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Find Relief Veterinarian Jobs in San Francisco

Roo is the premier online platform connecting veterinarians with hospitals for part-time relief work, empowering you to earn more whenever fits your schedule.

Experience a variety of hospitals while searching for your next full-time veterinarian job in California.

Earn more with Roo
Earn while you job search

Earn $161 an hour, nearly 2x the rate of the average California vet, and get paid in as little as 2 days!

Create your own flexible schedule and choose your shifts
Flexible schedule

Control your schedule and choose the shifts you want with no minimum shift requirements. 

More hospitals & options

Quickly find what you’re looking for with thousands of shifts and a variety of hospitals.

Experience a better way to job search

Try a variety of hospitals to find your perfect match

Help out local hospitals, grow your network, and keep your skills sharp while you search for a full-time hospital home that's a perfect fit for you! Set up your free profile in minutes, then search for relief shifts in San Francisco whenever fits your schedule.

The best part: you'll be paid competitive rates while you job search!

Job Description

Relief Veterinarian

A Relief Veterinarian (sometimes called a locum tenens veterinarian) is a freelance employee who provides healthcare to pets while filling in for veterinarians when they're sick, vacationing, or out on leave — like a substitute teacher for the animal healthcare industry.

This important work ensures every San Francisco area animal hospital can continue to provide a high level of care for pets and clients while allowing their staff to take time off, ensuring healthy work-life balance for all.

During busy periods, employers rely on relief vets to lighten the load on their team to prevent burnout.

Requirements

CA Veterinary License

We'll review any DVM licenses you hold in California and any other states you’d like to practice in.

Veterinary Experience

No need to submit a resume. We’ll meet with you to review your skills and experience to find great hospitals that fit your preferences.

Free to join

Roo costs nothing to join and there are membership fees.

Total Flexibility & Autonomy

You set your own schedule and choose the shifts you want with no minimum shift requirements, non-competes, commitments, or mandates.

Why Veterinarians Love Roo

Roo is the premier online veterinary relief platform, connecting veterinarians seeking work in San Francisco with local animal hospitals in need of support. We host the largest network with over 6,000 of hospitals, which means more options and variety for you to choose from to find your ideal opportunity.

Sign On Bonus

New vets earn an additional sign on bonus when they complete their first 3 shifts!
Thinking about taking the leap? Here's what other Roo Vets had to say!

Frequently Asked Questions

If I'm already employed full-time, should I still sign up with Roo?

Yes! Even if you're employed full-time, you can always pick up relief shifts to earn extra money.

Relief work is also a great way to try new hospitals and specialties, learn from other doctors, and search for your next full-time veterinarian job if you're looking to make a change.

Roo is free to join with no membership fees and no penalties for inactivity so you have nothing to lose!

Can hospitals see my search activity or my contact info?

Hospitals have no visibility into your profile, contact info, or search activity until you request a shift. Hospitals also have no way of seeing who is on the platform. Your activity is hidden from all Roo hospitals until you reach out to them.

When and how do I get paid?

Getting paid with Roo is fast and easy — immediately after you work a shift, you’ll be paid via direct deposit in as little as two business days!

When you first join Roo, you’ll be prompted through a one-time setup where you fill out a W-9 form and link your bank account. After that, all payments are sent to you automatically, no waiting around and no chasing it down!

Does Roo withhold taxes from my paychecks?

No. As a relief veterinarian, taxes are not taken out of your income, so you’ll get paid every cent you see listed on the shift card. However, you will be responsible for paying taxes on this income at a later date, so we recommend setting some of your Roo earnings aside for tax payments.

Roo provides a number of resources and significant help with your taxes as an independent contractor, which you can find in our Tax Center. Roo's platform automatically keeps track of your earnings and milage to help you file taxes each year.

Is there a minimum amount of hours or shifts I need to work?

No! You have complete control over your schedule. Only work when you want, period. Take as much time off as you like, Roo will always be here for you.

Does Roo cost anything?

No! It’s completely free for vets. It costs nothing to join, and there are no membership fees or other costs. You’ll only make money with Roo.

Does Roo require a non-compete?

No! Roo stands for the freedom of vets everywhere. Therefore, Roo does not require vets to sign a non-compete to work through our platform.

