Resident and intern salaries: can tracking our progress help us understand our future?

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Professional Development

Background:

• Historically low salaries for veterinary interns and residents create significant financial strain.
• This financial strain has far-reaching implications beyond personal finances, affecting mental/physical wellness, diversity, career paths, and family decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate salary progress for veterinary internships and residencies between 2021 and 2023.
• To identify potential drivers of salary changes and discuss implications for intern/resident compensation.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of salary data from the Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program for the 2021 and 2023 matches.
• Review of factors influencing salary changes, including living wage data and labor market dynamics.

Main Results:

• Salaries for veterinary interns and residents have shown some progress since 2021.
• Despite improvements, compensation levels may still be insufficient, with ongoing impacts on various aspects of the veterinary profession.

Conclusions:

• Increased intern and resident compensation is vital for improving well-being, diversity, and career satisfaction in veterinary medicine.
• Addressing compensation is a critical step towards resolving broader veterinary workforce issues.