Veterinarian employment encompassed about 58,000 jobs in 2002. About 28 percent were self-employed in solo or group practices. Most others were salaried employees of another veterinary practice. Veterinarian employment with the Federal Government stood at about 1,100 civilian veterinarians, chiefly in the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services. Other veterinarian employment comes from State and local governments, colleges of veterinary medicine, medical schools, research laboratories, animal food companies, and pharmaceutical companies. A few veterinarians work for zoos, but most veterinarians caring for zoo animals are private practitioners who contract with zoos to provide services, usually on a part-time basis.

In addition, many veterinarians hold veterinary faculty positions in colleges and universities.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05 Edition