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Vet Cor
Lacey, Washington

Veterinarian - Lacey, WA

VeterinarianIncludes weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$130k-$150k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 20m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Who We Are

You've been the doctor everyone comes to with the hard case, the new grad's question or the idea for doing things better. Maybe you've done it with a title, maybe without. Either way, we'd like that to be your job.

Hawks Prairie Veterinary Hospital in Lacey is looking for a Chief of Staff to lead the next chapter of an established, six-doctor practice. You'll keep practicing medicine you're proud of while you shape where this hospital goes next.

Why This Role Is Open

Our doctors have built something that lasts. Two have been here more than 15 years, and three have been here for seven. They're at their best in the exam room, and they're ready for a leader who wants to build on what they've created. That means setting direction, raising the bar and bringing in the next generation of doctors. We're looking for someone ready to write the next chapter for a practice with deep roots.

What the Job Looks Like

Schedule: Four days a week, with a Saturday rotation

A clinical-first role: This is a working Chief of Staff position. Most of your time is spent seeing patients, and leadership happens alongside the team during the day. DVM assistants handle the administrative work, so you can focus on medicine and people.

Caseload: About 14–16 patients per day, with 30–45 minute appointments

Doctor team: Six DVMs, including two with 18 and 16 years at the hospital, three with seven years each, and one new graduate

Support: You'll work closely with our Regional Manager and a dedicated Chief of Staff Advisor who supports your growth as a leader

Your authority: You'll own medical protocols and standards of care, have direct input on DVM hiring, and set the direction for mentorship and CE

What You'll Own

Medical standards: You'll set and uphold our standards of care, protocols and workflows.

The doctor team: You'll be the go-to resource on complex cases, earn the trust of experienced colleagues and help our newest doctor build confidence quickly.

Recruiting and growth: You'll help hire the doctors you want to work with and build development plans that keep them here.

Hospital direction: You'll work with regional leadership on patient care, team engagement and efficiency, with a real seat at the table.

What You'll Have to Work With

  • DVM assistants to handle records, callbacks and admin work
  • An experienced support team with an average tenure of 4.5 years
  • Two fully equipped surgical suites and a dedicated dental suite
  • Digital radiography, ultrasound and an in-house lab
  • Strong relationships with local emergency and specialty referral hospitals

The backing of Vetcor: CE, leadership development and clinical resources, plus a Chief of Staff onboarding program built and led by Vetcor's veterinary leaders. You'll also join a network of fellow Chiefs of Staff to share ideas, solve problems and grow as a leader. Day-to-day medical decisions stay local, with you.

Compensation

Pro-sal pay: You're guaranteed a base salary of $130,000–$150,000, depending on experience, with the chance to earn more through production. There's no negative accrual, so a slow quarter never counts against you.

Benefits: Medical, dental and vision insurance; 401(k) with company match; paid time off; CE allowance; all professional licenses paid; and more

Additional leadership compensation and performance-based incentive opportunities are available as part of the Chief of Staff compensation package.

Where You'll Live

Lacey sits at the southern tip of Puget Sound, next door to Olympia, Washington's state capital. It's about an hour to Seattle, and Mt. Rainier and the Olympic Peninsula are both easy day trips. You can kayak the Sound in the morning and hike old-growth forest on the weekend. Housing costs a good deal less than in Seattle, and Washington has no state income tax, so your pay goes further here.

Who We're Looking For

  • DVM or equivalent, licensed or eligible for licensure in Washington
  • 5+ years of clinical practice
  • A track record of leading, whether or not you had the title: mentoring doctors, improving how a hospital runs, being the steady one on hard days
  • The confidence to lead doctors with more tenure than you, and the humility to learn from them
  • Someone who leads by working alongside the team, not from above it
  • Let's talk
  • Reach out to Farren Rice at frice@vetcor.com.

Key Responsibilities

The Chief of Staff will lead the clinical team, set medical protocols, and oversee standards of care while maintaining a caseload of patients. They are responsible for mentoring staff, managing doctor recruitment, and collaborating with regional leadership to drive hospital performance.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a DVM or equivalent degree and be licensed or eligible for licensure in Washington. A minimum of 5 years of clinical practice experience with a demonstrated track record of leadership and mentorship is required.

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
5+ years of experience

Key Skills

Veterinary medicineClinical protocolsTeam managementSurgical proceduresDental proceduresStaff recruitmentWorkflow optimizationCase managementCommunicationStrategic planning

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 ~$140k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $131k in an average-cost state. 59.8% of Washington clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

What does the Veterinary Medicine market look like in Washington?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$130k–$150kVeterinary 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~$131k in purchasing powerWashington index 107.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Veterinary Medicine listings in Washington112 active3,396 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 70% no call · 59% no weekends46 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedWashington healthcare professional listings (all specialties): 45% state a sign-on bonus · 5% offer loan repayment164 active listings, Nov 2026
New Veterinary Medicine listings1,267 in the last 30 days492 the 30 days before (+158%)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 payTop Employers work-life index
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, Top Employers work-life index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Location & Logistics

Washington has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$140k midpoint, that is roughly $6k–$10k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.

Top Veterinarian Jobs

16 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

16 jobs · 13 employers
2
<$140k
1
$140k
7
$150k
2
$160k
4
$170k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

16 jobs · 13 employers
CME allowance
94% this job
Sign-on bonus
88%
Relocation assistance
88%
401k / retirement match
75% this job

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Hospital Medical Leader - Veterinarian

PETCO Animal Supplies Stores · Vancouver, Washington

$122k-$196k
#2

Veterinary Medical Director - Small Animal General Practice Leadership - Richland Animal Hospital

Richland Animal Hospital · Richland, Washington

$140k-$170k
#3

Veterinarian - Gig Harbor, WA

$130k-$170k
#4

Veterinarian - Port Orchard, WA

$130k-$170k
+ 14 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 3.0
Better work-life than 20% of Veterinary Medicine listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,083 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Includes weekends
Vet Cor logo

About Vet Cor

Benefits & Perks

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
401(k) with Company Match
Paid Time Off
CE Allowance
Professional Licenses Paid
Leadership Compensation
Performance-Based Incentives
DVM Assistants for Admin Work

Living in Lacey

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$479k≈ 3.7× annual pay
Typical market rent
$2,075/mo≈ 19% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
25 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
103.7
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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