30 jobs that pay $80,000

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The 2009 AVMA new grad salary survey was just released (don't have time to link to it right now). Average starting for small animal was around $65K. Average starting for equine only was...$38K. 😱 Average for food animal was around $70K.

Average debt is up to $129K.
 
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You know how to make those salaries seem really good - do something you hate for 8 years. If I get in, it'll mean a pay cut of $50 a month (at my current location) on the far side. Pro-pay for vets is $100 a month. Parachute pay is $150 and you only have to jump once a quarter. Factor in delaying a promotion by 4 years and you're talking a major pay cut. Still, I'd rather spend another 17 years in the Army as a vet than another 12 as a signal officer.
 
You know how to make those salaries seem really good - do something you hate for 8 years. If I get in, it'll mean a pay cut of $50 a month (at my current location) on the far side. Pro-pay for vets is $100 a month. Parachute pay is $150 and you only have to jump once a quarter. Factor in delaying a promotion by 4 years and you're talking a major pay cut. Still, I'd rather spend another 17 years in the Army as a vet than another 12 as a signal officer.

Hey, agreed--doing what you love is worth it. I'll be over $250K in debt by the time I graduate--which makes those salaries seem even worse. At least the Army will be paying for your education. 😉 For most people, though, that's not the case.

Shanamong, keep in mind the average also includes those lucky people with $0 debt...and those with over $300K....*sigh*
 
the description also forgets about those in academia (lower avg) and those in industry (higher avg.) the avma has a list of salaries based on field of vet med that was interesting...and a bit more informative.
 
Hey, agreed--doing what you love is worth it. I'll be over $250K in debt by the time I graduate--which makes those salaries seem even worse. At least the Army will be paying for your education. 😉 For most people, though, that's not the case.

Shanamong, keep in mind the average also includes those lucky people with $0 debt...and those with over $300K....*sigh*

There's a couple of big "IF"s in there. Like, IF I get accepted and then IF the Army decides it's worth funding the education of an officer who technically can retire 7 years after graduation. The true advantage would be the retirement pay after 30 years of service. At the current level, I should pull in almost $80K pre-tax in retirement pay after 30 years. I could then do what I really want (provide food animal treatment at just above cost) and still have enough money for enjoying life.
 
There's a couple of big "IF"s in there. Like, IF I get accepted and then IF the Army decides it's worth funding the education of an officer who technically can retire 7 years after graduation. The true advantage would be the retirement pay after 30 years of service. At the current level, I should pull in almost $80K pre-tax in retirement pay after 30 years. I could then do what I really want (provide food animal treatment at just above cost) and still have enough money for enjoying life.

Again--good for you! 🙂 some of us are not that lucky and do have to take finances into account. There are many, many excellent potential applicants who decide against pursuing veterinary medicine due to the overwhelmingly negative debt:income ratio. It might not seem like it on these boards, but more and more of the "best and the brightest" are turning away from vet med and towards more lucrative professions such as medicine, law and dentistry for exactly this reason.
 
Again--good for you! 🙂 some of us are not that lucky and do have to take finances into account. There are many, many excellent potential applicants who decide against pursuing veterinary medicine due to the overwhelmingly negative debt:income ratio. It might not seem like it on these boards, but more and more of the "best and the brightest" are turning away from vet med and towards more lucrative professions such as medicine, law and dentistry for exactly this reason.
I agree. It's a shame that the government won't put more money into education for fields that are important. With all the talk about health care, you'd think that someone would take into account the food supply, since that is a major portion of good health. I suppose you have to look at student debt from the perspective of an investment. It's like a house. It's a big, scary amount at the beginning, but after 20 or 30 years (and about twice the original loan in interest) you've got it paid off. Unlike a house, no one can take your education from you. They'll just garnish your tax refund forever.🙂
 
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