Also called: Locum Vet, Freelance Veterinarian
A freelance vet who fills in at clinics when regular vets are sick, on vacation, or short-staffed.
Works at a different clinic each week, sets their own schedule, and earns a high daily rate. Must adapt quickly to new teams and systems.
Estimate; daily rates often $800-1,500.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Professional degree (MD, JD, DVM…), about 10 years after high school. DVM degree plus a few years of experience.
Ways in: 4-year college, Professional school, On-the-job training. Training cost: Over $150k.
Majors to look at: Animal Science, Biology, Pre-Veterinary, Zoology.
Growing much faster than average (about 10% over 10 years).
Low risk for 10 years. AI scheduling platforms match relief vets to clinics; the daily exams and surgeries they cover stay hands-on.
Classes: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, Business, Anatomy & Physiology.
Official data: O*NET occupation 29-1131.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.