Veterinarian - Lakewood, WA
Listed compensation
$120k-$140k
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
Who We Are
Associate Veterinarian – The Pet Doctor in Lakewood, WA
Are you a veterinarian looking for the next step in your career? Do you value team culture and a positive working environment? Look no further than The Pet Doctor in Lakewood, WA! Our busy practice is looking to add an Associate Veterinarian interested in being part of the BEST vet team in the community.
When we opened our doors in 1973, our mission was simple: to give every animal the chance to have a happy and healthy life. Everyone on our staff has a deep love for animals and is committed to providing high-quality service and care.
What Makes Us The Best?
- We are a family-oriented practice that values work/life balance – no weekends!!
- Our culture provides an environment supportive of mental health & employee well-being
- Team tenure averages 13 years - we love working here & it shows!
- We never stop looking and investing in new ways we can best care for our patients and community
We have in-house Idexx lab work available, a diagnostic ultrasound machine, a new ultrasonic dental scaler and digital dental X-ray, a new DR X-ray system, a new TCI scope and Class IV laser coming Q1 of 2024
Location can’t be beat – minutes to JBLM, 45 minutes to Seattle, 1.5 hours to the ocean, 2 hours to Mt. Rainier and 2.5 hours to Portland
- Our veterinarians are collaborative to provide the best care for our patients
- We have a Reproductive Veterinarian who enjoys sharing her knowledge and offers advanced Reproductive medicine
- A new veterinarian will have an instant clientele
About Lakewood, WA
Lakewood is the second-largest city in Pierce County, is located between Seattle and Olympia along the I-5 corridor, and borders Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), Camp Murray, and Tacoma.
Ours is one of the most culturally diverse populations in Washington, with influences from Korean, Vietnamese, Latino, and other cultures.
Lakewood has many places to eat and drink, including Hess Bakery, Long Beach Cafe, Tacoma Szechuan, and Mastrogiannis Distillery.
We are very proud of our award-winning schools and community colleges - they are the pride of our city.
Full Time Benefits Include (30+Hrs/week)
Prosal compensation model with a base salary range of $120,000 - $140,000 annually (based on experience and hours/week)
- Production bonus
- Signing or relocation bonus
- Medical benefits (including health, dental and vision)
- Paid parental leave
- 401(k)
- Employee assistance program (EAP)
- CE allowance + CE days off
- Vacation + sick days
- Professional organization dues reimbursed
Liability Coverage
Our practice has a positive, well-being-focused culture that we’d love to tell you about. Get the conversation started by applying today!
Key Responsibilities
Provide high-quality veterinary care and medical services to patients within a collaborative team environment. Engage with the local community and contribute to the practice's mission of ensuring animal health and well-being.
Requirements
Candidates must be qualified veterinarians looking to join a busy, community-focused practice. The role requires a commitment to high-quality service and the ability to work effectively within a collaborative team.
Qualifications
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Veterinary Medicine Career Context
In Washington, the Veterinary Medicine weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$140k (58 salary observations; 228 listings), vs ~$140k nationally (873 salary observations; 7,060 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-02-01 through 2026-11-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.
The cost-of-living index for Washington is 107.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$130k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $121k in an average-cost state. 59.8% of Washington clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Listed pay | $120k–$140k | Veterinary Medicine median $145k (middle half $132k–$155k)27 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| Washington vs national | $140k median in Washington | $140k nationally (about the same)58 state / 873 national salary observations |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$121k in purchasing power | Washington index 107.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Veterinary Medicine listings in Washington | 107 active | 3,330 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 70% no call · 59% no weekends46 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | sign-on bonus | Washington healthcare professional listings (all specialties): 45% state a sign-on bonus · 5% offer loan repayment159 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Veterinary Medicine listings | 1,265 in the last 30 days | 492 the 30 days before (+157%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Veterinary Medicine pay trend | +3.7% vs prior quarter | —through Oct 2026 |
| Vet Cor | #7 of 12 for pay | Top Employers work-life index |
Location & Logistics
Washington has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$130k midpoint, that is roughly $5k–$9k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.
Top Veterinarian Jobs
16 matches · ranked by paySalary Distribution
16 jobs · 13 employersAnnual compensation range
Benefits & Perks
16 jobs · 13 employersShare of similar jobs offering each benefit
Hospital Medical Leader - Veterinarian
PETCO Animal Supplies Stores · Vancouver, Washington
Veterinary Medical Director - Small Animal General Practice Leadership - Richland Animal Hospital
Richland Animal Hospital · Richland, Washington
Veterinarian - Gig Harbor, WA
$130k-$170kVeterinarian - Port Orchard, WA
$130k-$170k