Vet incomes just above CPI

The Australian Taxation Office has just released its statistics for the financial year 2012–13. These include tables that organise individuals under the occupation in which  they list themselves. There are 7340 people who responded as veterinarians, an increase of 4.2% from the previous year. Of these, 4545 (62%) were female and 2795 (38%) were male.   

The total average income for veterinarians was $79,152, an increase of 2.8% from the previous year.  The average CPI for 2012-13 was 2.3%. The average taxable income for veterinarians was  $74,396.  

The graph shows the overall percentage of veterinarians in each tax bracket, and the distribution of male and female veterinarians.

These income distributions are remarkably consistent with the data reported in the AVA Annual Workforce Survey 2014 (which reports on the previous 12 months), although the relative numbers of males and females are not.

So how do we compare with some other professions or occupations?

The graph below compares the bracket distribution against three  of these occupations.

The following gives an overview of some of the taxable expenses claimed by veterinarians:

• 43% claimed work–related car expenses, and the average claim is $2585  
• 21% claimed work–related travel expenses, and the average claim is $1427
• 65% claimed work–related uniform/clothing expenses, and  the average claim is $237
• 11.8% claimed work–related self-education expenses, and the  average claim is $2374.

In comparison, the average claim for work related self-education expenses for GPs was $4942 and dentists $5522.

Veterinarians made a total of $2,032,175 in tax–deductible donations with 44.5% of veterinarians claimed a deduction for donations.

Debbie Neutze
Policy Manager