BLOG
Negotiating a veterinary salary doesn’t have to be difficult. Job applicants often consider salary and benefits to be major driving factors in their decision, so they’re important to keep in mind when hiring. We gladly coach you on how to evaluate your pricing and create a greater budget for new hires. That way, you can be competitive with larger corporate practices that may drive up veterinary salaries. Our industry expertise can serve as a valuable resource, so you aren’t alone throughout the salary negotiation process.
Veterinary Salary
Veterinarians need many years of rigorous instruction. This thorough education explains why the average veterinarian salary in the U.S. is about $100,000, and why about 10% of U.S. veterinarians earn more than $130,000 annually.
Entry level veterinarians can expect to earn anywhere from $34,000 to $51,000, depending on experience and the clinic’s exact location. By contrast, veterinary technicians only need an associate degree in most states, which is partly why they earn an average salary of about $32,000.
Keep in mind that many veterinarians choose some form of specialization. Specialized veterinarians often earn significantly higher salaries than their nonspecialized peers. For example, the average U.S. veterinary cardiologist earns about $135,000 annually. This reflects their unique skillset along with a wealth of knowledge and experience.
Salary Negotiation
Salary negotiation may be a touchy subject for some employers. Luckily, there are a few best practices to remember when interviewing potential hires. These useful tips will give you the confidence you need to negotiate the best possible solution for all parties involved.
1. Do Your Research
Knowledge is power. Nothing will better prepare you for a salary negotiation than prior research. Always establish a range of acceptable salaries before recruiting, and understand the market value of qualified candidates based on demand, skills, and experience. Make note of any special benefits offered by competitors such as paid time off, flexible scheduling, and insurance packages.
2. Assess Your Need
You alone know the true need to fill a particular position. Ask yourself how far you’re willing to go to keep an ideal candidate. Are they a fantastic culture fit? Would they bring exceptional value to the team? If they don’t meet certain qualifications, consider how likely you are to find someone similar. The answers to these questions will guide your decision going forward.
3. Know Your Limits
Not every candidate will suit your unique needs. This simple truth can empower you to find the ideal hire while staying within your means. Remember the salaries of current employees with similar levels of experience and use them as a baseline. If you feel strongly about an applicant’s potential but they seem evasive or uncertain, try to understand their perspective. They may be considering a competitor’s offer, as well.
Our Veterinary Salary Negotiation Process
We have years of hands-on experience in the veterinary industry. Our team’s expertise in negotiating veterinary salaries comes from our firsthand knowledge of what it takes to work in the field. We proudly serve as an intermediary who will negotiate on your behalf throughout the hiring process.
Our hiring process involves assessing different compensation methods. We balance salary and traditional benefits with the unique aspects of your clinic to make an offer appealing to any applicant. Our team also knows the precise market value of various veterinary positions across the country. We leverage our experience to bridge the expectations of your clinic and the ideal candidate.
Sometimes, your best applicant may live in another city or state. This can often work to your advantage, especially if they’re open to the possibility of moving. We can create a custom compensation package for them that includes some or all relocation costs. Qualified, flexible candidates often respond well to these types of tailored benefits when multiple offers are on the table.
When you work with us, we’ll even help you budget for new hires. This can be as simple as adjusting exam fees across all patients to allow for greater flexibility when negotiating. In this way, we help small clinics stay competitive with corporate practices that can afford to buy staff outright.
If your clinic needs help negotiating a veterinary salary, then we encourage you to contact us today. Our team of experts will gladly sit down and discuss your unique needs together. We’ll help you design a custom compensation package to attract and retain the ideal long-term employee.
