Veterinarian Jobs in California

​Find top Veterinarian jobs across clinical practice settings, including General Practice (GP), Urgent Care, Emergency, Specialty, and Referral Hospitals. Explore high-demand roles such as Associate Veterinarian, Emergency Veterinarian, Urgent Care Veterinarian, General Practice Veterinarian, Veterinary Surgeon, Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialist, Veterinary Criticalist, Veterinary Dermatologist, Veterinary Radiologist, Veterinary Cardiologist, Veterinary Oncologist, Chief of Staff Veterinarian, Medical Director, and Relief Veterinarian. Whether you’re seeking small-animal, large-animal, equine, or mixed-animal opportunities, browse full-time, part-time, and relief clinical positions designed to support growth, mentorship, and long-term veterinary career development.

Veterinarian jobs in California — DVM, associate, ER and specialty roles

Supreme Search Specialists places veterinarians in practices across California — from independent first-opinion clinics in coastal towns to multi-site corporate hospitals in Los Angeles and the Bay Area, 24/7 emergency centers, and board-certified specialty referral facilities. We've been recruiting for US veterinary practices since 2020 and our consultants understand the high standards California practices and candidates expect.

Whether you're a new graduate looking for your first associate role, an experienced DVM exploring opportunities in California, or a board-certified specialist considering a move, our team can help you find a practice that fits your clinical interests, schedule, and salary expectations.

Veterinarian roles we recruit for in California

• Associate Veterinarian (DVM) — small animal, mixed, and exotics

• Emergency Veterinarian (ER doctor) — 24/7 hospitals across LA, the Bay Area, and San Diego

• Urgent Care Veterinarian

• Medical Director and Chief of Staff Veterinarian

• Board-Certified Specialists — Internal Medicine, Surgery, Oncology, Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Cardiology, Criticalist, Neurologist, Radiologist

• Relief Veterinarian (locum DVM)

• Equine veterinarian — Central Valley, Central Coast, and Inland Empire

• Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) — California's licensed vet tech credential

Veterinary jobs across California

We have active veterinarian openings across California, including:

• Greater Los Angeles:

  Los Angeles, Long Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Burbank, Glendale, Torrance, Mission Viejo, Anaheim

• San Diego County:

  San Diego, Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Oceanside, La Jolla, Escondido

• Bay Area:

  San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont, Sunnyvale, Walnut Creek

• Sacramento & Northern California:

  Sacramento, Citrus Heights, Roseville, Davis, Folsom, Chico, Redding

• Central Coast & Central Valley:

  San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Fresno, Bakersfield, Modesto, Visalia

Don't see a role in your city? Register your CV anyway — we receive new California positions every week and many never reach the public site.

California veterinarian salary ranges

California pays among the highest veterinarian salaries in the US — and tends to set the benchmark in the Bay Area and Greater LA. Based on offers we negotiate for our candidates, current ranges are:

• Associate Veterinarian (general practice):

  $140,000–$200,000 base, often plus production bonus (typically 18–22% ProSal)

• Emergency Veterinarian:

  $175,000–$300,000 — Bay Area and overnight at the higher end

• Board-Certified Specialist:

  $200,000–$400,000 depending on specialty and case volume

• Medical Director:

  $200,000–$280,000 plus bonuses or equity in some groups

• Equine veterinarian:

  $100,000–$180,000 plus production

Sign-on bonuses of $25,000–$75,000 and relocation packages of $5,000–$25,000 are common in California, particularly for ER, specialty, and high-cost-of-living markets such as San Francisco and coastal Los Angeles.

Why veterinarians choose California

• Highest average DVM salaries in the US — the Bay Area and Greater LA set the national benchmark

• World-class specialty hospitals and referral centers

• Access to two AVMA-accredited vet schools (UC Davis and Western University) and an exceptional CE network

• Diverse practice settings — small animal in the metros, equine in the Central Valley and Inland Empire, exotics across the state

• Strong candidate-friendly market: many practices offer flexible scheduling, no on-call, 4-day workweeks, and 30-minute appointments

• Year-round outdoor lifestyle, mountains, beaches, and a strong veterinary community

California licensing for veterinarians

To practice in California you need to be licensed by the California Veterinary Medical Board (VMB). The standard route is:

• Graduate from an AVMA COE-accredited DVM/VMD program (foreign graduates need ECFVG or PAVE certification)

• Pass the NAVLE (North American Veterinary Licensing Examination)

• Pass the California State Board Examination — covers state-specific practice law

• License is typically issued within 4–6 weeks of completing requirements

• Renew biennially — California requires 36 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle

If you're licensed in another state and considering relocation, we can advise on timing and walk you through the licensure-by-credentials pathway.

How we work

For candidates:send your CV through our website or call our team. Your conversation is confidential — we won't put you forward for any role without your sign-off. We'll only present opportunities that match what you've told us about clinical interests, schedule, salary, and location.

For practices and hospitals:tell us about the role, the team, and the kind of person who'll thrive there. We handle sourcing, screening, and shortlisting so you only meet candidates worth your time.