Veterinarian - Kelso, WA
Listed compensation
$140k-$160k
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.
Job Description
Who We Are
Join a passionate bunch of veterinary professionals as a Veterinarian in Kelso, WA! At Riverside Animal Hospital you will work with an impressive team of experienced professionals. Whether you wish to have an experienced partner in practice or need reliable mentorship there is a place for you as an Associate Veterinarian. About us:
Our hospital is a full-service small animal general medicine practice, providing comprehensive pet care to the Longview and Kelso communities.
Riverside has proudly been serving our community since 1976!
All the advanced equipment and technologies are on hand, including comprehensive in-house testing for accurate diagnosis, digital x-ray, surgical suite, dental suite, and a pharmacy.
We offer a broad range of services for dogs, cats, and other small animals. Our services include but aren't limited to:
- Pet laser therapy
- On-site laboratory testing services
- Ultrasound
- Radiology
Preventative Dental Care & Cleaning
- Care for guinea pigs, mice, rats, hamsters, gerbils, ferrets, hedgehogs, chinchillas, sugar gliders, and rabbits.
- Emergency care for current patients
- Domestic & international health certificates
What's in It for You
Full Time Benefits Include (30+Hrs/week)
Pro-sal compensation model with a base salary range of $140,000 - $160,000
Production Bonus
- $50,000 sign on bonus available!! medical benefits (including health, dental and vision)
- 401(k)
- Employee assistance program (EAP)
- CE allowance
- Vacation + sick time
- Professional association dues reimbursed
- Liability coverage and so much more!
Our practice has a positive, wellbeing-focused culture that we’d love to tell you about. Get the conversation started by applying today!
Where We Are
About Kelso, WA
Tucked away in southwest Washington near mountains and ocean beaches, Kelso is close enough to Portland’s urban lifestyle of culture, nightlife, shopping, great food trucks, and brewpubs, but just outside of the hustle and bustle and traffic.
Kelso offers a great small-town community feel and is only two hours from ski slopes in (White Pass in Naches, WA, or Mt. Hood in Government Camp, OR).
If skiing is not your thing, there is also access to rivers for fishing, kayaking, rafting, or day hikes within 30-minutes.
Plus, the pristine coastal beaches of WA and OR are only an hour and a half away!
Key Responsibilities
Provide comprehensive general medical care for dogs, cats, and exotic small animals. Perform diagnostic testing, surgical procedures, and dental care within a full-service hospital setting.
Requirements
The role requires a qualified veterinarian to join an established practice. Candidates should be comfortable working in a collaborative team environment and providing high-quality patient care.
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 ~$150k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $140k 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 | $140k–$160k | Veterinary Medicine median $145k (middle half $140k–$155k)25 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 | ~$140k in purchasing power | Washington index 107.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Veterinary Medicine listings in Washington | 112 active | 3,421 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 64% no call · 64% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | $50k sign-on | Washington healthcare professional listings (all specialties): 45% state a sign-on bonus · 5% offer loan repayment164 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Veterinary Medicine listings | 1,252 in the last 30 days | 492 the 30 days before (+154%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Veterinary Medicine pay trend | +3.7% vs prior quarter | —through Oct 2026 |
| Vet Cor | #9 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 ~$150k midpoint, that is roughly $6k–$11k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.
Top Veterinarian Jobs
23 matches · ranked by paySalary Distribution
23 jobs · 13 employersAnnual compensation range
Benefits & Perks
23 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 - Gig Harbor, WA
$130k-$170kWork-life snapshot
Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,083 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.
About Vet Cor
Benefits & Perks
Living in Kelso
- Typical 3-bedroom home value
- $397k≈ 2.8× annual pay
- Typical market rent
- $1,469/mo≈ 13% of gross pay
- Residents’ average commute
- 21 min
- State income tax
- None
Sources & methodology
Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.
Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.