Veterinarians · North Carolina

Veterinarians Salary in North Carolina

Veterinarians in North Carolina earn a median annual wage of $129,240 —0.7% below the national median of $130,100. That ranks NC #19 of 49 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$129,240
Median hourly
$62.14
Entry level (P10)
$77,650
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$209,340
90th percentile
Employment
2,940
0.6 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-0.7%
U.S. $130,100

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$77,650
$98,240
$129,240
$165,430
$77,650$129,240$209,340
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $129,240.

Employment concentration (1.10×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for veterinarians

All 49 states ranked by median annual wage. North Carolina is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1California$163,920$78.819,1700.93
2Maryland$163,170$78.451,4300.96
3Washington$160,510$77.172,3901.25
4New Jersey$160,140$76.991,9100.82
5Arizona$152,020$73.092,0801.19
6Massachusetts$140,260$67.431,9200.98
7District of Columbia$134,530$64.681900.49
8Illinois$133,580$64.222,3300.71
9Pennsylvania$133,520$64.193,4901.07
10Minnesota$133,110$64.002,1401.34

Related occupations in North Carolina

Occupations in the same job family, compared within North Carolina.

OccupationNorth Carolina medianU.S. median
Registered Nurses$84,350$97,550
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$63,270$64,400
Pharmacy Technicians$44,530$45,750
Physicians, All Other$260,330$265,930
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$60,650$62,930
Nurse Practitioners$128,990$132,300

Frequently asked questions

How much do veterinarians make in North Carolina?

The median annual wage for veterinarians in North Carolina is $129,240, or $62.14 per hour. That is 0.7% below the national median of $130,100.

What is the entry-level veterinarians salary in North Carolina?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $77,650 per year ($37.33/hour). The 25th percentile is $98,240.

How many people work as veterinarians in North Carolina?

About 2,940 people work in this occupation in North Carolina, or 0.6 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is North Carolina a good state for veterinarians?

North Carolina ranks #19 of 49 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (1.10x) is close to the national average.

Which state pays veterinarians the most?

California has the highest median wage at $163,920 per year, followed by Maryland ($163,170) and Washington ($160,510).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes