Pet care services / North Carolina
How many pet care services (not veterinary) are in North Carolina?
The Census Bureau counted 931 pet care services (not veterinary) with paid employees in North Carolina in 2023. That is 38.5% more than in 2017.
NORTH CAROLINA · 2023
The count
931
pet care services (not veterinary) with paid employees
- Employees
- 6,825
- Average per site
- 7.3
- Change since 2017
- +38.5%
- State rank
- 7 of 51
What the number means
North Carolina had 931 pet care services (not veterinary) in 2023, ranking number 7 among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Together they employed 6,825 people and paid $185 million in annual payroll, an average of 7.3 employees per site.
These businesses make up 0.36% of every employer establishment in North Carolina, above the 0.31% national share. A site count is not the same as the number of companies: a chain with 40 locations counts 40 times.
55% of pet care services (not veterinary) in North Carolina have fewer than 5 employees, against 58% across the U.S.
North Carolina holds 3.6% of the nation's pet care services (not veterinary) and 3.1% of all U.S. employer establishments, so, measured against the state's overall size, the trade is over-represented. The most common size class is under 5 employees (513 sites). Average payroll per employee is $27,036, against $28,047 for the U.S. trade.
Size of the businesses
| Employees per site | Share | Sites | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5 | 513 | 55.2% | |
| 5 to 9 | 191 | 20.5% | |
| 10 to 19 | 142 | 15.3% | |
| 20 to 49 | 76 | 8.2% | |
| 50 to 99 | 8 | 0.9% | |
| 100 to 249 | 0 | 0.0% | |
| 250 to 499 | 0 | 0.0% |
Count since 2017
Index: 2017 = 100. Employer establishments only. 2017 count 672; 2019 count 751; 2022 count 880; 2023 count 931. Employment +63.0% since 2017.
Biggest other trades in North Carolina
| Trade | Sites | Employees | Since 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-service restaurants | 8,543 | 179,683 | +11.4% |
| Landscaping services | 4,361 | 31,542 | +19.9% |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 3,973 | 45,037 | +14.9% |
| General auto repair | 2,793 | 12,861 | +5.3% |
| Child day care | 2,612 | 35,736 | +0.8% |
| Janitorial services | 2,277 | 31,655 | +10.4% |
| Beauty salons | 2,226 | 9,747 | +16.3% |
| Coffee shops and snack bars | 2,224 | 26,455 | +50.3% |
Pet care services in nearby ranks
| State | Sites | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 1,308 | 4 |
| Illinois | 1,021 | 5 |
| Pennsylvania | 986 | 6 |
| Ohio | 844 | 8 |
| Virginia | 764 | 9 |
| Massachusetts | 759 | 10 |
All states for pet care services (not veterinary) · Every trade in North Carolina
Questions
How many pet care services (not veterinary) are in North Carolina?
The Census Bureau's County Business Patterns counted 931 pet care services (not veterinary) with paid employees in North Carolina in 2023. That ranks North Carolina number 7 among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Is the number of pet care services (not veterinary) in North Carolina growing?
Between 2017 and 2023 the count grew (38.5%), from 672 to 931. Across the United States the count changed by +37.5% over the same period. These years include the 2020 pandemic.
Does this count include self-employed owners with no staff?
No. County Business Patterns covers establishments with at least one paid employee. A sole proprietor with no employees is counted in a separate Census series called Nonemployer Statistics, which this site does not use yet, so the real number of people working in this trade is higher than the figure shown.
Read this before using the number
These counts describe how many businesses already exist. They say nothing about demand, profit, competition near you or how much any owner earns, and we make no estimate of income. Check local licensing, costs and rules before acting on any figure here. See the disclaimer.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns (2023; change measured against 2017, 2019 and 2022). Establishments with paid employees only; employment and payroll carry Census noise infusion. Retrieved November 2, 2026. Method and sources.