La Costa Animal Hospital logo
La Costa Animal Hospital
Carlsbad, California

Veterinarian- Carlsbad CA

Veterinarian 8.0 Work-LifeNo nightsPart-Time

Listed compensation

$120k-$140k

The week · per this posting

Ask the employer about the work setting and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Who We Are

La Costa Animal Hospital | Carlsbad, CA

Practice with purpose. Live where others vacation.

La Costa Animal Hospital is looking for a compassionate Associate Veterinarian to join our close-knit team in beautiful Carlsbad, CA. If you value meaningful client relationships, thoughtful medicine, and a supportive team, we’d love to meet you!

Why La Costa Animal Hospital?

We’re a small, established hospital with a loyal clientele who appreciate veterinarians who listen, educate, and take the time to truly care for their pets. Our doctors see approximately 4–5 patients per day, with 30–60 minute appointments, giving you the time to practice medicine thoughtfully rather than feeling rushed.

Our Hospital Includes

  • 3 exam rooms and a dedicated surgical suite
  • Digital and digital dental X-ray
  • IDEXX in-house and reference laboratory services
  • Companion therapeutic laser and electrocautery
  • EzyVet
  • Day-patient kennels and isolation space
  • Strong referral partnerships for advanced and specialty care

Our clients are engaged in their pets’ care and are often willing to pursue advanced treatment when recommendations are thoughtfully explained. We’re proud to support them with excellent referral partners when needed.

A Team That Supports You

You’ll work alongside two RVTs, Fear Free-certified DVMs, and long-term team members who have built strong relationships with one another. Our approximate 1:3 doctor-to-technician/assistant ratio provides meaningful support throughout the day.

We believe great veterinary medicine and work-life balance can coexist. There are no after-hours or on-call requirements.

  • Mentorship & Growth
  • New graduates are welcome! We provide:
  • One-on-one surgical training during your first few months
  • Dedicated time for case consultation
  • Support developing clinical and surgical confidence

An Experienced Team Invested in Your Growth

Experienced veterinarians will also find an opportunity to build lasting client relationships while practicing with a supportive team.

Schedule

We are currently seeking a PART-TIME veterinarian with availability on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. We’re expanding Saturday hours, initially targeting 8:00 AM–1:00 PM, with the potential to grow based on patient demand and staffing.

  • Benefits That Support You
  • We take employee wellbeing seriously and offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:
  • Competitive salary: $ 120,000 $140,000 annually, DOE
  • Generous sign-on bonus
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k)
  • EAP and FSA
  • CE allowance
  • Paid vacation
  • Professional dues and liability coverage
  • Relocation assistance
  • Discounts on products and services
  • Competitive referral program
  • Paid parental leave for both birthing and non-birthing parents
  • A family-friendly atmosphere

Life in Carlsbad

Located in North County San Diego, Carlsbad offers the kind of lifestyle people dream about. The beach is nearby, downtown Carlsbad is picturesque, and the surrounding Carlsbad and Encinitas communities have a vibrant surfing culture and laid-back coastal feel.

You’re also within easy reach of San Diego, approximately 60 minutes from Tijuana and 1.5–2 hours from Los Angeles.

We also proudly partner with Helen Woodward Animal Center, offering complimentary first examinations for adopted pets.

Ready to Find Your Place Here?

If you’re looking for a practice where you can slow down, build genuine relationships, practice thoughtful medicine, and still have a life outside the hospital, La Costa Animal Hospital may be the place for you.

Come grow with us in beautiful Carlsbad, CA. We’d love to welcome you to the team! Please send your resume to Jose at Jizarpate@vetcor.com

Key Responsibilities

Provide compassionate veterinary care and perform medical examinations for patients in a supportive clinical environment. Build meaningful relationships with clients while maintaining high standards of thoughtful medicine.

Requirements

The position is open to both new graduates and experienced veterinarians who are committed to clinical growth and teamwork. Candidates must be available to work on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

Key Skills

SurgeryClient communicationPatient careDigital X-rayElectro-cauteryFear Free certificationClinical diagnostics

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Veterinarian- Carlsbad CA at La Costa Animal Hospital a 8.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as excellent. This places the position in the top 10% in Veterinary — ranked against 4,311 active Veterinary listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no night shifts.

General Veterinary Medicine Career Context

Of the 40 active Veterinarian listings this role was benchmarked against, 3% are remote, 60% have no call, 68% require no weekends.

Veterinarian pay on WeekdayDoc is up 1.1% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$130k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $117k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Veterinarian Jobs

27 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution21 jobs · 17 employers

7
<$160k
4
$160k-180k
5
$180k-200k
2
$200k
3
$220k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks21 jobs · 17 employers

401k / retirement match
100% this job
Sign-on bonus
86% this job
CME allowance
81% this job
Relocation assistance
76% this job
PSLF eligible
10%

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

Feline Veterinarian - Chico, CA

$150k-$200k
+ 25 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 3.9this job 8.0
Among the best 10% of Veterinary listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 4,311 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No nights
  • Includes call
  • Includes weekends

Living in Carlsbad

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$1.35M≈ 11.3× annual pay
Typical market rent
$3,556/mo≈ 36% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
27 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
111.9
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

La Costa Animal Hospital logo

About La Costa Animal Hospital

Veterinary
Carlsbad, California

Benefits & Perks

Competitive Salary
Generous Sign-On Bonus
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
401(k)
EAP
FSA