Veterinarian - Tacoma, WA
Listed compensation
$140k-$150k
The week · per this posting · Tuesday – Friday3-day week
Ask the employer about the work setting and nights and shift pattern.
Job Description
Who We Are
Veterinarian – Lead General Practitioner – Tacoma, WA
Ready to take the lead on a thriving GP caseload? Commencement Bay Animal Hospital is adding a GP-focused Veterinarian to partner with our Chief of Staff, Dr. Melissa Moss-Horton, who runs the Urgent Care side of our practice. You’ll own the wellness, surgery, and dentistry cases while collaborating with a fun, supportive crew in a fully equipped hospital.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Leading the GP side of the practice — from puppy/kitten visits to senior pet care
- Performing surgeries and dentistry with top-notch tools and tech
- Collaborating with skilled LVTs, Assistants, and leadership who make your job easier
Using Modern Diagnostics
- Digital & dental radiography
- Ultrasound
In-house Lab
Working in a spacious, well-organized treatment area with all the toys you need to do your best work
Well-balanced Scheduling
- No weekends, late hours, or on call
- Tuesday thru Friday, with Friday being a one-doctor day
- 1 procedure day (mix of dental and surgery) and 3 appointment days
- Open to doing morning procedures and afternoon appointments
- We are also open to a 3-day work week, Tuesday thru Thursday
Location Highlights
- Part of Tacoma’s vibrant 6th Avenue community — great food, drinks, and music just steps away
- Easy access to mountains, coast, and everything outdoorsy
- Close to Seattle & Olympia but without the overwhelming traffic chaos
- A city rich in art, history, and waterfront beauty
Compensation & Benefits
- Base salary: $140,000 - $150,000 (depending on schedule and experience)
- Quarterly production bonus — no negative accrual
- Signing and/or relocation bonus
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) with match
- Employee assistance program (EAP)
- Paid parental leave
- $2,500 CE allowance + CE time off
- Paid vacation, license dues, liability coverage, and more!
If you’re a compassionate, collaborative veterinarian looking for a practice that lets you shine, choose your path with us at Commencement Bay Animal Hospital.
Key Responsibilities
The veterinarian will lead the general practice side of the hospital, managing wellness visits, surgeries, and dentistry cases. They will collaborate with a support team of LVTs and assistants while utilizing modern diagnostic tools.
Requirements
The candidate must be a compassionate and collaborative veterinarian capable of managing a thriving caseload. The role requires proficiency in surgery, dentistry, and general wellness care for pets.
Qualifications
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Veterinary Medicine Career Context
The cost-of-living index for Washington is 107.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$145k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $136k in an average-cost state. 59.8% of Washington clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
Of the 42 active Veterinary Medicine listings this role was benchmarked against, 2% are remote, 74% have no call, 52% require no weekends.
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Veterinarian - Tacoma, WA at Commencement Bay Animal Hospital a 8.7 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as excellent. This places the position in the top 5% in Veterinary Medicine — ranked against 3,047 active Veterinary Medicine listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements.
Location & Logistics
Washington has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$145k midpoint, that is roughly $6k–$10k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.
Top Veterinarian Jobs
26 matches · ranked by paySalary Distribution26 jobs · 11 employers
Annual compensation range
Benefits & Perks26 jobs · 11 employers
Share of similar jobs offering each benefit
Senior Shelter Veterinarian (2293) - Animal Care and Control, Office of the City Administrator
City and County of San Francis · San Francisco, California
2293-Senior Shelter Veterinarian
City and County of San Francis · San Francisco, California
Veterinarian, Partner & Equity Owner
$120k-$220kCo-Owner Veterinarian – Westchester County, New York
$160k-$220kWork-life snapshot
Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,047 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.
- No weekends
- Includes call
Living in Tacoma
- Typical 3-bedroom home value
- $488k≈ 3.5× annual pay
- Typical market rent
- $1,740/mo≈ 15% of gross pay
- Residents’ average commute
- 29 min
- Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
- 111.1
- State income tax
- None
Sources & methodology
Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.
BEA 2024 · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.
Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.