Veterinarian

VeterinarianIncludes weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$125k-$175k

The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday4-day week

Weekend work is also flagged as required; confirm which days and how often.

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 3mo ago

Job Description

Lakeland Veterinary Hospital Is Hiring An

Associate Veterinarian to provide comprehensive medical, surgical, and dental care to a variety of animal patients.

Address: 7372 Woida Rd N Baxter, MN 56425

What to Expect

  • Competitive compensation: (ProSal) from $125K-$175K– no negative accrual
  • Bonus: Sign-on bonus & relocation assistance available
  • Schedule: 4-day workweek (7:30am – 5:00pm)

Hours of Operation

  • Monday - Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday & Sunday: Closed

As you join our mission to provide the highest level of veterinary care, expect to be supported in your work and personal life with:

  • 4:1 Staff-to-Doctor Ratio: you’ll have support from experienced staff (including 3 CVT’s) that are highly utilized, allowing you to focus on what you do best: practicing medicine!
  • All the benefits you deserve—health, dental, vision, retirement—plus: Comprehensive Benefits Package, which includes sign-on bonus, relocation assistance, 100% paid short-term disability, 401k with 3.5% employer match, Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Paid time off (PTO): Enjoy generous time off with up to 5 weeks of PTO each year, plus additional paid CE days. Take the time you need to rest, recharge, and invest in your growth.
  • Mentorship: We welcome all experience levels to apply – whether you’re looking to expand your skills in surgery, dentistry, or explore new areas of interest, we’ll support your growth every step of the way. Dr. Deb is passionate about teaching and mentoring, and we are dedicated to helping you succeed in your career.
  • Future buy-in opportunities and leadership/ownership pathway: Elevate your career through our buy-in partnership program, allowing you to gain ownership benefits while maintaining clinical autonomy.

About Lakeland Veterinary Hospital

For more than 40 years, Lakeland Veterinary Hospital has proudly served the Brainerd Lakes Region, caring for pets and the people who love them across generations. Since 2000, our purpose-built facility—designed by local architects specifically as a modern veterinary practice—has been our home base.

We are proud to be an AAHA-Accredited hospital, a reflection of our commitment to the highest standards of veterinary care. Our dedication to excellence has also been recognized by our community—we’ve been voted “Best Veterinary Clinic” and “Best Grooming” in the Brainerd Lakes Best of Competition.

Our hospital is fully equipped with modern, cutting-edge technology, including:

  • Digital X-ray & digital dental X-ray, ultrasound, therapy laser for advanced treatment options
  • In-house IDEXX laboratory for rapid diagnostics
  • Cornerstone paperless PMS system with tablets for patient care
  • Scribble Vet AI: Streamline your workflow with AI-assisted SOAP note documentation for faster, more efficient record keeping.

Meet Our Hospital Director & Owner – Dr. Deb Piepgras: A Brainerd native, Dr.

Deb Piepgras is the proud owner of Lakeland Veterinary Hospital. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Minnesota in 2000 and began her career at Lakeland the same year. Since then, she has dedicated her work to caring for animals, with a special passion for the challenge of diagnosing and treating sick or injured pets who cannot tell us what’s wrong.

At home, Dr. Piepgras shares life with her husband, their Long-haired Miniature Dachshund, Arya, their English Setter, Denali, and their spirited cat, Soul.

With their children grown, she and her husband are embracing the joys of being empty nesters.

Outside the hospital, Dr. Piepgras can often be found tending her many gardens, quilting, reading, camping, fishing, and taking full advantage of the lakes and trails the Brainerd area has to offer. Looking ahead, she is excited to spend more time traveling and exploring new places.

Our Mission

We strive to provide the highest quality healthcare to our patients, and while doing so, provide service to our clients that exceeds their expectations.

About The Brainerd Lakes Area

Nestled in central Minnesota, the Brainerd Lakes Area is known for its stunning scenery, more than 500 lakes, and year-round outdoor recreation. From boating, fishing, and hiking in the summer to skiing, snowmobiling, and cozy cabin getaways in the winter, there’s something for everyone. The area also offers a vibrant community with local shops, restaurants, and family-friendly events, making it a wonderful place to live, work, and play.

Requirements

  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or VMD degree from an accredited institution
  • Valid veterinary license in the state of Minnesota

We’d love to chat with you about our clinic and the community we serve. Connect with us today—we can’t wait to meet you!

Check out our Website

& Facebook

& Instagram!

We are dedicated to establishing a culture that celebrates all forms of diversity and allows us to be an inclusive service provider in this community.

Key Responsibilities

Provide comprehensive medical, surgical, and dental care to a variety of animal patients. Support the mission to deliver the highest level of veterinary care.

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)

Key Skills

Medical CareSurgical CareAnimal CareClient CommunicationTeam Collaboration

Veterinary Medicine Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Minnesota is 98.6 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$150k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $152k in an average-cost state. 63.4% of Minnesota clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 50 active Veterinary Medicine listings this role was benchmarked against, 90% have no call, 96% require no weekends.

What does the Veterinary Medicine market look like in Minnesota?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score6.2 / 10 · above average in veterinary medicineranked against 3,144 Veterinary Medicine listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$125k–$175kVeterinary Medicine median $125k (middle half $119k–$131k)73 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$152k in purchasing powerMinnesota index 98.6 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Veterinary Medicine listings in Minnesota58 active3,170 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 90% no call · 96% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentsign-on bonusUS healthcare professional listings: 43% state a sign-on bonus (median $50k) · 9% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026
New Veterinary Medicine listings936 in the last 30 days552 the 30 days before (+70%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Veterinary Medicine pay trend+3.7% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (3,144 Veterinary Medicine listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Veterinarian at Lakeland Veterinary Hospital a 6.2 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Veterinary Medicine — ranked against 3,144 active Veterinary Medicine listings on WeekdayDoc.

Top Veterinarian Jobs

4 matches · ranked by pay
#1

Veterinarian - Ventura, CA

Who we · Ventura, California

$150k-$175k
#2

Associate Veterinarian - Animal Care Center

Lakefield Veterinary Group · Baxter, Minnesota

$120k-$140k
#3

Associate Veterinarian

From $120k
#4

Veterinarian - South-Fontana, CA

$70k-$120k
+ 2 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 6.2
Better work-life than 50% of Veterinary Medicine listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,144 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site
  • Includes weekends
Lakeland Veterinary Hospital logo

About Lakeland Veterinary Hospital

Veterinary Services
Baxter, MN
11-50 employees

Benefits & Perks

Sign-on bonus
Relocation assistance
Health insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
401k with 3.5% employer match
100% paid short-term disability
Employee Assistance Program

Living in Baxter

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$354k≈ 2.8× annual pay
Median resident rent
$1,154/mo≈ 11% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
19 min
State income tax
Up to 9.8%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.