Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers pay in North Carolina
$37,540avg. a year
$18.05 an hour · 6,910 employed
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers in North Carolina earn an average of $37,540 a year. That is $2,800 (7%) less than the U.S. average of $40,340. The best-paying metro area is Durham-Chapel Hill, NC at $39,780.
$37,070Median pay
$18.05Average hourly
+25%Avg. pay since 2020
#30Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying North Carolina metro areas
Average pay for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers by metro area. Swipe to see all 14.
1480 jobs
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
$39,780
$19.13 an hour
21,690 jobs
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
$38,700
$18.61 an hour
31,210 jobs
Raleigh-Cary, NC
$38,580
$18.55 an hour
4430 jobs
Winston-Salem, NC
$37,980
$18.26 an hour
5510 jobs
Wilmington, NC
$37,360
$17.96 an hour
6910 jobs
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
$37,060
$17.82 an hour
7470 jobs
Greensboro-High Point, NC
$36,580
$17.59 an hour
8160 jobs
Fayetteville, NC
$36,440
$17.52 an hour
980 jobs
Burlington, NC
$36,030
$17.32 an hour
10170 jobs
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
$35,880
$17.25 an hour
11100 jobs
Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC
$35,860
$17.24 an hour
1280 jobs
Greenville, NC
$34,770
$16.71 an hour
13100 jobs
Jacksonville, NC
$33,870
$16.29 an hour
1450 jobs
Rocky Mount, NC
$33,600
$16.15 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers pay in North Carolina, charted
Pay over time
North Carolina, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where North Carolina veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · North Carolina highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $36k$36k–$38k$38k–$43k$43k+North Carolina
North Carolina vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $40,340 | $19.39 |
| North Carolina | $37,540 | $18.05 |
| Virginia | $39,630 | $19.05 |
| South Carolina | $37,000 | $17.79 |
| Georgia | $36,380 | $17.49 |
| Tennessee | $36,330 | $17.47 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
- Medical Assistants$44,090
- Dental Assistants$51,510
- Phlebotomists$42,720
- Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$49,490
- Massage Therapists$66,630
- Medical Equipment Preparers$46,220
Average pay, North Carolina, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers make in North Carolina?
The average is $37,540 a year, and the median is $37,070. That is $2,800 (7%) less than the U.S. average of $40,340.
What is the hourly wage in North Carolina?
$18.05 an hour on average; the median is $17.82.
Where in North Carolina do they earn the most?
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($39,780), followed by Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ($38,700). The lowest average among 14 metro areas with data is Rocky Mount, NC ($33,600).
How does North Carolina rank?
North Carolina ranks #30 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 31-9096. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.