How to hire an associate veterinarian

How to hire an associate veterinarian, step by step

Here's a step-by-step associate veterinarian hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an associate veterinarian job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new associate veterinarian
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an associate veterinarian do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The associate veterinarian hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an associate veterinarian to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an associate veterinarian that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of associate veterinarians.

   Type of Associate Veterinarian	Description	Hourly rate
   Associate Veterinarian	Veterinarians care for the health of animals and work to improve public health. They diagnose, treat, and research medical conditions and diseases of pets, livestock, and other animals.	$19-71
   Animal Technician	An animal technician is responsible for ensuring the animals' welfare under the supervision and guidance of a licensed veterinarian. Animal technicians maintain an organized record of animal information, assisting in medical surgeries and procedures, administering medications, collecting laboratory samples, and sending examination reports to the animal owners... Show more	$9-24
   Veterinary Technician	A Veterinary Technician, also known as Vet Tech, specializes in performing laboratory tasks and providing immediate and necessary care to animals in a Hospital Clinic or Research Facility under the supervision of a Veterinarian. Moreover, a Veterinary Technician is in charge of administering medicines or treatments, gathering samples such as blood and urine for analysis, monitoring a patient's condition and learning its history, and conducting hygienic procedures such as dental and welfare... Show more	$14-23

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • PET
   • Patients
   • Private Practice
   • DVM
   • Medical Care
   • Exceptional Client
   • Veterinary Medicine
   • AAHA
   • Dental Procedures
   • Digital Radiography
   • Preventative Care
   • USDA
   • Dental Care
   • Excellent Interpersonal

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Educate clients on their pet's medical conditions and enable owners to manage their pet's diseases with appropriate home care.
   • Manage client concerns and communicate important details about quality pet care.
   • Manage wildlife rehabilitation program for native species, including state and federal rehabilitation licenses for the practice.
   • Discuss plans for bringing in acupuncture and rehabilitation practice.
   • Expand HomeVet services from house calls to relief veterinary medical services in Sarasota andManatee counties.
   • Attend equine patients, mentore high school students, veterinary assistant students, and veterinary technology students

   More associate veterinarian duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your associate veterinarian job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An associate veterinarian can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, associate veterinarians' average salary in oklahoma is 51% less than in new mexico.
   • Seniority. Entry-level associate veterinarians 72% less than senior-level associate veterinarians.
   • Certifications. An associate veterinarian with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an associate veterinarian's salary.

   Average associate veterinarian salary

   $78,407yearly

   $37.70 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level associate veterinarian salary

   $41,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average associate veterinarian salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$103,109	$50
   2	New Mexico	$103,003	$50
   3	New York	$97,888	$47
   4	Pennsylvania	$94,540	$45
   5	Texas	$93,208	$45
   6	North Carolina	$91,288	$44
   7	Oregon	$89,904	$43
   8	Massachusetts	$88,258	$42
   9	Arizona	$87,051	$42
   10	Nevada	$86,944	$42
   11	Washington	$86,700	$42
   12	Florida	$85,185	$41
   13	Ohio	$80,211	$39
   14	Alaska	$79,863	$38
   15	Minnesota	$79,797	$38
   16	Indiana	$77,149	$37
   17	Illinois	$76,732	$37
   18	Tennessee	$75,864	$36
   19	Colorado	$73,572	$35

   Average associate veterinarian salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Providence Hospital	$162,941	$78.34
   2	Madison Community Hospital	$113,006	$54.33	1
   3	Shannon Medical Center	$111,213	$53.47
   4	Hurley Medical Center	$110,477	$53.11
   5	Vail Health	$109,122	$52.46
   6	Riverside Community Hospital	$103,753	$49.88	1
   7	Columbia Hospital	$103,581	$49.80
   8	BRP US Inc	$102,070	$49.07
   9	Brookville Hospital	$100,410	$48.27
   10	Castro Valley Health Inc.	$99,789	$47.98
   11	SB & Company	$98,266	$47.24
   12	St Francis	$98,062	$47.15	2
   13	Ethos Veterinary Health	$97,772	$47.01	198
   14	Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital	$96,622	$46.45
   15	Medical Management International	$95,917	$46.11	639
   16	UC Merced	$94,092	$45.24
   17	National Veterinary Associates	$93,981	$45.18	674
   18	University of California-Berkeley	$93,921	$45.15
   19	GPAC	$93,827	$45.11
   20	American Animal Hospital Association	$93,706	$45.05

4. Writing an associate veterinarian job description

   A good associate veterinarian job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an associate veterinarian job description:

   Associate veterinarian job description example

   La Jolla Veterinary Hospital is committed to the highest level of veterinary medicine and a distinct commitment to hospitality. We are a successful small animal practice in the beautiful community of La Jolla with an extraordinary reputation that has been in practice for over 70 years. We are committed to not only making an impact in the lives of our patients but also, to our community and the animal welfare industry as a whole. We have a unique, staff-driven work flow that provides an environment in which our veterinarians can concentrate exclusively on patient care and strong client communication. We also value far more than veterinary medicine. We value our staff and our working environment to a degree that hosts a workplace that is both fun and drives a stellar work performance from the team as a whole.

   Requirements:

   · California State Veterinary Board License

   Additional Licensing:

   · La Jolla Veterinary Hospital will apply and pay for your DEA License and state USDA Accreditation.

   Expectations:

   · Practice the highest quality medicine and value hospitality.

   · Make and maintain strong personal connections.

   · Proficiency in reading and interpreting dental radiology/perform dental extractions.

   · Be a positive, team-oriented, organized individual.

   · Comfortable and proficient in performing surgical procedures.

   · Work well with others in a staff-driven working environment.

   · Work three 10-hour shifts that consist of Saturday, Sunday and Wednesdays.

   · Maintain comprehensive medical records with the support of Avimark veterinary software system.

   · Support and adhere to the culture of preventive care.

   Benefits:

   · Competitive salary/pay with paid time off

   · Premium medical benefits.

   · 401(k) Savings Plan with employer match

   · Continuing Education, licensing and professional membership reimbursement

   · Superior discounts for household pets

   · A variety of discounts through and with our Companion partners

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find associate veterinarians for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any associate veterinarians they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level associate veterinarians with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your associate veterinarian job on Zippia to find and attract quality associate veterinarian candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit associate veterinarians, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new associate veterinarian

   Once you have selected a candidate for the associate veterinarian position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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