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CAREERMASH (EN)FROM VETERINARY SCIENCES →

Veterinary Researcher

As a Veterinary Researcher, you play a critical role in advancing animal health and welfare, contributing to groundbreaking discoveries that can save lives and improve the quality of life for both pets and livestock. Your work not only impacts the veterinary field but also has far-reaching implications for public health and food safety globally.

Veterinary Researcher

5

Veterinary Sciences

AI IMPACT
AI CAN DO5%moving to45%
THE DOOR, NOWB
THE DOOR, 20 YRSC
STARTING PAY£28,000 - £35,000
REGULATORY MOATThe law requires human oversight. That human could be you.
This job holds up well against AI
AI cannot yet do much of what this job actually involves, and the law requires human oversight. That human could be you. That is about as safe as careers get right now, though it is still worth learning to use the tools well.

Career progression path

Is this the only route?

This is the standard academic trajectory, but modern careers are highly flexible. You can often skip stagesby entering the industry with an advanced qualification (like a Master's or PhD), or pivot sideways from a related discipline.

0ACADEMIC FOUNDATIONUniversity DegreeUsually 3 to 4 years of full-time academic study, explicitly preparing you for the theoretical realities of the industry. Requires A-Levels, BTECs, or equivalent Level 3.-£80,550Avg. UK tuition & living
1FIRST STEPJunior Veterinary ResearcherIn this entry-level role, you will assist senior researchers in conducting experiments, collecting data, and performing literature reviews. This position is ideal for recent graduates looking to gain hands-on experience in veterinary research.£28,000 - £35,000
2GAINING EXPERIENCEMid-level Veterinary ResearcherAs a mid-level researcher, you will lead your own projects, mentor junior staff, and contribute to grant writing. Your expertise will be essential in shaping the direction of research initiatives and collaborating with external partners.£40,000 - £50,000
3PEAK CAREERSenior Veterinary Researcher/Principal InvestigatorIn this peak career stage, you will oversee large research teams, secure significant funding, and drive innovative research agendas. Your leadership will influence the future of veterinary science and animal health policy.£60,000+

Recommended UK degrees

Real courses that qualify you for this career, from the same register that priced the degree above.

Bachelor of Veterinary TechnologyAdelaide University · BachelorAnimal TherapyAnglia Ruskin University · DegreeBachelor of Veterinary Medicine with Intercalated YearThe Royal Veterinary College · DegreeVeterinary Medicine and Surgery including a Gateway YearUniversity of Nottingham, the · DegreeBachelor of Veterinary ScienceThe University of Queensland · BachelorCanine and Feline Behaviour and TrainingAskham Bryan College · Degree
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AI EXPOSURE = the share of a job's day-to-day tasks AI can already do today, from the same exposure engine used across this site (Anthropic labour market research, 2026, observed real-world AI usage by occupation). Higher means more exposed. It is a measurement of now, not a prediction. THE DOOR = how hard the job is to get into, grade A (easy) to E (extremely hard), from each career's published forecast (OpenAI, "The AI Jobs Transition Framework", Richmond 2026, CC BY 4.0). A card marked MOAT NOT YET CLASSIFIED has a real exposure score but no entry yet in our moat register, so we make no claim about what structurally protects it. Scorecard grades and verdicts are Careermash editorial judgment: we show forecasts as forecasts and own our conclusions. Salary and pathway figures are each career's own published profile. Careermash is a service provided by What School Ltd.

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