But ~$89,000 isn't six figures, so...? Also, I suppose it depends on the source and relevant area covered by the statistic. I've heard other (lower) figures elsewhere.

If median vet pay is $89k, then by definition much less than half of vets are making 100k.

So, how is it "easy" to make 100k+?

Maybe I'm an optimist, but I find it easy to do slightly above average in most tasks that I have some semblance of control over.

Sure, but how often is that a task where you and your peers have all been exhaustively trained for about 8 years on specifically that specialty?

/shrug