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Vet Cor
Merced, California

Veterinarian - Merced, CA

VeterinarianNo callNo weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$170k-$200k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 53m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Who We Are

Full-Time/Part-Time Veterinarian – Valley Animal Hospital, Merced, CA

Since 1985, Valley Animal Hospital (VAH) has proudly served dogs, cats, exotics, and pocket pets in Merced, CA, delivering top-notch veterinary care. We’ve been named “Favorite Veterinary Clinic” in the Merced Sun-Star Reader’s Choice Awards three years in a row!

Our welcoming hospital features superb veterinarians, 3 licensed veterinary technicians, and a dedicated support staff committed to patients, clients, and community. VAH is actively involved in local outreach and animal rescue initiatives, and we provide low-cost spay/neuter services through a local non-profit program.

We are seeking a Full-Time or Part-Time Veterinarian to join our community-focused practice.

Where We Are

Merced is a growing, affordable community with a bright future. With UC Merced nearby, there are exciting opportunities to grow your clientele if you enjoy building strong client relationships. Residents and visitors enjoy lakes, reservoirs, wildlife wetlands, and the historic Castle Air Museum. For outdoor lovers, Yosemite National Park is just a couple of hours away.

This is a great opportunity for a veterinarian who wants to stay and grow in a small, close-knit community.

Our Facility

  • Comfortable, stand-alone hospital – designed for a smooth, efficient workflow.
  • Exam rooms: 6 (one small, closet-sized).
  • Surgical suite: 3 tables, ideal for up to 2 veterinarians at a time.
  • Treatment area: includes dental table.
  • Boarding: small on-site facility.

What We Offer

Work/life balance – no after-hour requirements.

Flexible Schedule Options

  • Four 10-hour workdays.
  • Part-time or relief work welcome.
  • No on-call, flexible shifts.

State-of-the-art Equipment

  • Digital radiography (standard & dental).
  • Ultrasound.
  • Bovie electrocautery unit.
  • Advanced procedures: soft tissue, orthopedic, dental surgeries, chemotherapy.
  • In-house lab testing: IDEXX CBC/Chem.
  • Client engagement: Rover Rewards Loyalty Program.

Mentorship & Support

We value growth and hands-on learning! While our clinic pace is busy, we provide a gradual onboarding process for new graduates to ease into managing a full caseload. You’ll have the opportunity to learn by doing, steadily building your confidence and skills while integrating into our workflow.

Success in this role is enhanced by excellent communication skills, as building strong relationships with clients and our team is essential for providing top-notch care.

We also support Large Animal Veterinarians transitioning to small animal medicine and provide resources for new graduates to connect, collaborate, and thrive:

  • Structured orientation with 1-on-1 surgical guidance.
  • Zoom calls and roundtables with other recent graduates.
  • Peer advisors for networking and career guidance.
  • Dedicated Slack group for case reviews and collaboration.

Compensation & Benefits

  • Salary: $170,000 – $200,000 annually (DOE).
  • Generous sign-on bonus.
  • Relocation assistance.
  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • 401(k) with company match.
  • CE allowance + paid CE days.
  • Paid parental leave (birth/adoption).
  • Licensing, dues, and liability coverage.
  • FSA, EAP, staff discounts, and referral bonuses.

Exclusive Perks Through Resources for Living – savings on electronics, travel, entertainment, fitness, and more.

We have a positive, well-being-focused culture and a supportive, collaborative team. Join us and grow your career while making a real impact in our community!

Apply today or submit your resume to Vanessa at vsanchez@vetcor.com

What's in It for You

Key Responsibilities

Provide high-quality veterinary care for dogs, cats, exotics, and pocket pets. Engage in client communication and participate in community-focused outreach and rescue initiatives.

Requirements

The role is open to veterinarians, including new graduates, who possess excellent communication skills. Candidates must be capable of performing standard veterinary procedures and building strong client relationships.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure

Key Skills

Veterinary medicineSoft tissue surgeryOrthopedic surgeryDental surgeryCase managementExotic animal careClinical workflow management

Veterinary Medicine Career Context

In California, the Veterinary Medicine weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$163k (167 salary observations; 606 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 ~$185k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $167k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

What does the Veterinary Medicine market look like in California?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score7.1 / 10 · above average in veterinary medicineranked against 3,083 Veterinary Medicine listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$170k–$200kVeterinary Medicine median $170k (middle half $154k–$190k)78 comparable listings, Nov 2026
California vs national$163k median in California$140k nationally (+16%)167 state / 873 national salary observations
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$167k in purchasing powerCalifornia index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Veterinary Medicine listings in California242 active3,421 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 80% no call · 60% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentsign-on bonusCalifornia healthcare professional listings (all specialties): 47% state a sign-on bonus (median $38k) · 14% offer loan repayment366 active listings, Nov 2026
New Veterinary Medicine listings1,252 in the last 30 days492 the 30 days before (+154%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Veterinary Medicine pay trend+3.7% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Vet Cor#8 of 14 for payTop Employers work-life index
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (3,083 Veterinary Medicine listings), 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.

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Veterinarian - Merced, CA at Vet Cor a 7.1 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as very good. This places the position in the Above average in Veterinary Medicine — ranked against 3,083 active Veterinary Medicine listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties, no weekend requirements.

Top Veterinarian Jobs

26 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

26 jobs · 15 employers
7
<$145k
9
$145k-165k
5
$165k-185k
4
$200k
1
$210k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

25 jobs · 15 employers
CME allowance
92% this job
401k / retirement match
92% this job
Sign-on bonus
88% this job
Relocation assistance
68% this job

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Associate Veterinarian

Companion Pet Partners · Santa Cruz, California

$160k-$210k
#2

GP-Associate Veterinarian-Lincoln Hills Veterinary Hospital

Dvm Launch · Lincoln Hills, California

$140k-$200k
#3

Associate Veterinarian (Part-Time)- Bayside Animal Hospital

$140k-$200k
#4

Veterinarian - Panorama City, CA

$150k-$200k
+ 24 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 7.1
Better work-life than 70% of Veterinary Medicine listings

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

  • No call
  • No weekends
Vet Cor logo

About Vet Cor

Benefits & Perks

Generous Sign-on Bonus
Relocation Assistance
Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
401(k) with Company Match
CE Allowance + Paid CE Days
Paid Parental Leave (Birth/Adoption)
Licensing, Dues, and Liability Coverage
FSA, EAP, Staff Discounts, and Referral Bonuses

Living in Merced

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$370k≈ 2.2× annual pay
Typical market rent
$2,041/mo≈ 14% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
29 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
98.3
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 · Merced, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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