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Lakefield Veterinary Group
Maple Valley, Washington

Associate Veterinarian - 5th Doctor Needed! - Wilderness Animal Hospital

VeterinarianFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting

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Posted 49m ago · Verified live

Job Description

We're Hiring: Veterinarian at Wilderness Animal Hospital!

Are you looking for a team that puts great medicine, collaboration, and compassionate care first? Wilderness Animal Hospital in Maple Valley, Washington, is excited to welcome a veterinarian to our established, thriving 5-doctor team! Whether you're a seasoned clinician or a new grad DVM who wants real mentorship, this is the perfect fit for you.

About Us

Wilderness Animal Hospital is an AAHA-accredited, Fear Free Certified, and Cat Friendly Practice serving Maple Valley and the surrounding communities. We care for dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, and pocket pets at every stage of life, from preventative medicine and senior care to internal medicine, dentistry, surgery, and disease and emergency treatment.

Our guiding principle is simple: we always do what's right. We recommend what's best for the patient, and our whole team, medical and administrative, is Fear Free Certified so every pet and client has a calmer, more comfortable visit. We take a "circle of life" approach to care, and our patients truly become part of the Wilderness family.

Why You'll Love Working Here

  • A five-doctor team with diverse backgrounds and interests, and a real culture of collaboration
  • A medicine-first approach with a doctor-led commitment to doing what's right for every patient
  • A calmer, lower-stress practice environment thanks to our Fear Free and Cat Friendly approach (the Fear Free bandanas are a bonus!)
  • A broad, interesting caseload, including dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, and pocket pets
  • A leadership team that listens

When You Join Our Team, You'll Receive

  • Pro-Sal or Production only compensation available with no negative accrual
  • Sign-on and relocation bonus available
  • Medical, Dental, Vision, Life insurance - with company contribution HSA account
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • License reimbursement
  • Continuing Education allowance
  • 401k with company match
  • Generous Paid Time Off for work/life balance
  • Practice freedom
  • AVMA PLIT Professional Liability Insurance

Life in Maple Valley, Washington

Maple Valley offers a welcoming small-town feel with the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest right outside your door, plus easy access to the Seattle area when you want big-city energy. The city features over 300 acres of park space and 10 miles of trails.

Popular spots include the 108-acre Lake Wilderness Park (offering a beach, fishing, and pickleball) and the Lake Wilderness Arboretum. We also have plenty of local events, such as seasonal traditions like Maple Valley Days, Music in the Park, and Hometown Holidays to bring residents together!

About Lakefield Veterinary Group

Wilderness Animal Hospital is part of Lakefield Veterinary Group, a family-owned company. We enjoy the autonomy to practice medicine our way, with the stability, benefits, and support of a larger network. Lakefield empowers each hospital to keep its unique culture while providing the tools and resources every team member needs to thrive.

Ready to Join Us?

Please contact Joe Rusk at joe.rusk@lakefieldvet.com with any questions or to submit your resume; or apply online here: Find Your Career - Lakefield Careers.

About Lakefield Veterinary Group

We believe exceptional veterinary care starts with exceptional people.

We partner with hospitals across the country to preserve what makes each practice special - its people, culture, and connection to community - while providing the operational support and resources that allow teams to thrive.

As we grow, we are committed to creating an environment where team members feel respected, supported, and empowered to deliver outstanding care.

Our Values

  • Our culture is built on five core values that guide how we work and serve:
  • Respect
  • Learning
  • Do the Right Thing
  • Wow Service
  • Fun
  • If these resonate with you, you’ll fit right in.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Lakefield Veterinary Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members and applicants.

Key Responsibilities

Provide comprehensive veterinary care including preventative medicine, surgery, dentistry, and emergency treatment for a diverse caseload of animals. Collaborate with a five-doctor team to ensure high-quality, compassionate, and Fear Free medical standards.

Requirements

The position is open to both seasoned clinicians and new graduate DVMs who are seeking mentorship. Candidates must be committed to practicing high-quality medicine and working within a collaborative, Fear Free certified environment.

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)

Key Skills

Veterinary medicineFear free certificationClinical collaborationPatient care

Veterinary Medicine Career Context

Of the 50 active Veterinary Medicine listings this role was benchmarked against, 2% are remote, 62% have no call, 74% require no weekends.

Veterinary Medicine pay on WeekdayDoc is up 2.9% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

The cost-of-living index for Washington is 107.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 59.8% of Washington clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Location & Logistics

Washington has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states.

Top Veterinarian Jobs

37 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution22 jobs · 17 employers

7
<$145k
6
$145k-170k
6
$170k-195k
0
$195k-220k
3
$220k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks22 jobs · 17 employers

401k / retirement match
100% this job
Sign-on bonus
86% this job
CME allowance
82% this job
Relocation assistance
64% this job
PSLF eligible
9%

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

Veterinarian - Gloversville, NY

$130k-$185k
+ 35 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.2this job 1.5
Below most Veterinary Medicine listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 2,971 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Maple Valley

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$687k
Typical market rent
$3,056/mo
Residents’ average commute
37 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.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

Lakefield Veterinary Group logo

About Lakefield Veterinary Group

Veterinary Services
Kent, Washington
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

Pro-Sal or Production only compensation with no negative accrual
Sign-on and relocation bonus available
Medical, Dental, Vision, Life insurance
Company contribution HSA account
Paid Parental Leave
License reimbursement
Continuing Education allowance
401k with company match