Associate Veterinarian

VCA Animal Hospitals, Inc; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Signing package

Relocation assistance

Health insurance

401k with company match

Paid parental leave

Job summary

VCA Animal Care Center of Chicago in Chicago, IL is seeking an Associate Veterinarian to join a team delivering high-level medical care with access to advanced diagnostics and in-house cardiology partnerships. The role emphasizes collaboration, teaching, and a patient‑centered approach in a supportive environment.

The position offers a flexible 4-day schedule, no on-call hours, and competitive compensation ($120K–$150K annually) with a 40-hour work week and eligibility for additional benefits.

Qualifications

• A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree, from an accredited university or equivalent
• Licensure in good standing to practice in (IL), or the ability to obtain
• A commitment to practicing the highest standard of medicine and upholding the veterinary code of ethics

Education

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)

Licensure in good standing to practice in IL, or the ability to obtain

Job description

Join us as an Associate Veterinarian, at VCA Animal Care Center of Chicago, in Chicago IL, West Loop neighborhood, and you’ll quickly discover that you’re well supported by world‑class medicine, technology, facilities, and a talented team. You’ll be empowered to do your best work with a team you can count on. At VCA, the future of veterinary medicine is in our hands.

Questions? Please email Laurel Norman at [e-mail]

Why Join the Team?

• Comprehensive Care for Companion Animals: We serve a diverse client base, primarily treating dogs and cats. We also offer care for small mammals and other exotics, led by one of our doctors with expertise in these special species. Through a collaboration with an outside board-certified cardiologist, we provide in‑house cardiology services, including echocardiograms and evaluations.
• Signing package and relocation available
• Fear Free Practice: Although we aren't Fear-Free certified, we implement a lot of fear‑free and low‑stress handling. Our hospital aims to become fully Fear Free certified, making patient comfort a priority.
• State‑of‑the‑Art Equipment: Our facility practices hands‑free radiology and will soon offer full abdominal ultrasonography.
• Prime Location: Located at the corner of Washington Blvd. and Elizabeth St. in Chicago’s West Loop, our clinic is surrounded by vibrant restaurants, shopping, coffee shops, nightlife, and parks. The area offers excellent public transit options, with two CTA subway stations and numerous bus routes within a 10‑minute walk.

Schedule

Our flexible schedule typically includes a 4‑day work week from Monday through Saturday, with no on‑call hours. Friday evening and Saturday shifts rotate among the doctors to maintain work‑life balance.

Our doctors enjoy 2 (8‑hour) days per week from 8 AM to 4 PM and 2 (12‑hour) days (8 AM to 8 PM). Saturdays are generally 1‑2 per month.

Each doctor has 1 day of surgery per week (8 hour day).

Cases

Our general practice hospital focuses on wellness, preventive care, diagnostics, and specialty services, particularly for dogs and cats. We also treat exotics and provide advanced cardiology services through our board‑certified cardiology partnership.

Who we look for

• People obsessed with pets and their care
• Dedicated experts who want to provide world‑class medicine
• Collaborators who enjoy teaching others and working as a team
• Curious lifelong learners who want to grow and thrive for a dynamic and fulfilling career
• Empathetic partners who develop strong client and Associate relationships built on trust

Total Rewards

As a VCA Associate, eligible full‑time employees will be rewarded with a comprehensive package, including:

Compensation

• Salary is negotiable based on experience, skills, knowledge, abilities and other relevant credentials. The annual salary range for this position is $120K – $150K. The salary range listed is based on a 40‑hour work week.
• This position may also be eligible for other variable pay programs.

Health & Well‑being

• Innovative Associate health and well‑being resources (Headspace app, Fidelity financial wellness tool, and access to additional mental health resources including Lyra Health)
• 401k retirement savings plan with company match
• Health/dental/vision insurance, infertility and gender affirmation benefits
• Paid parental, vacation and sick leave

Professional Development

• Continuing Education Allowance and paid Continuing Education Days
• WOOF University – offering abundant CE for Doctors and the care team
• Opportunities to participate in a robust Clinical Studies program

Discover Additional Benefits Benefits | VCA (vcacareers.com) (open link in new window)

Qualifications

• A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree, from an accredited university or equivalent
• Licensure in good standing to practice in (IL), or the ability to obtain
• A commitment to practicing the highest standard of medicine and upholding the veterinary code of ethics

About VCA

VCA is a leader in veterinary care and is committed to taking care of the future of veterinary medicine. With a network of 1,000 animal hospitals, we impact pets, people and our communities by delivering world‑class medicine with hometown care to over 4.5 million pets annually. Trusted and empowered, our 35,000 Associates collaborate and unleash their unique power to achieve the best outcomes. With access to endless resources, we continuously learn and share knowledge to build fulfilling careers, push our profession forward and make a lasting impact on our shared future.

VCA is part of the Mars Veterinary Health family of brands, working towards A Better World for Pets™. Learn more at www.vca.com or find us on social media.

Benefits: We offer competitive compensation along with a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision and paid vacation/sick days, 401(k), generous employee pet discounts and more!

The information in this position description indicates the general nature and level of work to be performed. It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of associates assigned to this job. Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the job change (for example, emergencies, change in personnel, workload, or technical development).

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer – Veterans / Disabled. For a complete EEO statement please see our career page at vcacareers.com