How much do locum vets earn in the UK?

Locum rates for vets working in the UK have increased over the last 12 months. This increase and the recent decline of the Australian dollar against the British pound make working in the UK very attractive.

So, how much can an Aussie vet expect to earn in the UK?

Increased demand has seen locum pay rates increase substantially in recent times. While many working holidaymakers are restricted to relatively low-paid jobs like hospitality or fruit picking, locum vets are typically paid quite well. In the UK, daily pay rates range from £300 to £450 (approximately AU$569-853 or NZ$630-945)

As an added bonus, many UK locum jobs offer free accommodation and sometimes a car, so you can save more of your hard-earned pounds for your next European adventure or perhaps a deposit for a house back home.

With the UK as your starting point and pounds in your pocket, your travel options are so much more extensive and accessible compared to when you’re down under and relying on Aussie dollars. For example, last week, you and a friend could have escaped to Venice with Easyjet for less than £70 each one way – see www.easyjet.com/en for more affordable flights between the UK and a long list of European destinations.

Or, for a completely different travel experience, you could pay for a return flight from London to New York for little more than a day’s locum earnings. What’s more, the six-hour flight time means you can hit the ground running instead of wasting days recovering from jet lag. For more inspiration and up-to-date quotes on flights between the UK and virtually anywhere in the world, check out www.skyscanner.net or www.farecompare.com

Vetlink Employment Service can help you to find locum vet work throughout the UK in small animal, mixed and large animal practices. To learn more, see the blog post on Why take a Working Holiday in the UK; alternatively, contact Mark Eagleton at mark@vetlink.com.au or on free call 1800 991 993.

Last Updated: July 2024

DISCLAIMER: The above information is for guidance purposes only. Vetlink takes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information, which is not intended as advice. The salary information is based on our experience rather than a salary survey. Vetlink is not responsible for the accuracy of the salary information.