Vetco Total Care Hospital Relief Veterinarian - Marion, IL
Listed compensation
$135-$146/hr
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting and time off.
Job Description
Unleash total career flexibility as an independent veterinary contractor with Vetco Total Care Hospitals, a division of Petco, The Health + Wellness Company. We're on a mission to improve the lives of pets and pet parents. A vital part of our mission is making high-quality veterinary care more accessible to pets in your community.
You can enjoy multiple benefits while working with Vetco Total Care as a relief veterinarian!
We offer flexible online booking so you can achieve the ultimate work-life balance. You select your shifts with no minimum or maximum number required. We have a variety of weekend and weekday hours available for selection. You determine your rate for each relief shift chosen. Continue practice activities outside of Vetco Total Care Hospital shifts and enjoy NO agency fees!
Our appointment-based model helps manage traffic and gets you out the door on time. We have trained, experienced staff to manage operations, so you can focus on delivering the best care and patient experience possible. Stay in the know with our monthly newsletter that highlights policy and product updates and clinic news. Enjoy a 15% Petco discount to help you spoil your pets on all products and services.
VETCO TOTAL CARE HOSPITAL relief shifts include preventive care, diagnostic workups, outpatient surgeries, and dental procedures. You will partner with the area medical director before your shifts to review the comfort level of cases.
Hospitals are equipped with digital patient records, surgical suite, Butterfly IQ+ handheld ultrasound imaging, digital and dental X-ray, Vetology Radiograph Interpretation AI, and on-site labs. Licensed and trained hospital staff. No overnights or emergency on-call. The appointment-based model helps manage traffic and gets you out the door on time!
Requirements
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine state license in good standing
- Appropriate state-specific licensing to perform all shift functions
- DEA in good standing
- Ability to provide Professional Liability Insurance + license defense policy
- Compliance with all local state and federal mandates
Send an email or schedule a call directly with one of our Talent Advisors to learn more!
Illinois state bid rates average $135-$146/hr. Shift rates may vary depending on the clinic location and duration of the selected shift.
Key Responsibilities
The relief veterinarian will provide high-quality preventive care, diagnostic workups, outpatient surgeries, and dental procedures. They will partner with the medical director to manage patient cases and ensure a positive patient experience.
Qualifications
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Certifications
Key Skills
Veterinary Medicine Career Context
The cost-of-living index for Illinois is 100.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$292k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $292k in an average-cost state. 62.6% of Illinois clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
Of the 45 active Veterinary Medicine listings this role was benchmarked against, 2% are remote, 80% have no call, 44% require no weekends.
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Work-life score | 7.5 / 10 · top 25% in veterinary medicine | ranked against 3,030 Veterinary Medicine listingslisting-based score, 0–10 |
| Listed pay | $281k–$304k | Veterinary Medicine median $137k (middle half $123k–$170k)16 comparable listings, Oct 2026 |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$292k in purchasing power | Illinois index 100.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Veterinary Medicine listings in Illinois | 153 active | 3,087 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 2% remote · 80% no call · 44% no weekends45 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | Illinois healthcare professional listings: 38% state a sign-on bonus (median $50k) · 14% offer loan repayment205 active listings, Oct 2026 |
| New Veterinary Medicine listings | 969 in the last 30 days | 508 the 30 days before (+91%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026 |
| Veterinary Medicine pay trend | +2.9% vs prior quarter | —through Sep 2026 |
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Vetco Total Care Hospital Relief Veterinarian - Marion, IL at Vetco Clinics a 7.5 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as very good. This places the position in the top 25% in Veterinary Medicine — ranked against 3,030 active Veterinary Medicine listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no night shifts.
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18 matches · ranked by paySalary Distribution
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Benefits & Perks
16 jobs · 12 employersShare of similar jobs offering each benefit
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$160k-$180kWork-life snapshot
Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,030 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.
- No nights
- Includes call
- Includes weekends
Benefits & Perks
Living in Marion
- Typical 3-bedroom home value
- $208k
- Typical market rent
- $1,113/mo
- Residents’ average commute
- 22 min
- State income tax
- Up to 5%
Sources & methodology
Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.
City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.