Veterinarian Salary in Jacksonville, NC: $127,126 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time veterinarian in Jacksonville, NC earns a median $127,126/year (≈ $61.12/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1131). Once you factor in Jacksonville's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 92.1), that paycheck buys what $138,053 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 6.7% below the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Veterinarians in Jacksonville, North Carolina, can expect a median annual salary of $127,126 in 2026, reflecting the ongoing dynamics between corporate and independent practice pay structures in the area. The salary range spans from $75,993 at the 10th percentile to as much as $207,563 at the 90th percentile, highlighting a significant variance based on factors such as specialization and practice type. This data, sourced from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys and projected to 2026, implies a competitive environment for veterinarians, potentially influenced by corporate consolidation trends that often dictate salary norms. The local job market's trajectory suggests a solid demand for veterinary services, which could affect compensation levels positively in the near future.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $75,993 | $36.53 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $85,546 | $41.13 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $127,126 | $61.12 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $166,225 | $79.92 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $207,563 | $99.80 |
Median Salary Position
7.43% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Jacksonville
In Jacksonville, NC, the veterinarian salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $131,570 (2026 est.). At $127,126, the local median is 7.43% below the national median of $137,334.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Jacksonville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Jacksonville Veterinarian Pay Compares
Jacksonville median: $127,126/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Jacksonville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $136,255 | -6.70% less |
| National Average | $137,334 | -7.43% less |
Veterinarians in Jacksonville, NC earn a median of $127,126 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.43% lower than the national median of $137,334 and 6.70% below the North Carolina state average of $136,255.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Jacksonville has a cost of living 7.92% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Jacksonville, NC has a cost-of-living index of 92.085 (below the national average of 100). A veterinarian earning $127,126 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $138,053 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.6% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$113,970
2025 BLS Actual
$120,430
2026 Current Est.
$127,126
2019–2027 Growth
+17.7%
Salary Trajectory for Veterinarians in Jacksonville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.56% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $113,970 | Actual |
| 2020 | $110,620 | Actual |
| 2021 | $98,850 | Actual |
| 2022 | $108,350 | Actual |
| 2023 | $120,000 | Actual |
| 2024 | $123,590 | Actual |
| 2025 | $120,430 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $127,126 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $134,194 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Jacksonville metropolitan area, the median veterinarian salary grew 5.7% from $113,970 (2019) to $120,430 (2025). At a 5.56% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $134,194 by 2027 — a total increase of $20,224 (17.75%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Jacksonville metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.56% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $75,993 – $85,546 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $85,546 – $127,126 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $127,126 – $166,225 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $166,225 – $207,563 |
DVM salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual veterinarian compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Veterinarian Job Market in Jacksonville
Exploring the local employment landscape, there are currently about 40 veterinarians practicing in Jacksonville, NC, creating a distinct environment for both competition and collaboration among professionals. With a cost-of-living index at 92.085, veterinarians may find that their take-home pay affords them a comfortable lifestyle compared to many other regions. Among employers, corporate chains such as VCA and BluePearl dominate a significant segment of the market—approximately 25%—often offering higher salaries and benefits compared to independent practices. The pay disparity can arise from specialization, with those certified in fields like surgery or internal medicine potentially earning significantly more. Signing bonuses are also a strategy for attracting new graduates in areas experiencing shortages. To maximize earnings, veterinarians should consider pathways to specialty certification, explore partnerships or equity positions in practices, and leverage production-based compensation models that reward high performance through revenue-sharing arrangements.
More salary data for Jacksonville, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do veterinarians make in Jacksonville, NC in 2026?
Is Jacksonville, NC a good place to work as a veterinarian?
Can veterinarians make $100K in Jacksonville?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted veterinarian salary in Jacksonville?
How much does a veterinarian make per hour in Jacksonville?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in North Carolina
Written by Dr. Alice Nguyen, DVM
Career Analyst
Dr. Alice Nguyen has 10 years of experience in veterinary medicine. She specializes in small animal surgery. She currently works at a suburban veterinary clinic.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $120,430 for veterinariansin the Jacksonville metropolitan area. A 5.56% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.56%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for veterinarians (SOC 29-1131).
Compiled and verified by Dr. Alice Nguyen, DVM, a licensed veterinarian with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov