Lead Veterinarian - Santa Clara
Listed compensation
$180k-$200k
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.
Job Description
At GoodVets, we believe veterinary medicine can be better – for doctors, teams, pets, and pet parents.
We're looking for a Lead Veterinarian who is passionate about practicing exceptional medicine, mentoring fellow doctors, and helping build a culture where people love coming to work.
This is an opportunity to lead a modern hospital while spending the majority of your time doing what you love: caring for patients. You'll partner closely with hospital leadership to shape medical quality, develop talent, and create an outstanding experience for both clients and team members.
What You'll Find at GoodVets
- Clinical autonomy and trust
- Modern hospitals and technology
- Collaborative, growth-minded teams
- Leadership development opportunities
- Unlimited CE and professional growth support
- Competitive compensation + production
Paid Parental Leave and Sabbatical Program
- If you're looking for more than your next job – if you're looking for a place where you can make a meaningful impact on patients, people, and the future of veterinary medicine, we'd love to meet you.
- Dive into the details: View the full job description.
Ready to take the next step? Apply now or schedule a one-on-one conversation.
Compensation Range
$180,000—$200,000 USD
Key Responsibilities
The Lead Veterinarian will oversee medical quality and mentor fellow doctors within a modern hospital setting. They are responsible for fostering a positive team culture while providing exceptional patient care.
Requirements
Candidates must be qualified veterinarians capable of leading a clinical team and shaping medical standards. The role requires a commitment to professional growth and the ability to build strong relationships with clients and staff.
Qualifications
- Experience
- 5+ years of experience
Key Skills
Veterinary Medicine Career Context
In California, the Veterinary Medicine weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$164k (189 salary observations; 669 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 California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$190k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $172k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Listed pay | $180k–$200k | Veterinary Medicine median $165k (middle half $153k–$185k)75 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| California vs national | $164k median in California | $140k nationally (+17%)189 state / 873 national salary observations |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$172k in purchasing power | California index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Veterinary Medicine listings in California | 218 active | 3,244 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 84% no call · 80% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | California healthcare professional listings (all specialties): 45% state a sign-on bonus (median $50k) · 15% offer loan repayment338 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Veterinary Medicine listings | 1,270 in the last 30 days | 492 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 |
Top Veterinarian Jobs
15 matches · ranked by paySalary Distribution
15 jobs · 13 employersAnnual compensation range
Benefits & Perks
14 jobs · 13 employersShare of similar jobs offering each benefit
Associate Veterinarian
Companion Pet Partners · Santa Cruz, California
GP-Associate Veterinarian-Lincoln Hills Veterinary Hospital
Dvm Launch · Lincoln Hills, California
Associate Veterinarian (Part-Time)- Bayside Animal Hospital
$140k-$200kVeterinarian - Panorama City, CA
$150k-$200kWork-life snapshot
Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,083 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.
About Good Vets
Benefits & Perks
Living in Santa Clara
- Typical 3-bedroom home value
- $1.67M≈ 9.3× annual pay
- Typical market rent
- $3,958/mo≈ 26% of gross pay
- Residents’ average commute
- 23 min
- Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
- 110.4
- State income tax
- Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology
Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.
BEA 2024 · San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.
Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.