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How to hire a doctor of veterinary medicine

Doctor of veterinary medicine hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring doctors of veterinary medicine in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a doctor of veterinary medicine is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new doctor of veterinary medicine to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a doctor of veterinary medicine, step by step

To hire a doctor of veterinary medicine, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a doctor of veterinary medicine:

Here's a step-by-step doctor of veterinary medicine hiring guide:

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

What does a doctor of veterinary medicine do?

A Veterinary Medicine Doctor is responsible for studying animal nature, diagnosing animal illnesses, and developing treatment plans and medications. They analyze an extensive scope of animal conditions to identify care programs that would keep them healthy. They also supervise laboratory procedures and conduct tests by acquiring specimens for investigation. A veterinary medicine doctor must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in coordinating with animal owners, responding to their inquiries and concerns, and resolving their issues.

Learn more about the specifics of what a doctor of veterinary medicine does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a doctor of veterinary medicine, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect doctor of veterinary medicine also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    The following list breaks down different types of doctors of veterinary medicine and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Doctor Of Veterinary MedicineDescriptionHourly rate
    Doctor Of Veterinary MedicineVeterinarians 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.$31-133
    DoctorA doctor is a medical expert who diagnoses and treats illnesses and injuries, often specializing in particular areas. Their responsibilities revolve around conducting initial interviews and examinations, studying a patient's medical history and laboratory results, providing consultations and care advice, prescribing medication, and referring patients to specialists when necessary... Show more$50-196
    Public Health VeterinarianPublic Health Veterinarians require participation in a public health program that leads to a master's degree in public health with a focus on veterinarian medicine, should this be their career choice. Earning an average of $76K per year, it is a position that requires a great deal of compassion, as well as manual dexterity, and decision-making, interpersonal, problem-solving, and management skills... Show more$13-65
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Patient Care
    • Veterinary Medicine
    • Patients
    • Medical Care
    • Internal Medicine
    • Diabetes
    • EKG
    • Diagnostic Tests
    • Chronic Disease
    • EMR
    • Medical History
    • Private Practice
    • Physical Exams
    • Surgical Procedures
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Handle patient medical history, physical examination, diagnosis and treatment.
    • Gather research data access through EMR.
    • Perform cardiac surgery including pacemaker, ICD and CRT implantations.
    • Perform phlebotomy, pap smears, EKG, Spirometry and minor surgeries.
    • Assist in surgery, suturing and deliveries in the maternity unit, including complications eg.
    • Interview patients, perform clinical examination and diagnose medical emergencies.
    More doctor of veterinary medicine duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the doctor of veterinary medicine job description is a good way to get more applicants. A doctor of veterinary medicine salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for a doctor of veterinary medicine in Mississippi may be lower than in Maine, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level doctor of veterinary medicine. Additionally, a doctor of veterinary medicine with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average doctor of veterinary medicine salary

    $136,242yearly

    $65.50 hourly rate

    Entry-level doctor of veterinary medicine salary
    $66,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 23, 2026

    Average doctor of veterinary medicine salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Vermont$175,876$85
    2Texas$172,841$83
    3California$168,608$81
    4Rhode Island$168,293$81
    5Connecticut$168,071$81
    6Colorado$166,985$80
    7North Carolina$164,850$79
    8Washington$161,413$78
    9Massachusetts$157,902$76
    10Michigan$156,891$75
    11Illinois$151,903$73
    12Georgia$149,263$72
    13Florida$149,134$72
    14Indiana$147,719$71
    15Nevada$129,335$62
    16New Mexico$122,739$59
    17Arizona$120,856$58

