Veterinarian - Tacoma, WA

Veterinarian 8.7 Work-LifeNo weekendsNo nightsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$130k-$140k

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

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

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Who We Are

Associate Veterinarian – Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital | Tacoma, WA

Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital in Tacoma, WA, is looking for a veterinarian to join our growing two-doctor practice. We are open to full-time or part-time veterinarians, and we are especially interested in a surgeon or a veterinarian with a strong interest in surgery.

Why Metropolitan?

Our culture is built around “Happy Vets, Happy Patients” — with an emphasis on collaboration, teamwork, mentorship, work/life balance, empathy, compassion, and strong medicine.

We are located in the thriving and diverse Stadium District neighborhood of Tacoma, 30 miles south of Seattle, with a fantastic and committed client base.

Our clientele is incredibly diverse and loyal, and we meet clients where they are financially while providing compassionate, high-quality care.

  • We practice fear-free and low-stress handling protocols with an emphasis on patient comfort.
  • We offer in-house laboratory, digital dental/X-rays, ultrasound, and the tools you need to practice quality medicine in a modern, large, spacious working area.

A Team That Supports You

Each DVM is supported by approximately 2.5 support staff members, including veterinary assistants, treatment technicians, and 3 LVTs. The team provides dedicated support for appointments and surgeries, with LVTs handling blood draws, X-rays, and other technical responsibilities.

Our team members are experienced, with many staff members having been with the practice 5–10 years. Our Chief of Staff has been with the hospital for 10 years and is an experienced mentor.

Surgery & Specialty Support

  • If surgery is your passion — or an area you'd like to grow in — you'll have excellent support.
  • We work with two board-certified surgeons who come into the hospital to assist with more complex surgeries.

Our board-certified surgeons are open to mentoring and supporting veterinarians who want to strengthen their surgical skills.

We also team up with top Orthopedic, Cardiac, and Ultrasound specialists to offer these important services in the hospital, providing increased comfort for our patients and convenience for our clients.

A Schedule Designed for Work/Life Balance

  • We believe you can practice great medicine without sacrificing your life outside of the hospital.
  • Monday–Friday with no evenings or weekends
  • Hospital hours are 8:00 AM–6:00 PM
  • Full-time options available with a 4-day work week (schedule options are flexible)
  • Part-time opportunities are also available
  • After-hours emergencies are referred out
  • 30-minute appointments
  • 1.5-hour lunch break, plus an additional 30 minutes of catch-up time

Mentorship & Support for New Graduates

  • We’re happy to welcome a confident new graduate who is looking for a supportive environment to begin their veterinary career. You’ll have the time, resources, and people around you to build confidence and develop your skills:
  • Longer appointment times initially, giving you the time and space to work through cases
  • An experienced, supportive assistant who can help you navigate the day-to-day workflow
  • Dedicated time for case review with our experienced mentor and Chief of Staff, Dr. Neeson
  • Shadowing opportunities with our Chief of Staff, if that’s the best way for you to learn
  • A team where questions are welcomed and asking for help is encouraged

Life at Metropolitan

  • We work hard, support one another, and genuinely enjoy being part of the same team.
  • A culture that values integrity, compassion, inclusivity, empathy, teamwork, and quality care
  • Team potlucks and team-building activities and rewards
  • Family-oriented environment — significant others are welcome at team events
  • About Tacoma, WA

Tacoma is rich in culture, entertainment, and history, being situated between urban Seattle and culturally diverse Olympia.

Our clinic is in the perfect area where you will find easy access to ample local shops, restaurants, nightlife, and breweries.

Parks and beaches are nearby, along with outdoor activities including water sports, hiking urban and rural trails, farmers' markets, cycling, and much more.

  • Tacoma is only one hour from the ski slopes and close to the coast.
  • Full-Time Benefits
  • Base salary: $130,000–$140,000 based on experience
  • Production bonus paid quarterly with no negative accrual
  • Signing or relocation bonus
  • Medical benefits, including health, dental, and vision
  • 401(k) with employer match
  • Paid parental leave
  • Employee assistance program (EAP)
  • CE allowance + CE time off
  • Paid vacation and sick days
  • Dues and Liability coverage

Ready to Join Us?

This is a great opportunity for a veterinarian with experience who wants to cultivate their skills — and an excellent opportunity for a new graduate looking for the right foundation to begin their career.

If you're looking for a practice where collaboration, strong medicine, work/life balance, and a genuinely supportive team are part of the everyday culture, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today to find out about all the benefits of being part of our team!

Key Responsibilities

Provide high-quality veterinary care, including medical examinations, diagnostics, and surgical procedures for a diverse patient base. Collaborate with the veterinary team and specialists to ensure patient comfort and effective treatment plans.

Requirements

Candidates must be licensed veterinarians, with the practice welcoming both experienced professionals and confident new graduates. A strong interest in surgery is highly desired, along with a commitment to compassionate, fear-free patient care.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure

Certifications

Board Certification

Key Skills

Veterinary medicineFear-free handlingClinical diagnosticsDentistryRadiologyTeam collaborationClient communicationCase management

Veterinary Medicine Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Washington is 107.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$135k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $126k in an average-cost state. 59.8% of Washington clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 42 active Veterinary Medicine listings this role was benchmarked against, 2% are remote, 74% have no call, 52% require no weekends.

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Veterinarian - Tacoma, WA at Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital a 8.7 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as excellent. This places the position in the top 5% in Veterinary Medicine — ranked against 3,047 active Veterinary Medicine listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements, no night shifts.

Location & Logistics

Washington has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$135k midpoint, that is roughly $5k–$9k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.

Top Veterinarian Jobs

26 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution26 jobs · 11 employers

8
<$150k
10
$150k-175k
3
$175k-200k
3
$220k
2
$227k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks26 jobs · 11 employers

401k / retirement match
88% this job
Sign-on bonus
77% this job
CME allowance
77% this job
Relocation assistance
46% this job
Loan repayment
19%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Senior Shelter Veterinarian (2293) - Animal Care and Control, Office of the City Administrator

City and County of San Francis · San Francisco, California

$177k–$227k
#2

2293-Senior Shelter Veterinarian

City and County of San Francis · San Francisco, California

$177k-$227k
#3

Veterinarian, Partner & Equity Owner

$120k-$220k
#4

Co-Owner Veterinarian – Westchester County, New York

$160k-$220k
+ 24 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 5.7this job 8.7
Among the best 10% of Veterinary Medicine listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,047 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No weekends
  • No nights

Living in Tacoma

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$488k≈ 3.8× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,740/mo≈ 16% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
29 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
111.1
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital logo

About Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital

Veterinary Services
Akron, Ohio
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Production bonus paid quarterly (no negative accrual)
Signing or relocation bonus
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
401(k) with employer match
Paid parental leave
Employee assistance program (EAP)
CE allowance + CE time off
Paid vacation and sick days