Male vets are paid more than females at all levels
British vets are calling for more openness and transparency around pay as new figures show a gender salary divide exists across the UK’s veterinary profession.
Findings published in Vet Record show that in the veterinary and pet sector, male vets are paid more than female vets across all levels and roles. BVA senior vice president Gudrun Ravetz said that the findings are a “cause for concern” and has called for “a system based on objective criteria to ensure equal pay for equal value.”
There has been an increased awareness of the gender pay gap in recent months, with the UK government introducing compulsory gender pay reporting for major organisations. Now, two UK-wide surveys of the veterinary profession have also revealed big differences in the amount males and females earn, regardless of their position.
The first survey, led by CM Research, found that whilst the average female partner earns a pre-tax salary of £51,315, her male counterpart takes home the equivalent of £69,755 - a difference of £18,440. It also found that female vets in full-time roles earn an average of £41,153 per year, whilst their male counterparts earn £46,921 - a difference of almost £6,000.
The survey shows that female veterinary nurses also earn less than their male colleagues, with average salaries of £19,594 being around £3,000 less than male nurses.
The second survey led by The Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) also highlights a gender pay divide. The data from 700 vets and 630 veterinary nurses in the UK revealed a 19 per cent difference between male and female vets’ annual salaries, with men earning around £50,750 and females earning £40,960.
Furthermore, it looked at salaries by period qualified and found that whilst male full-time salaries are consistently higher, the differences are more noticeable at senior level. For example, for vets qualified up to 10 years the hourly rates are comparable. But after 11 years, the median hourly rate for female vets is £28.33, compared with £35.27 for male vets.
“The picture would seem to reflect that seen in other professions where women start out on an equal footing with men but fall behind as they get older,” says Peter Brown, SPVS president-elect. “Unless we address those broader issues which militate against women’s career advancement, there is a risk that significant differences will persist”.
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
