Veterinarian- Carlsbad CA
Listed compensation
$70k-$90k
The week · per this posting
Ask the employer about the work setting and time off.
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:
Part-Time Benefits Include
- Competitive salary: $70,000 $90,000 annually, DOE
- Generous sign-on bonus
- Professional Liability Insurance
- 401(k) Plan with Company Match
- 529 Savings Plan
- Discounted Products and Services
- Continuing Education Stipend
- Paid Time Off
- Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
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, including examinations and surgical procedures, for patients at the hospital. Build meaningful relationships with clients while practicing thoughtful, high-quality medicine.
Requirements
The position is open to both new graduates and experienced veterinarians. Candidates must be available to work on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Key Skills
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 ~$80k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $72k 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Work-life score | 8.0 / 10 · top 25% in veterinary medicine | ranked against 3,083 Veterinary Medicine listingslisting-based score, 0–10 |
| Listed pay | $70k–$90k | Veterinary 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 | ~$72k in purchasing power | California index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Veterinary Medicine listings in California | 242 active | 3,421 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 76% no call · 58% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | sign-on bonus | California healthcare professional listings (all specialties): 47% state a sign-on bonus (median $38k) · 14% offer loan repayment366 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Veterinary Medicine listings | 1,251 in the last 30 days | 492 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 pay | Top Employers work-life index |
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Veterinarian- Carlsbad CA at Vet Cor a 8.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as excellent. This places the position in the top 25% in Veterinary Medicine — ranked against 3,083 active Veterinary Medicine listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no night shifts.
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