%

Hawaii's high pay is offset by cost of living — adjusted for prices it ranks #41 of 49, down from #17 on raw salary.

Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, US=100), 2024. Adjusted pay = nominal median ÷ (RPP/100) — purchasing power vs the U.S. average. State income tax = top marginal rate on wage income (Tax Foundation, 2025); your effective rate is lower and depends on income and deductions.

The verdict, pros, and cons below apply to Veterinarian nationally — Hawaii pay is about the same as the national median. See the full a Veterinarian career guide →

The verdict

Maybe — veterinary medicine is deeply meaningful with fast-growing demand, but pay is modest relative to the debt of vet school, and emotional strain and burnout are notably high. Worth it if you're driven by animal care and go in clear-eyed about the finances.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Deeply meaningful clinical work with animals
  • Much-faster-than-average projected growth
  • Varied settings: small animal, large animal, research
  • Strong, steady demand
  • Practice-ownership potential

Cons

  • High debt relative to salary (a real pain point)
  • High emotional toll and burnout rates
  • Euthanasia and difficult owner conversations
  • Physically demanding, risk of bites
  • Long doctoral training (DVM)

Who it's for

✓ A good fit if…

  • People passionate about animal medicine
  • Those who can manage the debt-to-pay reality
  • Anyone drawn to varied clinical work

✗ Probably not if…

  • People optimizing pay against the doctorate cost
  • Those sensitive to heavy emotional strain

What people are actually asking

Real Reddit discussions on whether Veterinarian is worth it — titles link to the original threads.