Associate Veterinarian- River Valley Animal Hospital

VeterinarianFull-Time or Part-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting

Schedule not stated in this posting — no days, weekends, call or nights given.

Ask the employer about the pay range, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Associate Veterinarian: River Valley Animal Hospital (Barling, AR)

River Valley Animal Hospital, an Arkansas small animal practice, is seeking an associate veterinarian (DVM) to join our 4-doctors and highly qualified support staff team! We are flexible and open to Part-Time or Full-Time.

If you are looking to service our clients and want to focus on wellness and relationship building, there is a place for you here! We know not everyone prefers the surgical side, we have that covered with many talented and passionate DVM's who prefer surgery. Come meet our team and find your new home at River Valley Animal Hospital!

  • Core Competencies
  • Small Animal Medicine
  • Preventive Care & Wellness
  • Companion Animal Health
  • Veterinary Diagnostics
  • Soft Tissue Surgery
  • Dentistry
  • Client Communication
  • Case Management
  • Team Collaboration
  • Anesthesia & Pain Management
  • Digital Radiography
  • Ultrasonography
  • New Graduate Mentorship
  • Professional Development

Required Qualifications

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or VMD degree from an AVMA-accredited college of veterinary medicine (or equivalent certification for international graduates)

  • Active Arkansas veterinary license in good standing, or ability to obtain licensure prior to start date
  • Successful completion of the NAVLE
  • Commitment to practicing high-quality, evidence-based veterinary medicine
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills
  • Excellent clinical judgment and problem-solving abilities
  • Ability to work collaboratively within a team-oriented environment
  • Dedication to exceptional patient care and client service
  • Passion for continuous learning and professional growth

Our Investment in YOU

  • Generous salary + production (no negative accrual)
  • Exciting bonus program/relocation assistance
  • Flexible Schedule: Open to Part-Time or Full-Time
  • PTO hours (with rollover)
  • Skilled + fully utilized support staff
  • Medical, dental, and vision for you and your dependents (with HSA option)- Must be Full-Time
  • 401(k) options
  • Paid parental leave/bonding time
  • Annual CE allowance (with days to attend)
  • Professional development assistance
  • Guidance from a talented Medical Advisory Board
  • Medical freedom to practice skills you’re proficient in or explore areas you’d like to learn
  • AVMA PLIT coverage
  • Paid licensure fees/membership dues
  • Plus, more!

What Makes River Valley Different?

It’s not our comprehensive services, extensive treatment options, or our friendly staffed team that make local pet parents choose our hospital—it’s because we love what we do, and our team’s passion for improving the lives of animals truly shines through.

We typically have music playing in the back and have a close-knit support staff team full of communicative and talented animal lovers. Family-friendliness is at the forefront of what we do, and it’s important to us that people enjoy coming to work and like who they work with!

Our beautiful facility is well-equipped with digital radiology, ultrasound, stables and boarding areas, an in-house lab, and more. To virtually tour our hospital and learn more about our story, services, and team, visit rvahvets.com.

Escape to small town Arkansas!

With a population of just a few thousand, Barling is a tight-knit community located on the southeastern outskirts of the Fort Smith metro. Residents are friendly, neighborhoods are extremely safe and peaceful, and the cost of living is lower than the national average and most cities in the state.

Barling is the kind of place where strangers lend a helping hand, social circles revolve around church and ballgames, and the local schools teach more traditional values.

For those looking to experience all four seasons, Barling is perfect—the summers are hot, winters are cold, and fall and spring are absolutely gorgeous.

Plus, being so close to Fort Smith (Arkansas’ 2nd largest city), our community gets the best of both worlds—a nice small town with the convenience of big city shopping, restaurants, and entertainment.

Our salary ranges are primarily determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

The Company offers competitive compensation along with a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision benefits, vacation, sick leave, 401(k), and more depending on location. You will be provided more detailed information about compensation and benefits for your specific location.

Where required under applicable law, the company provides eligible employees with paid sick leave, health emergency leave, and similar benefits programs, all in accordance with the requirements of state and local law depending on the location of the practice you support.

River Valley AH is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in the job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us.

Hiring decisions will be based on merit, qualifications and the legitimate needs of the business.

Candidate Privacy Notice

Key Responsibilities

The associate veterinarian will provide high-quality medical care, including wellness exams, diagnostics, and soft tissue surgeries. They will also focus on building strong client relationships and collaborating effectively with the support staff team.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or VMD degree from an AVMA-accredited institution and possess an active Arkansas veterinary license. Strong clinical judgment, communication skills, and a commitment to evidence-based medicine are required.

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)

Small Animal General Practice Career Context

Of the 50 active Veterinarian listings this role was benchmarked against, 74% have no call, 62% require no weekends.

Veterinarian pay on WeekdayDoc is down 3.3% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Veterinarian by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed paynot listedVeterinarian median $138k (middle half $123k–$155k)469 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost of livingArkansas index 86.9US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Veterinarian listings in Arkansas50 active4,545 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 74% no call · 62% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentsign-on bonusUS healthcare professional listings: 49% state a sign-on bonus (median $50k) · 7% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Oct 2026
Veterinarian pay trend−3.3% vs prior quarter—through Sep 2026
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

33 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

17 jobs · 13 employers
3
<$145k
3
$145k-170k
9
$170k-195k
1
$203k
1
$224k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

17 jobs · 13 employers
401k / retirement match
100% this job
CME allowance
59% this job
Sign-on bonus
53% this job
Relocation assistance
47% this job
Loan repayment
24%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

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$140k-$224k
#2

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$96k-$203k
#3

Veterinarian - Watertown

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#4

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+ 31 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 3.9this job 2.8
Better work-life than 30% of Veterinary listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 4,503 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site

Benefits & Perks

Generous salary + production (no negative accrual)
Bonus program
Relocation assistance
Flexible schedule (part-time or full-time)
PTO with rollover
Medical, dental, and vision (with HSA option)
401(k) options
Paid parental leave/bonding time

Living in Barling

Typical market rent
$1,190/mo
Residents’ average commute
18 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
85.9
State income tax
Up to 4.9%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Fort Smith, AR-OK metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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