North Carolina Median
$129,240
per year
Hourly Rate
$62.13
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-1% vs US median
US median $130,100
State Rank
#19 of 49
2,940 employed here
How much does a Veterinarian make in North Carolina?
Veterinarians in North Carolina take home a median of $129,240 annually — roughly $62.13 an hour — which runs 1% below the national median of $130,100.
Within North Carolina, entry-level pay starts around $77,650 while the top 10% make $209,340 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $98,240 and $165,430 a year.
Veterinarian salary range in North Carolina
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,650 | $37.33 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $98,240 | $47.23 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $129,240 | $62.13 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $165,430 | $79.53 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $209,340 | $100.64 |
|
How North Carolina compares
North Carolina ranks 19th out of 49 states and territories for Veterinarian pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Veterinarian salary in other states
California $163,920Maryland $163,170Washington $160,510New Jersey $160,140Arizona $152,020Massachusetts $140,260District of Columbia $134,530Illinois $133,580Pennsylvania $133,520Minnesota $133,110New York $131,830Vermont $131,820Florida $131,660Texas $131,330Colorado $130,840Maine $130,600Hawaii $130,120New Mexico $129,390West Virginia $128,990Oregon $128,880New Hampshire $128,190Virginia $126,730Georgia $126,590Rhode Island $126,570Connecticut $126,190Nevada $125,550Michigan $125,390Ohio $125,060Iowa $124,610Indiana $124,530Louisiana $124,370Tennessee $124,350Utah $123,990South Carolina $122,130Idaho $116,170Missouri $114,660Wisconsin $108,780Arkansas $107,710Kansas $107,080Alabama $105,630Mississippi $105,370Kentucky $104,100Nebraska $103,500North Dakota $102,180Montana $99,390Oklahoma $98,090Wyoming $97,240South Dakota $88,650
Working as a Veterinarian in North Carolina
Nationally, about 84,000 people work as Veterinarians in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare North Carolina pay ($129,240) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Veterinarian make in North Carolina?
The median Veterinarian salary in North Carolina is $129,240 per year, or about $62.13 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $77,650 at the entry level to $209,340 for the top 10% of earners.
How does North Carolina pay compare to the national average?
North Carolina pays Veterinarians about 1% less than the national median of $130,100. North Carolina ranks 19th out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is North Carolina a good state for Veterinarians?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $129,240 a year. About 2,940 Veterinarians are employed in North Carolina. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in North Carolina?
The highest-paying occupations in North Carolina include Surgeon, All Other ($398,410), Dermatologist ($367,350), Emergency Medicine Physician ($339,350), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Veterinarian salary report
Related salaries
$170,950
median pay · 124,000 employed
$136,570
median pay · 43,000 employed
$140,910
median pay · 322,000 employed
$98,100
median pay · 223,000 employed
$100,330
median pay · 162,000 employed
$95,780
median pay · 14,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.