By Dr. Heather Gunn McQuillan
Why You Should Never Navigate This Alone—and How AwareVet Can Help
Signing your first veterinary contract – or even your third – is one of the most influential decisions of your career. It affects not only your income, but also your workload, wellbeing, mentorship, and ability to thrive rather than simply survive in this profession. But before signing anything, it’s crucial to slow down, gather information, and advocate for yourself with the same confidence you use in clinical decision-making.
Yet most veterinarians were never taught how to read or negotiate a contract. And the strongest negotiators aren’t pushy or confrontational—they’re informed.
That’s where AwareVet comes in.
📊 Information Is Your Best Negotiating Tool
Negotiation should never be fueled by emotion – it’s about clarity and data-driven advocacy. The more information you have, the more confidently you can ask for what you deserve. That means knowing what compensation and benefits look like for people in similar positions, in similar settings, and in the same geographic region.
Three trusted sources every veterinary job seeker should keep bookmarked:
🔹 AVC New Graduate Salary & Benefits Survey
This survey provides real, up-to-date salary and benefits data straight from new graduates, broken down by:
- Country and region
- Practice type
- Pay model (salary, hourly, ProSal)
- On-call expectations
- Benefits and mentorship
This is one of the most accurate and detailed salary surveys available for Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) graduates or for veterinarians looking at Atlantic Canada opportunities because it was built specifically for new AVC graduates—and it has been administered every year since 2020 by Dr. Heather Gunn McQuillan. Data like this helps determine whether an offer is competitive—not just generally, but specifically for new grads working in your region and industry segment.
To request a copy of a report with the most recent survey data, email Heather at: awarevet@gmail.com (2025 data is now in!).
🔹 CVMA Compensation & Benefits Reports
The Canadian context varies widely, and CVMA reports can help you compare regions. For example, reported salaries for veterinarians with 1–2 years of experience range dramatically depending on province.
Knowing whether PEI, BC, or Ontario averages line up with your offer helps prevent underselling your skills—and also helps you notice when an offer is exceptionally strong.
These reports are excellent for understanding province-specific differences across Canada—and whether your offer is competitive for your level of experience. It is important to note that the response rates also vary widely by province, so it’s important to look closely at the numbers and to use an expert like AwareVet to help you tease through the data.
CVMA reports (2025 data is now in!) can be found here (NB- this is a password protected resource and you will need to be a member of the CVMA in order to access these reports):
🔹 AVMA Veterinary Salary Tool
If you’re considering the U.S. or comparing Canadian vs. U.S. opportunities, the AVMA salary explorer allows you to compare salaries by:
- State
- Species and practice type
- Experience level
This helps you evaluate whether compensation aligns with the market.
This interactive tool is available for both veterinary students and for early career veterinarians:
When you walk into a negotiation armed with current data instead of emotion, everything changes.
📝 Reviewing the Contract: What to Look For
Salary is not the only thing that matters—and, frankly, it’s not even the biggest predictor of wellbeing. As the saying goes, “Money isn’t everything,” and it certainly won’t make you happy. Large salaries can sometimes even be a big red flag!
When reviewing a contract, evaluate:
- Term of the contract
- Responsibilities and scheduling
- Salary and type of compensation (straight salary, hourly, ProSal)
- On-call expectations and compensation
- Vacation and sick leave
- CE allowance and paid days
- Membership dues and insurance
- RRSP/401k match
- Signing bonuses or relocation allowance
- Mentorship and onboarding
Missing items can be just as important as concerning items. As part of the AVC Report, a trend is emerging where benefits across the industry have decreased in the past 2–3 years, and formal mentorship programs are also declining. Similarly to the economics that you’re seeing in the grocery store, where the price of cheese stays the same, but the block of cheese gets smaller, when times are challenging, it may not be the salary that is impacted, but rather the benefits (like vacation time) that might be decreased.
This makes it even more important to ensure your first contract supports—not drains—you.
AwareVet can walk you through every line of your contract and flag:
- Green flags (supportive benefits)
- Red flags
- Hidden traps
- Negotiation opportunities
- Items that are industry-standard—but often left out
💬 Negotiating With Confidence (Even if You’ve Never Done It Before)
Most veterinarians struggle advocating for themselves—not because they lack ability, but because they’ve never been taught the skills.
AwareVet teaches strategies that work in the real world:
✔ Never Answer the Salary Question Blind
If asked the dreaded question, “What are your salary expectations?” you have two safe options:
- Direct response (once you know your numbers)
- Indirect response
“I’m looking for compensation in line with fair, new graduate salaries for this region, and I’d like to consider that within the full benefits package that you offer.”
The indirect approach avoids locking yourself into the lowest acceptable number.
✔ Let data speak for you
Employers respond far better to:
“AVMA regional salary data and the AVC new graduate survey list compensation about 10–15% higher for this type of role—could we revisit salary to align with regional market norms?”
Than to:
“That salary feels too low.”
Data keeps the tone professional.
✔ Use the evidence sandwich
- Express your enthusiasm
- Present the updates you need to see, supported by evidence
- Reinforce your desire to join the team
✔ If you don’t ask, you don’t receive
There is zero penalty for respectfully negotiating.
There is enormous cost to signing a contract that leads to resentment or burnout.
💡 You Deserve a Partner in This Process
The veterinary profession is full of people who care deeply about animals and clients—but negotiating for ourselves doesn’t always come naturally.
That’s why AwareVet was created.
Our services exist for veterinary students and veterinarians who want:
- Contract review and interpretation
- Data-backed negotiation guidance
- Strategy and scripts for difficult conversations
- Mentorship centred on wellbeing and career sustainability
Because you shouldn’t have to go through one of the biggest decisions of your career without an expert in your corner.
Visit www.awarevet.ca to learn more or book support.
To request the most recent AVC New Graduate Salary & Benefits Survey directly, contact:
📩 awarevet@gmail.com
Final Thought
You are not “being difficult” by negotiating.
You are protecting your future.
With the right support, the right data, and the right strategy—you can secure a contract that supports your wellbeing, your growth, and the career you dreamed of when you entered this profession.
And AwareVet is here to help you do exactly that.
AwareVet 
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