Does Roo require liability insurance?

While Roo does not require you have personal liability insurance, we highly recommend getting your own coverage as you won’t be covered under the hospital’s policy as an independent contractor. Roo has teamed with the AVMA to offer PLIT plans that are affordable and convenient. You can get covered for a whole year for less than half of what you’ll make working just one shift!

Does Roo offer any health benefits?

As an independent contractor with Roo, you’ll be responsible for your own health benefits and workers compensation insurance. Roo has teamed with Stride Health to provide a number of options for health benefits.

How to become a relief veterinarian in California
Roo Uni Veterinarian mentorship through student externships

Education Requirements

Veterinary School — To become a veterinarian in the United States, attend an AVMA-accredited Veterinary College and earn a degree as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM).

Undergraduate Education — Complete veterinary school prerequisites at your undergraduate university. Recommended majors include: biology, animal science, biological sciences, and biomedical sciences.

Animal Healthcare Experience — Build your resume working with animals. You'll need around 180 hours to get into vet school. Volunteer where you can, especially at local clinics and shelters. Letters of recommendation go a long way.

GRE Exam — A high score will help you overcome tough competition to get into vet school.

California DVM Licensing Requirements

What you’ll need: 

  • Proof of Graduation: Ask your AVMA-accredited vet school to submit your transcript & diploma directly to the California Board of Veterinary Medicine.
    • Foreign Graduates: Vets educated outside the US will need to complete the certificate program offered by the ECFVG OR PAVE
  • Exam Requirements: Pass the NAVLE and have your results submitted directly to the California Board.
    • If you took the NAVLE over 5 years ago, submit proof of 36 hours of CE in the last 2 years OR 2,500 hours of veterinary practice in at least 2 of the last three years.
    • Applicants in California will also need to complete a Veterinary Law Examination covering California's practice act unless you graduated from UC-Davis or Western University.
  • Reciprocity Requirements: If you’re already licensed in another state, US territory, or Washington D.C., you can use the AAVSB's VAULT service to transfer your NAVLE test results, verification of other licenses, and letters of good standing to the California Board.
  • Licensing Fee: Pay $950 to the State Board. 
  • Submit fingerprints to the Department of Justice for a criminal background check ($34.25 fee).

Updated 8/15/23

How Roo Works

1
Create your free profile
2
Search & select shifts
3
Work your shift & help pet
4
Rate your experience
5
Get paid in as little as 2 days!
Maximize your income

How much does a relief veterinarian make in San Francisco?

Roo gives you the opportunity to earn as much or as little as you want. It’s up to you to balance your scheduling priorities with your income goals.

The average full-time veterinarian in San Francisco earns $87.99 per hour and $183,020 per year (source: Ziprecruiter, May 27, 2024).

The average Roo relief shift in San Francisco pays $1,629 at a rate of $161 per hour, and our highest-earning Roo Relief Vets have made over $200,000 a year!


How much do Roo relief vets make?
Read more
Relief vet day off with family
Define your work-life balance

What are my hours as a relief vet in San Francisco?


The average Roo shift in San Francisco is 10 hours, but you can search for shifts that are shorter or longer. You'll always know how long a shift will be before you commit.

Whether you work relief part-time or full-time is entirely up to you — use Roo however works best for your schedule to obtain the salary you desire.


Unlimited Vacation:
You'll never be penalized for taking time off. In fact, we encourage it!

Your relief companion

Taxes as a relief vet

As a 1099 contract employee, when you get paid, you'll receive every penny. This can be a helpful way to continue to earn income while you job search! However, you'll be responsible for paying taxes on any Roo income you earn so we recommend planning ahead by setting some money aside for taxes.

Roo offers a wide variety of tax resources to help relief vets manage their taxes while saving as much as possible through a variety of tax write-offs.

Experience the joy of relief

Find relief veterinarian job opportunities

Vets can use Roo to quickly match with hospitals in San Francisco to find freelance relief veterinarian jobs one shift at a time, giving you the ability to earn more while searching for your next full-time vet job.

When you find a hospital that's a good fit for you, we can help you make the transition to full-time placement for a career you love and deserve!

Friends of Roo
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