Veterinarian Salary in Wake Forest, NC: $134,339 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time veterinarian in Wake Forest, NC earns a median $134,339/year (≈ $64.58/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1131). Once you factor in Wake Forest's price level (6% below national, BEA RPP 93.6), that paycheck buys what $143,525 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.4% below the North Carolina state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Veterinarians in Wake Forest, North Carolina, can expect a median annual salary of $134,339 in 2026, which is slightly lower than the national median of $137,334. The local salary range reflects the diverse nature of this profession, with low-end earners making around $81,307 and the highest-paid veterinarians earning up to $208,226. These figures are derived from 2025 BLS data, projected to 2026, and adjusted for regional price disparities. Understanding this production-based compensation model becomes vital in Wake Forest, especially as corporate practices continue to dominate the veterinary market, influencing both revenue frameworks and salary scales within the community.
About the Wake Forest Market
Salary estimated from North Carolina average ($112,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $81,307 | $39.09 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $104,553 | $50.27 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $134,339 | $64.58 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $171,954 | $82.67 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $208,226 | $100.11 |
Median Salary Position
2.18% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Wake Forest
In Wake Forest, NC, the veterinarian salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $126,919 (2026 est.). At $134,339, the local median is 2.18% below the national median of $137,334.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Wake Forest: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Wake Forest Veterinarian Pay Compares
Wake Forest median: $134,339/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Wake Forest Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $136,246 | -1.40% less |
| National Average | $137,334 | -2.18% less |
Veterinarians in Wake Forest, NC earn a median of $134,339 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.18% lower than the national median of $137,334 and 1.40% below the North Carolina state average of $136,246.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Wake Forest has a cost of living 6.40% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Wake Forest, NC has a cost-of-living index of 93.6 (below the national average of 100). A veterinarian earning $134,339 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $143,525 in an average-cost city — an effective 6.84% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$93,378
2025 BLS Actual
$127,263
2026 Current Est.
$134,339
2019–2027 Growth
+51.9%
Salary Trajectory for Veterinarians in Wake Forest (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.56% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $93,378 | Actual |
| 2020 | $97,086 | Actual |
| 2021 | $98,181 | Actual |
| 2022 | $101,008 | Actual |
| 2023 | $116,503 | Actual |
| 2024 | $103,356 | Actual |
| 2025 | $127,263 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $134,339 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $141,808 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Wake Forest metropolitan area, the median veterinarian salary grew 36.3% from $93,378 (2019) to $127,263 (2025). At a 5.56% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $141,808 by 2027 — a total increase of $48,430 (51.86%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Wake Forest 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) | $81,307 – $104,553 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $104,553 – $134,339 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $134,339 – $171,954 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $171,954 – $208,226 |
DVM salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual veterinarian compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Veterinarian Job Market in Wake Forest
In Wake Forest, the job market remains stable, with only nine veterinarians currently employed in the area. The cost of living index here sits at 93.6, which is below the national average, indicating that the take-home pay for veterinarians may allow for a more comfortable lifestyle compared to regions with higher costs of living. Among the various employers, large animal and equine practices, alongside specialty referral hospitals, tend to offer the most competitive salaries compared to small animal clinics, particularly those affiliated with corporate chains like VCA and BluePearl. The wage gap between entry-level positions and those requiring board certification in specialties, such as surgery or internal medicine, can be significant due to factors like production-based pay and potential sign-on bonuses for new graduates. For veterinarians seeking to maximize their pay in Wake Forest, pursuing specialization, considering diverse practice ownership structures, and strategically negotiating during employment offers are essential steps to improve their earning potential.
More salary data for Wake Forest, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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 $127,263 for veterinariansin the Wake Forest 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
Salary data for Wake Forest is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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