Across California, urgent care clinics are stretched thin. Pet ownership has surged, and as a result, hospitals are receiving more emergency cases than ever before. Demand is especially high in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Sacramento.
Yet staffing hasn’t kept pace. When urgent care roles go unfilled, hospitals face longer wait times, increased staff stress, and revenue loss. Moreover, existing veterinarians often experience burnout, which leads to higher turnover.
Pulivarthi Group solves this challenge by connecting clinics with licensed, pre-vetted Urgent Care Veterinarians. Because we specialize in hard-to-fill roles, we can reduce hiring timelines significantly while ensuring cultural and clinical fit.
Why Urgent Care Staffing Matters in California
Rising Demand
California is home to 13+ million pets. Pet owners expect urgent care clinics to provide fast, reliable service. Therefore, hospitals without full staffing risk damaging their reputation. Therefore they must hire urgent Care Veterinarian in California
Shortage of Veterinarians
California faces one of the largest veterinarian shortages in the U.S.. The shortage is even worse in urgent care, since the role requires flexibility, fast decision-making, and long hours.
Burnout and Retention
Urgent care teams are often overextended. As a result, burnout rates are higher than in general practice. Without proper staffing, hospitals lose talent quickly and are forced back into costly recruitment cycles.
Compliance Risks
The California Veterinary Medical Board (VMB) sets strict rules for licensing, continuing education, and controlled substance handling. If urgent care hospitals cut corners to fill gaps, they may face fines. Pulivarthi Group ensures every candidate is licensed and in good standing.
Salaries and Compensation for Urgent Care Veterinarians in California
Urgent care roles typically pay more than general practice. This is because they require longer hours, weekend coverage, and a higher tolerance for emergencies.
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Los Angeles: $120,000–$145,000
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San Diego: $115,000–$140,000
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San Francisco: $125,000–$155,000+
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Sacramento: $110,000–$135,000
In addition to base salaries, hospitals often provide:
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Signing bonuses of $10,000–$20,000.
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Relocation support for out-of-state candidates.
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Student loan repayment assistance.
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Flexible scheduling incentives.
These benefits are not optional anymore; rather, they are necessary to compete for scarce talent.
City-Specific Hiring Insights for helping you Hire Urgent Care Veterinarian in California
Los Angeles
Los Angeles has one of the nation’s largest pet populations. Consequently, urgent care clinics are open late and see diverse emergencies. Many practices report losing $1,000–$2,000 per day when urgent care roles remain unfilled.
Pulivarthi Group Solution: We provide both locum relief veterinarians and permanent hires, ensuring Los Angeles clinics avoid service interruptions.
San Diego
San Diego hospitals often manage fluctuating caseloads due to its strong military community. Because families move frequently, demand for urgent care spikes unpredictably.
Pulivarthi Group Solution: We connect San Diego practices with contingent urgent care veterinarians, who can step in for nights, weekends, or seasonal surges.
San Francisco
The Bay Area offers some of the highest salaries in the country. However, housing costs make recruitment difficult, and many local graduates leave for other states.
Pulivarthi Group Solution: We recruit nationally, relocate candidates into San Francisco, and provide relief veterinarians while permanent hires are finalized.
Sacramento
Sacramento’s urgent care practices must handle both city and suburban populations. Smaller hospitals often compete directly with Bay Area clinics, which drives up wages.
Pulivarthi Group Solution: We place flexible urgent care veterinarians who help stabilize staffing while allowing hospitals to grow sustainably.
Staffing Services for Urgent Care Clinics
Pulivarthi Group offers multiple models to match hospital needs.
Permanent Staffing
Best for clinics aiming to stabilize operations and build patient trust. For example, a Los Angeles hospital reduced turnover by 40% after we placed two permanent urgent care veterinarians.
Temporary Staffing
Ideal for short-term gaps like parental leave. In San Diego, a clinic used one of our temporary veterinarians for three months and prevented revenue loss.
Locum Tenens
Urgent care requires immediate coverage. Locum tenens veterinarians fill shifts quickly. Therefore, hospitals avoid service interruptions.
Contingent Staffing
Caseloads in urgent care fluctuate. Contingent staffing allows hospitals to pay for only the hours needed, giving them maximum flexibility.
Employer Pain Points
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Lost Revenue: Every vacancy can cost $30,000+ per month.
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Burnout: Overloaded staff leave, which worsens shortages.
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Compliance: Cutting corners risks fines from the VMB.
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Delays in Hiring: Traditional searches take 3+ months, but Pulivarthi Group averages 2–4 weeks.
Because we specialize in veterinary staffing, we solve these problems faster than general recruiters.
Why Choose Pulivarthi Group in California?
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Licensed urgent care veterinarians verified with the VMB.
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Nationwide recruitment with relocation-ready candidates.
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Faster placements: average 2–4 weeks.
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Proven success across Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Sacramento.
FAQs About Hiring Urgent Care Veterinarians in California
How quickly can you place urgent care veterinarians?
Usually within 2–4 weeks.
Do you offer relief coverage?
Yes, we provide locum urgent care vets for immediate needs.
What salary should clinics expect to pay?
Between $110,000 and $155,000+, depending on city.
Do you cover nights and weekends?
Yes, many of our candidates prefer flexible schedules.
Can you help with rural urgent care coverage?
Yes, we staff both metro and smaller communities.
Do you handle compliance checks?
Yes, every candidate is verified with the VMB before placement.
Do you assist with relocation?
Yes, we relocate candidates nationwide into California hospitals.
Urgent care demand in California is rising fast. Pulivarthi Group helps hospitals in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Sacramento stay fully staffed with urgent care veterinarians who reduce wait times, protect revenue, and keep teams strong.