Veterinarians

Minimal Risk
15%

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Vote Comments (56)
AUTOMATION RISK
CALCULATED
7%
(Minimal Risk)
POLLING
23%
(Low Risk, Based on 1,381 votes)
Average: 15%
LABOR DEMAND
GROWTH
19.1%
by year 2033
WAGES
$119,100
or $57.25 per hour
Volume
78,220
as of 2023
SUMMARY
What does this snowflake show?
The Snowflake is a visual summary of the five badges: Automation Risk (calculated), Risk (polled), Growth, Wages and Volume. It gives you an instant snapshot of an occupations profile. The colour of the Snowflake relates to its size. The better the occupation scores in relation to others, the larger and greener the Snowflake becomes.
JOB SCORE
8.8/10
What's this?
Job Score (higher is better):

We rate jobs using four factors. These are:

- Chance of being automated
- Job growth
- Wages
- Volume of available positions

These are some key things to think about when job hunting.

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Calculated automation risk

7% (Minimal Risk)

Minimal Risk (0-20%): Occupations in this category have a low probability of being automated, as they typically demand complex problem-solving, creativity, strong interpersonal skills, and a high degree of manual dexterity. These jobs often involve intricate hand movements and precise coordination, making it difficult for machines to replicate the required tasks.

More information on what this score is, and how it is calculated is available here.

Some quite important qualities of the job are difficult to automate:

  • Assisting and Caring for Others

  • Social Perceptiveness

  • Finger Dexterity

  • Originality

  • Manual Dexterity

User poll

23% chance of full automation within the next two decades

Our visitors have voted there's a low chance this occupation will be automated. This assessment is further supported by the calculated automation risk level, which estimates 7% chance of automation.

What do you think the risk of automation is?

What is the likelihood that Veterinarians will be replaced by robots or artificial intelligence within the next 20 years?

Sentiment

The following graph is shown where there are enough votes to produce meaningful data. It displays user poll results over time, providing a clear indication of sentiment trends.

Sentiment over time (quarterly)

Sentiment over time (yearly)

Growth

Very fast growth relative to other professions

The number of 'Veterinarians' job openings is expected to rise 19.1% by 2033

Total employment, and estimated job openings

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the period between 2023 and 2033
Updated projections are due 09-2025.

Wages

Very high paid relative to other professions

In 2023, the median annual wage for 'Veterinarians' was $119,100, or $57 per hour

'Veterinarians' were paid 147.8% higher than the national median wage, which stood at $48,060

Wages over time

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Volume

Moderate range of job opportunities compared to other professions

As of 2023 there were 78,220 people employed as 'Veterinarians' within the United States.

This represents around 0.05% of the employed workforce across the country

Put another way, around 1 in 1 thousand people are employed as 'Veterinarians'.

Job description

Diagnose, treat, or research diseases and injuries of animals. Includes veterinarians who conduct research and development, inspect livestock, or care for pets and companion animals.

SOC Code: 29-1131.00

Comments (56)

Leave a comment
A young veterinarian
07 Jul 2024 20:51
We had evolution for millions of years. We domesticated most of the species of the world. Animals, for the most part, know how to respond to humans. They do not know how to respond to a non-living and non-human thing. We can use this to benefit us clearly, to help with the resolution of image exams and bloodwork tests, and to lessen the failure rate of quick diagnostic tests like ELISA and PCR. That's the purpose of AI. Without humans, the animals won't be safe in their visits. But alas - WHO WILL FEED THE AI? If vets don't exist anymore, we won't have research fields; we won't have any new information.

In conclusion, STOP BEING LAZY! STUDY, WORK, and use AI to help in minimal cases, not in every aspect of your life.
Destiny (No chance)
05 Mar 2021 15:11
I wanna be a veterinarian. However smart robots will be doesn't mean that they would know how to do surgery, how old a stray dog is, probably won't know how much to feed each one, and they can't bathe them because they're robots so I don't think there is a chance of that happening.
No
06 Sep 2023 12:30
Unfortunately, you might not think clearly if you're fixated on becoming a vet. Firstly, advanced robots excel in two main areas: They can access all the information on the internet that a human could never assimilate in a lifetime. Secondly, they have the capability to move with precision thanks to robotics. These are the two primary requirements in the veterinary field.

Moving on. When you mention determining the age of a stray dog, you don't necessarily need to know their exact age to provide treatment or make certain diagnoses. As for your comment about "probably not knowing how much to feed each one," AI and robotics are astonishingly accurate in this aspect. They'll likely always have more data and accuracy than we do. And the notion that "they can't bathe them because they are robots"? Well, we've had waterproof robots for quite some time now.

