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Veterinary Medical Officer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

UT

$75K/yr

Basic Requirement for Veterinary Medical Officer: Education : Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent degree, i.e., Veterinary Medical Doctor (VMD), obtained at a school or college of ...

UT · On-site

$75K/yr

Basic Requirement for Veterinary Medical Officer: Education : Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent degree, i.e., Veterinary Medical Doctor (VMD), obtained at a school or college of ...

Veterinary Medical Officer/Veterinarian 2

$95K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Veterinary Medical Officer/Veterinarian 2 Job Requisition ID: JR0000001296 Number of Openings: 1 Shift: Not Applicable (United States of America) Compensation Details: $95,000.00 Job Information

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Veterinary Medical Officer information

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$67.5K

$95.8K

$136.5K

How much do veterinary medical officer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for veterinary medical officer in the United States is $95,800.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $69,500.00 and $98,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a veterinary medical officer?

A veterinary medical officer monitors diseases found in animals within a region and develops ways to prevent these diseases from spreading. As a veterinary medical officer, you typically work for a government agency or the military, and you enforce food handling and distribution guidelines. Other job duties may include coordinating food inspections, investigating foodborne illnesses that have passed from animals to humans, and leading disease control programs.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a veterinary medical officer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Veterinary Medical Officer, you need a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree, state licensure, and a solid understanding of animal health, disease control, and regulatory protocols. Familiarity with diagnostic laboratory equipment, animal health surveillance systems, and regulatory databases is often required, along with certifications in public health or epidemiology being advantageous. Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and effective communication are essential soft skills for collaborating with colleagues, stakeholders, and the public. These competencies ensure effective disease prevention, regulatory compliance, and the promotion of public and animal health.

What are some of the most common challenges veterinary medical officers face when working with both animals and regulatory agencies?

Veterinary Medical Officers often navigate the complex intersection of animal health and regulatory compliance, which can be challenging. They must balance clinical decision-making with strict adherence to public health regulations, which may sometimes limit treatment options. Additionally, they frequently collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and agencies, requiring strong communication skills to coordinate efforts and ensure all protocols are followed. Staying current with evolving laws and disease control measures is also essential, making adaptability a key part of the role.

What is the difference between Veterinary Medical Officer vs Veterinarian?

AspectVeterinary Medical OfficerVeterinarian
CredentialsDVM or VMD, licensing requiredDVM or VMD, licensing required
Work EnvironmentGovernment agencies, public health, researchPrivate clinics, animal hospitals, clinics
Employer & IndustryGovernment, public health, research institutionsPrivate veterinary practices, animal care facilities
Common Search IntentPublic health, government roles, disease controlAnimal care, clinical practice, pet health

Veterinary Medical Officers typically work in government or public health sectors focusing on disease control and animal health policy, requiring similar credentials as Veterinarians. Veterinarians mainly work in private practices providing direct animal care. Both roles require a DVM or VMD license, but their work environments and employer types differ significantly.

What cities are hiring for Veterinary Medical Officer jobs?

Cities with the most Veterinary Medical Officer job openings:

Who are the top companies hiring for Veterinary Medical Officer jobs?

The top employers for Veterinary Medical Officer jobs are:

What states have the most Veterinary Medical Officer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Veterinary Medical Officer jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Veterinary Medical Officer jobs?

For Veterinary Medical Officer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Veterinary Medical Officer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $95,800 per year, or $46.1 per hour.

$89K/yr

Full-time

Posted 19 days ago


USDA Forest Service rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 120 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

161st of 294 rated public sector bodies


Job description

Veterinary Medical Officers promote the health and welfare of both animals and the public through diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and understanding of animal diseases. They work to investigate, inspect, and deal with animal diseases, animal pollution, animal welfare, contamination of food of animal origin, health and safety of imported animals and animal products, and the safety and efficacy of a wide variety of animals.
Recruitment incentives may be authorized
Qualifications:Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.
All applicants must meet the Basic Requirement outlined in the Education section below.
FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:
  • Diagnose and effectively control or treat infected or exposed animals, including horses and birds offered for movement in international commerce.
  • Investigate factors of veterinary diseases such as etiology, management, diagnostics, microbiology, basic epidemiology and environmental factors.
  • Gain compliance, exchange information, apply regulations, and resolve problematic issues with industry representatives relative to import and export requirements.
OR Successful completion of a Master's degree in an area of specialization including, but not limited to: animal science, avian medicine, food safety, infectious diseases, veterinary clinical sciences, pathobiology, biomedical sciences, veterinary anatomy, veterinary preventive medicine, comparative biological sciences, epidemiology, veterinary parasitology, molecular veterinary biosciences, public health, microbiology, pathology, immunology, laboratory animal medicine, toxicology, wildlife, zoological animal medicine, or other sciences related to the work of a veterinary medical officer position.
OR RESIDENCY/POST GRADUATE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR THE GS-12 GRADE LEVEL: Successful completion of two years of an internship, residency program, or fellowship training program in a discipline related to the position. Applicants should provide a certificate or letter documenting the completion of this program.
TRANSCRIPTS are required. This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified. this education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college or university.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Education:BASIC REQUIREMENT: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent degree, i.e., Veterinary Medical Doctor (VMD), obtained at a school or college of veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (AVMA). The AVMA website has a listing of all AVMA-accredited veterinary medical schools. AVMA website: https://www.avma.org
OR Graduates of foreign veterinary medical schools that are not accredited by the AVMA Council on Education must meet one of the following requirements:
a) Proof of certification of their final transcript by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG);
b) Possession of a permanent, full, and unrestricted license to practice veterinary medicine in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States that includes successful completion of the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) or its predecessors, the National Board Examination (NBE) and the Clinical Competency Test (CCT); OR
c) Proof that the education obtained in a foreign veterinary medical program is equivalent to that gained in a veterinary medical program that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education. An AVMA-accredited veterinary medical school or college must have accepted the final transcript from the foreign veterinary medical school at full value for placement into an advanced degree, postgraduate educational program, or training program (e.g., residency or graduate program).
In addition, graduates of foreign veterinary medical programs must also provide proof of proficiency in the English language by successfully completing one of the nationally and internationally recognized examinations that incorporate assessments of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Examples of examinations that assess mastery of the English language are shown below:
a) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Minimum scores for the TOEFL are 560 for the paper-based version; 220 for the computer-based version; or overall score of 83 for the internet-based version (including 26 or higher in speaking, 26 or higher in listening, and 17 or higher in writing). For the computer-based and paper-based test versions, applicants must also complete the Test of Spoken English (TSE) and the Test of Written English (TWE). Minimum required scores are 55 for the TSE and 5.5 for the TWE.
b) Academic tests (listening, writing, and speaking) offered by the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Applicants must achieve a minimum overall band score of 7.0, with at least 7.0 in speaking, 6.5 in listening, and 6.0 in writing; OR
c) Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL). Applicants must achieve a minimum overall band score of 70, with at least 60 in speaking, 60 in listening, and 50 in writing.
Graduates of foreign veterinary medical programs must submit test results with their application. Results of more than one test or testing session cannot be combined to meet the standard.
Waiver Provision: English language proficiency assessments may be waived for qualified job applicants whose native language is English (i.e., the official or common language of an individuals country of birth is English) who submit a diploma or other official documentation as proof of graduation from a high (secondary) school where the entire curriculum and educational programs were taught in the English language for the entire 3 or 4 years of full-time attendance.Employment Type: OTHER

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