Veterinarian | up to $50,000 sign-on bonus | Western Trails Veterinary Hospital | Edgewood, NM

VeterinarianIncludes callFull-Time

Listed compensation

USD $115K–USD $170K /Yr.

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 2mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Practice

Western Trails Veterinary Hospital is the premier hospital if you live in Edgewood, Moriarty, Albuquerque, Tijeras, Sandia Park, Estancia, or the surrounding area and need a trusted veterinarian to care for your pet, small farm animals, or livestock.

In addition to the hospital and 3-stall barn, we have a full-service mobile unit for house/farm calls.

Position Purpose

Here's what you'll get when you join our team:

Mixed animal medicine. Case variety. Real mentorship. And a team that actually enjoys coming to work!

Western Tails Veterinary Hospital in Edgewood, NM (just 30 minutes from Albuquerque) is looking for an Associate Veterinarian to join our busy and growing 4-doctor practice.

We’re a busy, community-rooted practice providing high-quality care for small animals, large animals, and even exotics. If you’re looking for variety, mentorship, and a supportive environment where you can truly grow your skills, this is the place for you.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

  • We’re proud to offer a collaborative, learning-focused environment where experienced doctors can thrive.
  • Leadership development opportunities for those looking to grow their career
  • A diverse caseload with small animals making up the majority, plus opportunities in exotics and large animal
  • A skilled, confident support team that truly has your back
  • Modern equipment including digital radiography, ultrasound, and in-house diagnostics
  • Shared after-hours on-call and emergency appointment coverage as part of a supportive team rotation
  • And we're excited to share that we'll soon be in a brand new building!

What We Are Looking For

  • Strong communicator with a team-oriented mindset
  • Passion for client education and quality veterinary care
  • Interest in mixed animal practice
  • Professional, collaborative, and community-minded approach

About the Area

Edgewood offers the best of both worlds—peaceful, rural living with Albuquerque just 30 minutes away. Outdoor lovers will feel right at home with hiking, biking, and equestrian trails all around, plus easy access to the Sandia Mountains for skiing and adventure.

The region is also famous for hot air ballooning, giving you front-row access to some of the most iconic skies in the country. Add in rich local art, culture, cuisine, and history, and you’ll find there’s always something to explore.

We’d love to learn more about you and what you’re looking for in your next chapter. Apply today!

Essential Responsibilities

  • Examine and treat companion animals to detect and determine the nature of disease or injuries.
  • Operate diagnostic equipment and collect diagnostic samples as well as interpret results.
  • Advise pet owners on preventative care and treatment options.
  • Perform surgery and prescribe medication as needed.
  • Provide counsel around pet end of life care.
  • Maintain patients’ medical records.
  • Ensures compliance with veterinary ethics and relevant statues, policies, and procedures.

Requirements/Qualifications

  • DVM/VMD degree from an accredited AVMA institution.
  • Appropriate state licensure.
  • Eligibility to obtain DEA/BNDD.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Demonstrates professional and courteous presentation consistently with staff and clients.
  • Ability to lift patients and carry equipment up to 25 pounds; ability to lift patients or carry equipment over 25 pounds with assistance.
  • Benefits Offered
  • Unlimited personal time off (PTO)
  • Bonus incentives
  • Health insurance; dental insurance; vision insurance
  • Retirement benefits (401(k) or Roth(k) with match)
  • CE and licensure reimbursement
  • Flexible work schedules
  • Managing career path development
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • DVM Referral Program
  • Sign-on bonus and Relocation assistance available

Pay Range

USD $115,000.00 - USD $170,000.00 /Yr.

Key Responsibilities

The Associate Veterinarian will provide exceptional veterinary care for small animals, large animals, and exotics within a mixed animal general practice setting. This role involves collaborating with a support team, utilizing state-of-the-art equipment, and contributing to the continued success of the practice.

Requirements

Applicants must possess a valid Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) license to practice in New Mexico and demonstrate strong communication skills with a collaborative spirit. The ideal candidate should have a passion for animal medicine, enthusiasm for client education, and be eager to make an impact in a community-oriented clinic.

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)

Certifications

DEA License

Key Skills

Animal HealthClient CommunicationSmall Animal CareLarge Animal CareExotics CareEquine CareIn-House Laboratory TestingLeadership Training

Veterinary Medicine Career Context

The cost-of-living index for New Mexico is 92.2 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$143k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $155k in an average-cost state. 61.4% of New Mexico clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 40 active Veterinary Medicine listings this role was benchmarked against, 83% have no call, 68% require no weekends.

What does the Veterinary Medicine market look like in New Mexico?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$115k–$170kVeterinary Medicine median $140k (middle half $130k–$163k)422 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$155k in purchasing powerNew Mexico index 92.2 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Veterinary Medicine listings in New Mexico14 active3,077 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 83% no call · 68% no weekends40 benchmarked listings
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Veterinarian Jobs

20 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

13 jobs · 10 employers
2
<$120k
3
$120k-140k
5
$140k-160k
1
$170k
2
$180k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

13 jobs · 10 employers
401k / retirement match
92% this job
CME allowance
77%
Sign-on bonus
62% this job
Relocation assistance
62% this job
Loan repayment
38%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Veterinarian

Pure Paws Veterinary Care · New York, New York

$160k-$180k
#2

Veterinarian

Veterinary Practice Partners · New York, New York

$160k-$180k
#3

Veterinarian - Port Orchard, WA

$130k-$170k
#4

Senior Veterinarian - $3,000 sign on Incentive + Relocation and Temporary Housing Expenses, if appropriate

$101k-$160k
+ 18 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 5.7this job 1.5
Below most Veterinary Medicine listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,033 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site
  • Includes call
Western Trails Veterinary Hospital logo

About Western Trails Veterinary Hospital

Benefits & Perks

Unlimited PTO
Bonus incentives
Health insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Retirement benefits (401(k) or Roth(k) with match)
CE and licensure reimbursement
Flexible work schedules

Living in Edgewood

Purchasing power

$116,436–$172,122/yr

At national-average prices · Before taxes

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$388k≈ 3.4× annual pay
Median resident rent
$1,114/mo≈ 12% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
36 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
98.8
State income tax
Up to 5.9%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Santa Fe, NM metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

Ratios use the advertised annual pay range’s lower bound, before taxes. Regional prices are not a personal budget.

Peer group: veterinarian · veterinary medicine · Full-time · hours not stated · Pay composition not stated. National listings with usable annual USD pay and local data, posted within 180 days of the 2026-09-22 snapshot. Rankings use lower pay bounds; higher percentiles mean more favorable comparisons. Only the same rent observation month is compared.

Ratings need at least 30 other listings, five employers and three locations; no employer may contribute over 35%. Strong: top quarter; Typical: middle half; Weaker: bottom quarter. Missing ratings mean insufficient comparable data, not a poor offer. These are offer comparisons, not city grades.