The Palmetto State is a great place to be a relief veterinarian. More than 60% of households own a pet, and yet as a shockingly low number of veterinarians to cover the population. Veterinary services, especially relief vet services, are in high demand. Veterinary services, especially relief vet services, are in high demand. Relief veterinarians with a few years of experience in private practice are highly sought-after to cover family leave and ensure that veterinary teams are at their peak performance.

Licensing for Relief Vet in South Carolina

Becoming a relief vet in South Carolina is pretty straightforward. Licensure by Endorsement is offered, so you pay $175 and take the state boards. There are two small things to be aware of. You will have to have the Lawful Presence Form notarized before sending it in, and you’ll have to provide a 2”x2” photo from within 6 months of the application. Neither of these is a significant hurdle to getting your South Carolina veterinary license. A temporary license option is available, but with the low fees and easy application process, it’s not necessary

Salaries

South Carolina’s average veterinary salary of $109,390 is slightly lower than its neighbors, but is in line with the national average. North Carolina is the highest of the three states, even after taxes. 

State	Avg Salary	Tax Rate	Net Annual
South Carolina	$109,390	6.40%	$102,389
Georgia	$112,390	5.38%	$106,349
North Carolina	$116,930	4.75%	$111,376

Inside the state, the highest salaries are in the Charlotte, NC metro area at over $120,000. The lowest salaries are in the Hilton Head Island area, running at about $97,200. 

Note that these salary ranges are for associate doctors full-time at a hospital, not for relief work. Relief doctors usually get a slightly higher hourly rate.

Contract Forms

Relief vets in South Carolina can be independent contractors or can work for one of the relief veterinary services. Working with a relief service means one relief contract for all the veterinary hospitals you work with through that service. Working independently, you have a new contract for all new clinics you add to your roster. 

Local Issues For Relief Veterinarians in South Carolina

South Carolina relief vets should keep an eye out for the following illnesses:

• Canine respiratory illness
• Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)
• Mad Cow
• Leptospirosis

With the high demand for veterinarians, relief staff should be ready to have a full caseload every shift. The risk of the fires of burnout can be high. We suggest planning a few days between different veterinary practices in your own schedule, so that you can reset and be ready for different management styles.

Relaxing in South Carolina

Veterinary work is hard no matter where you are. South Carolina has a variety of options to help you unplug from the stress of vet med.

Let Holiday Vet help you get relief veterinarian work in South Carolina!