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Run the Payroll Fee Auditor →Blog · Payroll Management · Veterinary
Veterinary Practices: Payroll Compliance Guide (2026)
Payroll compliance for veterinary practices rests on the federal rules that reach this industry specifically, 3 of which are cited on this page, plus the deposit and filing duties every employer carries. BEG runs veterinary practice payroll for $45 per employee per month inside the payroll software you already use, all-inclusive, live in 3 to 5 business days.
The rules that reach veterinary practices specifically
To be an exempt learned professional, an employee must be paid on a salary or fee basis at not less than the standard salary level and have a primary duty of work requiring advanced knowledge in a field of science or learning, which the fact sheet lists as including medicine and the biological sciences. Job titles do not determine exemption status.
The learned professional exemption is not available to occupations where most workers gain their skill through experience rather than advanced specialized instruction; the regulation notes that licensed practical nurses and similar health care employees generally do not qualify because a specialized advanced academic degree is not a standard prerequisite for entry.
The standard salary level for the executive, administrative and professional exemptions is $684 per week, equivalent to $35,568 per year, and the highly compensated employee threshold is $107,432 per year.
The duties every employer carries
Federal income tax withholding, Social Security and Medicare, FUTA, deposits on the monthly or semiweekly schedule the lookback period sets, quarterly Form 941, annual W-2s and, for veterinary practices paying contractors, 1099-NEC at the $2,000 threshold in force for tax years after 2025. A late deposit starts at a 2 percent failure-to-deposit penalty and climbs to 15 percent.
The rules behind this page, with sources
General information, not legal advice. Every rule below was read on the agency page linked next to it.
- To be an exempt learned professional, an employee must be paid on a salary or fee basis at not less than the standard salary level and have a primary duty of work requiring advanced knowledge in a field of science or learning, which the fact sheet lists as including medicine and the biological sciences. Job titles do not determine exemption status. [DOL Fact Sheet #17D]
- The learned professional exemption is not available to occupations where most workers gain their skill through experience rather than advanced specialized instruction; the regulation notes that licensed practical nurses and similar health care employees generally do not qualify because a specialized advanced academic degree is not a standard prerequisite for entry. [29 CFR 541.301]
- The standard salary level for the executive, administrative and professional exemptions is $684 per week, equivalent to $35,568 per year, and the highly compensated employee threshold is $107,432 per year. [DOL WHD Earnings thresholds for the EAP exemption]
Read the full guide to the payroll compliance library, and the rest of the veterinary practice payroll library.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Veterinary practice compliance: DOL Fact Sheet #17D
To be an exempt learned professional, an employee must be paid on a salary or fee basis at not less than the standard salary level and have a primary duty of work requiring advanced knowledge in a field of science or learning, which the fact sheet lists as including medicine and the biological sciences. Job titles do not determine exemption status.
Veterinary practice compliance: 29 CFR 541.301
The learned professional exemption is not available to occupations where most workers gain their skill through experience rather than advanced specialized instruction; the regulation notes that licensed practical nurses and similar health care employees generally do not qualify because a specialized advanced academic degree is not a standard prerequisite for entry.
Veterinary practice compliance: DOL WHD Earnings thresholds for the EAP exemption
The standard salary level for the executive, administrative and professional exemptions is $684 per week, equivalent to $35,568 per year, and the highly compensated employee threshold is $107,432 per year.
What does managed payroll cost for a veterinary practice?
$45 per employee per month, all-inclusive, inside the payroll software you already use, with no monthly minimum. Production-based DVM comp, vet tech certification pay tiers and multi-location group payroll are configured at setup, not billed as add-ons.
Related Resources
Anthony leads payroll solutions at Business Executive Group, a national managed payroll firm serving businesses across industries including Veterinary Practices. BEG manages payroll at $45 PEPM, all-inclusive, with deep expertise in compliance, multi-state filing, and industry-specific payroll requirements. Get instant pricing at beghr.com.
Authoritative source: U.S. Department of Labor: Wage and Hour Division
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