Pharmacist vs Veterinarian

Side-by-side license comparison

Live DataLast updated: April 13, 2026·Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards

Quick Verdict

Higher Earning

Pharmacist

Easier to Obtain

Tie

Lower Fee

Veterinarian

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Pharmacist	Veterinarian
Category	Healthcare	Healthcare
Median Salary	$136,030	$119,100
Avg Initial Fee	$402	$400
Difficulty	Very High	Very High
Education	PharmD (6 years)	DVM (4 years post-bachelor)
Exam	NAPLEX + MPJE	NAVLE
Time to License	6-8 years	8 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	30 hrs	30 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	53 of 53

Salary Comparison

Pharmacist

Median Salary$136,030

Avg Salary$136,030

Avg License Fee$402

Veterinarian

Median Salary$119,100

Avg Salary$119,100

Avg License Fee$400

Pharmacist earns $16,930 more per year on average. Over a 10-year career span, that adds up to approximately $169,300 in additional earnings.

Explore Each Occupation

PharmacistView all 53 state requirements VeterinarianView all 53 state requirements

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LicenseWize Editorial TeamData Specialists

The LicenseWize editorial team aggregates and verifies licenses data from Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.

✓ Sourced from Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards✓ Quarterly review✓ No paid placements

Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more: Pharmacist or Veterinarian?

Pharmacist has a higher median salary at $136,030 per year, compared to $119,100 for Veterinarian — a difference of $16,930 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Pharmacist or a Veterinarian?

Pharmacist licensing is rated Very High difficulty, while Veterinarian is rated Very High. Pharmacist requires PharmD (6 years) and typically takes 6-8 years, compared to DVM (4 years post-bachelor) and 8 years for Veterinarian.

Which license costs more: Pharmacist or Veterinarian?

Pharmacist has a higher average initial fee of $402, while Veterinarian averages $400 — a difference of $2.

Do all states require a license for Pharmacist and Veterinarian?

Pharmacist requires licensing in 53 of 53 jurisdictions, while Veterinarian requires it in 53 of 53 jurisdictions. Requirements vary significantly by state.

Which career is faster to enter: Pharmacist or Veterinarian?

Pharmacist typically takes 6-8 years from start to licensure, while Veterinarian takes 8 years. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.

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