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CareVet Health
Rockford, Illinois

Veterinarian | Rockford, IL

Veterinarian 8.0 Work-LifeNo callNo weekendsNo nightsFull-Time

Listed compensation

Base salary: $100K–$130K

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumedWeekdays only

Illinois enforces a physician non-compete only if it is reasonable in time and scope AND supported by adequate consideration (generally 2+ years of continued employment). The Illinois Freedom to Work Act also voids non-competes below set income thresholds. Courts narrowly construe them. Educational summary, not legal advice — confirm with a licensed attorney. Review a contract

Ask the employer about the work setting and time off.

Posted 2mo ago

Job Description

Looking for a stable, well-supported practice where relationships matter and your day feels manageable?

CareVet of Rockford is a well-established small animal hospital that has been serving the community since 1986. We’re seeking a full-time veterinarian to join our collaborative two-doctor team and experienced support staff in a practice built on consistency, teamwork, and long-term client relationships.

Our hospital emphasizes thoughtful medicine and continuity of care. Clients know us well, trust our recommendations, and value long-term relationships — allowing doctors to practice thoroughly rather than rush appointments.

Your Experience Can Be Tailored to You

  • Quick Snapshot
  • 2 DVM collaborative team
  • Strong, experienced technician support
  • Mix of wellness, sick visits, surgery, and dentistry
  • Rotating Saturdays only — closed Sundays
  • Predictable scheduling and strong work-life balance
  • Established, loyal client base

Compensation

  • Base salary: $100,000–$130,000 (depending on experience)
  • $125,000 signing bonus package
  • Compensation is competitive, flexible, and designed to reflect your experience and goals.

What It’s Like to Practice Here

Our hospital emphasizes thoughtful medicine and continuity of care. Clients know us well, trust our recommendations, and value long-term relationships — allowing doctors to practice thoroughly rather than rush appointments.

This is not a high-volume, high-pressure environment — you’ll have the time and support to practice medicine the way you were trained.

Your Experience Can Be Tailored to You

  • New graduates receive mentorship and case guidance
  • Experienced DVMs enjoy autonomy and consistent workflow

We Prioritize

  • Reasonable appointment pacing
  • Collaborative case discussion
  • Reliable technician support
  • Predictable scheduling and work-life balance
  • A respectful, team-focused culture
  • Medical Capabilities & Equipment

You’ll Have the Tools Needed to Practice Efficiently

  • Ultrasound
  • Digital dental radiography
  • Surgical laser
  • Modern surgical suite

Experienced Support Staff

There is flexibility to pursue interests within general practice, including surgery and dentistry.

Life in Rockford

Rockford offers affordability and recreation while staying within reach of major cities.

You’ll Enjoy

  • Lower cost of living and affordable housing
  • Outdoor recreation at Rock Cut State Park
  • Anderson Japanese Gardens and local attractions
  • Growing dining and arts scene
  • Easy access to Chicago and Madison

CareVet Offers You

  • Six figure starting salary plus production with no negative accrual
  • Generous signing bonus, student loan support, relocation stipend and no upfront non-compete.
  • Custom compensation packages, tailored to the needs of the Veterinarian
  • Robust benefits package including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401k with match, company-paid short-term disability and life insurance
  • Parental support including paid parental leave and adoption assistance
  • Veterinarian-focused culture, schedule flexibility promoting work/life balance and paid time off with free access to Carebnb, CareVet’s vacation properties
  • Mentorship-driven experience with strong focus on skill development and CE opportunities
  • Employee Assistance Program with a focus on compassion fatigue and stress support, including access to CareVet’s on-staff licensed social worker
  • For our full list of Veterinarian benefits, check out CareVet’s Ultimate CarePackage!

Responsibilities

  • Examine animals to assess their health and diagnose problems
  • Treat and dress wounds
  • Perform surgery on animals
  • Test for and vaccinate against diseases
  • Operate medical equipment, such as x-ray machines
  • Advise animal owners about general care, medical conditions, and treatments
  • Prescribe medication
  • Work closely in collaboration with team members to provide high quality care

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM/VMD) or equivalent degree required
  • Licensure in the state/s candidate will be working
  • Ability to show compassion to both pets and their owners
  • Outstanding dexterity in handling animals while performing precise tasks
  • Ability to react quickly and make decisions under pressure about the wellbeing of an animal
  • Strong fondness and understanding of animals
  • Good communication and interpersonal skills
  • Knowledge of animal behavior
  • Ability to use medical technologies during diagnosis, research and surgery of animals

To Learn More, Contact

  • Skyler Lair
  • (214) 616-8873 slair@carevethealth.com
  • Apply in just a few minutes — no lengthy application required.

About the Network

CareVet is a network of veterinary hospitals that focuses on managing best-in-class hospitals with a mission to provide the very best care for our pets and our Team Members. Our approach to veterinary medicine focuses on practice legacy, team, Veterinarians, patients and community.

Watch this video to learn more!

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)

Key Skills

Animal handlingVaccinationClient communicationPatient careMedical record keepingTeam collaborationCritical thinkingStress management

Veterinary Medicine Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Illinois is 100.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$115k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $115k in an average-cost state. 62.6% of Illinois clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 40 active Veterinary Medicine listings this role was benchmarked against, 3% are remote, 80% have no call, 53% require no weekends.

What does the Veterinary Medicine market look like in Illinois?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score8.0 / 10 · top 25% in veterinary medicineranked against 3,130 Veterinary Medicine listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$100k–$130kVeterinary Medicine median $140k (middle half $123k–$150k)18 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$115k in purchasing powerIllinois index 100.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Veterinary Medicine listings in Illinois151 active3,147 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 3% remote · 80% no call · 53% no weekends40 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentloan repaymentIllinois healthcare professional listings: 37% state a sign-on bonus (median $50k) · 11% offer loan repayment202 active listings, Nov 2026
New Veterinary Medicine listings996 in the last 30 days502 the 30 days before (+98%)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 (3,130 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 | Rockford, IL at CareVet Health a 8.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as excellent. This places the position in the top 25% in Veterinary Medicine — ranked against 3,130 active Veterinary Medicine listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties, no weekend requirements, no night shifts.

Top Veterinarian Jobs

13 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

10 jobs
2
<$140k
3
$140k-180k
3
$180k-220k
2
$220k-260k

Annual compensation range

Work-Life Balance Distribution

13 jobs · 11 employers
0
1-2
0
3-4
0
5-6
8
7-8
5
9-10

Higher = better work-life balance

#1

Associate Veterinarian

Cobb & Co Veterinary Clinic · Elgin, Illinois

$125k-$250k
#2

Senior Veterinarian

Alliance Animal Health · Rochester, Minnesota

$120k-$220k
#3

Associate Veterinarian- GP/ Urgent Care- Lombard Veterinary Hospital

$140k-$200k
#4

Veterinarian

$160k-$180k
+ 11 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 8.0
Better work-life than 80% of Veterinary Medicine listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,130 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No call
  • No weekends
  • No nights
CareVet Health logo

About CareVet Health

Veterinary Services
St. Louis, Missouri
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

Signing bonus
Student loan support
Relocation stipend
Medical, dental, vision insurance
401k with match
Company-paid short-term disability and life insurance
Paid parental leave
Adoption assistance

Living in Rockford

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$192k≈ 1.9× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,227/mo≈ 15% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
22 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
92.2
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Rockford, IL metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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