So, yes, it seems full automation is on the horizon!
alannah (No chance)
06 Nov 2020 15:15
there is no chance that robotics will take over a veterinarian's job like I said in my paragraph that I wrote for school that veterinarians are they need to be meticulous and just because the people that run the robotics they will not overrun the veterinarians because would you trust a robot with your animal do you think that you that your animal would be in good hands
jojo8ballz (Low)
26 Dec 2024 18:41
Veterinarians require hand dexterity, problem solving, logic and a care and compassion for animals. It is uncertain wether robots will develop any of these, especially the last.
Millie Pug (No chance)
16 Feb 2021 01:07
I want to be a Vet when I'm older and if robots can't open door nobs then can we really trust they won't accidentally cut the animal?
Jay Mengi (No chance)
23 Nov 2020 14:15
Veterinary nurses will be a thing and take over vaccination and other basic tasks. Vets would be doing more specialized appointments/surgery.
T grace (No chance)
31 Aug 2020 17:39
Because they need to operate and be very careful
MD
24 Jul 2020 00:39
Can AI read animal behaviour?
Rebecca Wilson
26 May 2021 14:27
No, because animals only react on how the people are treating them
M (no chance hopefully)
11 Jun 2020 11:27
I hope not because I have always wanted to be a vet and what if something went wrong in surgery? D: Be so sad if a pet died because something was wrong with one of the robots!
robots should not replace veterinarians
28 Aug 2020 03:01
Yes, because robots with their metal hands could harm the animal
Auditormadness9
11 Dec 2023 22:17
who said it's gonna be a metal hand?
Lee
05 Apr 2020 09:21
In effect, AI helps enhance the capability to care for patients. The purpose of AI is to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the veterinarian, but AI can never replace the practitioner’s role in the diagnostic process. Recently, some forms of AI have been labelled “Robotic Medicine,” raising concerns as to the place for this technology in medicine and misinterpreted as a threat that replaces a veterinarian in some instances. However, the analysis and expertise of the veterinarian will always be necessary and irreplaceable in interpreting the data. AI simply bolsters a veterinarian’s abilities: there is more information from which veterinarians can quickly and accurately draw their diagnostic conclusions. With AI backing them up, veterinarians are not only able to better themselves as veterinarians, but a correct, quick, and confident diagnosis wins them a trusting client base. Satisfied clients return time and again, and refer others who want the best veterinary care for their animals. Don’t get left behind. Use intelligent imaging to become an even more remarkable veterinarian!
jocelyn (No chance)
27 Mar 2020 02:19
how will a robot be able to feel whats wrong with animals
asdf (Low)
21 Mar 2020 03:41
One wrong move if the robot isn't functioning well, the animal's dead.
Parson Russell Terrier owner
11 Feb 2020 22:23
Pets need human interaction to lower anxiety and stave off depression.
myname (Moderate)
31 Jan 2020 14:04
they are already better in diagnosing cancer than doctors
Aaron
03 Dec 2019 20:44
You could probably use apps and AI to diagnose your pets illnesses and ailments. AI could make vets and vet techs jobs a lot easier, removing a lot of responsibilities, which in my mind would make their job not as demanding therefore lower wages.
dfgd
28 Dec 2022 12:30
No, that would not actually make a vet's job easier. Diseases and illnesses are not so simple and straightforward that they can be diagnosed with symptoms alone.

Those apps are just going to give rise to pet owners who doubt the doctor's diagnosis, and they are going to make irresponsible decisions thinking that they can treat their pets' ailments. In fact, it has already happened many times.

I work at a veterinary clinic, and there have been many "self-proclaimed veterinarians" with a degree in Google misdiagnosing their pets and giving harmful medications, such as feeding paracetamol to their dogs with high fever.

The app should be restricted to be used by licensed veterinarians and veterinary students, so as to prevent any misinformed or uneducated pet owners from misinterpreting or abusing the information from the apps.

In addition, some owners may have received the correct diagnosis from the app, but may proceed with the wrong treatment. A rise in antibiotic resistance will be observed when owners simply use antibiotics without understanding its consequences.

In fact, this is already happening without the involvement of AI. There are many online sellers selling antibiotics, and even some irresponsible people selling sedatives online, labeling such medications as "cat/dog fever medication" or "cat parvovirus medication".
blevin (No chance)
02 Dec 2019 02:55
you are just silly if you think that a robot can take care of my cat
avichal (Low)
26 Nov 2019 10:38
It requires understanding of an animal so no ai can do it
Leona (Low)
14 Nov 2019 14:09
Because pets could die and then no more vets
pp
12 Nov 2019 09:51
This job should not be taken by robots because humans have sympathy and can understand what the patient is feeling and can treat it better with more care
M (no chance hopefully)
11 Jun 2020 11:28
yes exactly :)
Mlepnos
07 Nov 2019 23:13
I am glad that we will still have a job to do
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