Veterinarians Salary
The median pay for a veterinarians in North Carolina is $129,240/year ($62.14/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $209K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $139,478 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 16% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $129K get you in North Carolina?
About veterinarians
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in North Carolina
Veterinarians pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $129K locally vs. $130K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,284/month, 16.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level veterinarians (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $129K. Top earners bring in $209K or more, a $132K spread from bottom to top.
Veterinarians salary by metro in North Carolina
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $133K | +3% | 210 |
| Wilmington | $132K | +2% | 190 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $130K | +1% | 520 |
| Asheville | $130K | +1% | 190 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $130K | +1% | 180 |
| Burlington | $130K | +0% | 40 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $129K | -0% | 750 |
| Winston-Salem | $129K | -1% | 150 |
| Greenville | $128K | -1% | 50 |
| Fayetteville | $128K | -1% | 60 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines | $126K | -2% | 50 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $125K | -3% | 70 |
| Jacksonville | $120K | -7% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
Compare to other states
Track veterinarians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a veterinarian afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $129K, rent takes 16.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for veterinarians in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new veterinarians typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,659/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is veterinarian a high-paying job in North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $129K locally vs. $130K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for veterinarians?
North Carolina pays $129K median vs. the U.S. average of $130K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $139K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do veterinarians make in North Carolina?
The median is $129,240 a year, that works out to about $62 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $77,650, and experienced veterinarians can clear $209,340. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $129K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,773/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 16.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a veterinarians salary go in North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median veterinarians salary is worth about $139,478 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do veterinarians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.