    Average doctor of veterinary medicine salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Columbus Zoo and Aquarium$361,728$173.91
    2Sanford Health$287,621$138.28139
    3Montrose Memorial Hospital$241,018$115.87
    4University of Florida$201,232$96.7569
    5Unm Medical Group, Inc.$195,891$94.188
    6All Medical Personnel$193,127$92.85
    7NEPHROLOGY AND HYPERTENSION ASSOCIATES$175,917$84.58
    8City of Antioch$173,621$83.47
    9Sutter Medical Foundation$170,541$81.992
    10Medical Management International$169,088$81.29334
    11NextLevel Health$165,998$79.81
    12National Medical Association$148,237$71.27
    13MedVet$130,317$62.65105
    14GPAC$129,547$62.28
    15Banfield Pet Hospital$125,958$60.56439
    16Bastyr University$120,625$57.99
    17Connecticut Veterinary Center$116,470$56.00
    18VCA Animal Hospitals$110,413$53.08652
  4. Writing a doctor of veterinary medicine job description

    A job description for a doctor of veterinary medicine role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a doctor of veterinary medicine job description:

    Doctor of veterinary medicine job description example

    This position earns top pay of $800-$900 per shift. We also offer excellent benefits , including health insurance, a matching 401(k) plan, paid time off (PTO), CA DVM dues, DEA registration, and an annual continuing education stipend . Ask about our signing bonus! If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, consider applying today!

    ABOUT MONTROSE PET HOSPITAL

    Our animal hospital is proud to serve Montrose, La Crescenta, La CaƱada, and the Foothill communities with medical, surgical, and dental services. We provide pets and their owners with the best veterinary experience possible, offering state-of-the-art medical care, including stem cell therapy. Our clients are always greeted by a courteous receptionist, clean exam rooms, friendly doctors, and caring technicians. We have an in-house pharmacy, state-of-the-art dental equipment, comfortable cat condos and dog kennels, an online store, and access to specialists. We believe in nurturing the human-pet bond and creating a harmonious relationship between people and pets.

    We care just as much about our employees. Everyone is considered a leader and an integral member of the health care delivery team. In order to hire and retain team members who demonstrate kindness, compassion, patience, professionalism, integrity, and agility, we offer competitive pay , excellent benefits , exceptional work-life balance , and a positive work environment .

    A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A DOCTOR OF VETERINARY MEDICINE (DVM) / VETERINARIAN

    As a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine / Veterinarian at our animal hospital, the trusting relationships that you build with your loyal clients help our animal hospital thrive. Your warm and down-to-earth demeanor puts everyone at ease. No matter the issue, your 4-legged patients and their families get your complete attention. You conduct thorough general examinations and diagnostics. When necessary, you skillfully perform surgery. You have developed a deep connection to the community we serve. Collaboratively, you help train our support staff to be the best. You love that you are part of a great team without being boxed into a corporate system and get to practice your way!

    QUALIFICATIONS FOR A DOCTOR OF VETERINARY MEDICINE (DVM) / VETERINARIAN

    • Vet license in CA
    • Enjoy doing surgeries
    • Great customer service skills

    Do you work well with both people and pets? Do you have good communication skills? Are you patient, respectful, tactful, and calm under pressure? Do you have a sense of humor? Can you show empathy while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries? If so, we need you to join our team!

    WORK SCHEDULE

    This vet position will start with working 4 days per week with the opportunity to pick up shifts when other vets take time off. In about 9 months, it should open to 5 days on Wednesday - Sunday every other week, rotating to Wednesday - Friday on the opposite weeks. Your time off is respected as your time off, and you won't be asked to come in.

    READY TO JOIN OUR TEAM?

    We understand your time is valuable, so we have a very quick and easy application process. If you feel that you would be right for this vet job, please fill out our initial 3-minute, mobile-friendly application . We look forward to meeting you!

    Location: 91020



    Job Posted by ApplicantPro
  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find doctors of veterinary medicine for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your doctor of veterinary medicine job on Zippia to find and recruit doctor of veterinary medicine candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting doctors of veterinary medicine requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    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 doctor of veterinary medicine

    Once you've decided on a perfect doctor of veterinary medicine candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new doctor of veterinary medicine first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  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.)
    Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire a doctor of veterinary medicine?

There are different types of costs for hiring doctors of veterinary medicine. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new doctor of veterinary medicine employee.

Doctors of veterinary medicine earn a median yearly salary is $136,242 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find doctors of veterinary medicine for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $31 and $133.

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