Switching Your Career to Relief Vet in Virginia
Relief vets are in high demand in the Old Dominion. With average wages and 55% pet ownership, being a relief vet in Virginia can really pay off.
Licensure for Relief Veterinarians in Virginia
Virginia veterinary licenses cost $200, and endorsement licenses are available. Licensure by endorsement is straightforward. You need to acknowledge you’ve read the state laws, but no test is required.
You’ll also have to verify all licenses you’ve ever held, even if they are expired, and show that you’ve practiced in 2 of the last 4 years. Finally, you’ll need to show 30 hours of continuing education, a requirement that’s relatively unique. It shouldn’t be much of an issue, as most states require a similar level of CE.
Salary for Veterinarians in Virginia
The average wage for Virginia veterinarians is $102,110. It’s the lowest of all the neighboring states. As tax rates are similar across the region, with the exception of Tennessee’s lack of income tax, Virginia salaries are on the low end even after taxes.
| State | Avg Salary | Tax Rate | Net Annual |
| Virginia | $102,110 | 5.75% | $96,239 |
| Kentucky | $105,290 | 5.00% | $100,026 |
| Maryland | $108,000 | 5.25% | $102,330 |
| Tennessee | $116,100 | 0.00% | $116,100 |
| North Carolina | $116,930 | 4.75% | $111,376 |
| West Virginia | $123,990 | 5.12% | $117,642 |
Within the state, high spots include the DC metro area as well as Rockingham County, Harrisonburg City, Frederick County, and Winchester City. The lowest average wages are around $90,500 in the Blacksburg and Christiansburg area.
Working as a veterinarian in Virginia
There are nearly 5,000 licensed veterinarians in the Old Dominion. Most of them According to the state’s Healthcare Workforce Data Center, most Virginia veterinarians see a significant number of patients per week. Relief vets in Virginia should be ready to see patients on an hourly or half-hourly basis.
The same study lists hours worked by veterinarians. The majority of vets in Virginia work less than 50 hours a week. However, over 20% of vets work more than 50 hours per week. There is still a risk for burnout at these types of positions. As a relief vet in Virginia, you’ll want to get the details about your time commitment and appointment pacing while reviewing whether to take a relief shift.
Animal Health Issues in Virginia
With a temperate climate and little snow, you’ll see few environmental health issues in your patients. However, Virginia faces a few unique animal health issues.
- Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)
- Rabies
- Animal abuse (Virginia is in the top 10 states for animal abuse rates)
Life Outside of Work in Virginia
At Holiday Vet, we believe that veterinarians should enjoy a healthy balance between time in the clinic and time for yourself. Here are a few interesting things to do to relax and enjoy all that Virginia has to offer.
Let Holiday Vet help you get relief veterinarian work in Virginia!