How Much Does an EMT Make in Opelika, AL in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Opelika, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Alabama.
BLS OES May 2025 · Auburn · Opelika metro area
A typical EMT in Opelika, Alabama earns $23.18 per hour, or $48,210 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,018 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $32,660, and the top 10% of earners make over $57,320.
That pay is 28% above the Alabama figure of $37,810 and 8% above the national figure of $44,470. Opelika ranks 1st of 10 metro areas in Alabama for EMT pay. About 110 EMTs work in the Auburn · Opelika area. Opelika is part of the Auburn · Opelika metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Auburn share these figures.
EMT pay in Opelika at a glance
- Typical pay is $23.18 an hour, or $48,210 a year.
- That is 28% above the Alabama figure, ranking 1st of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $32,660; the top 10% make over $57,320.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Opelika?
Pay in Opelika runs from entry-level positions at around $15.70 an hour to more than $27.56 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Alabama and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in Opelika
| Career stage | Opelika | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $32,660$15.70 an hour | $28,620$13.76 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $36,110$17.36 an hour | $31,270$15.03 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $48,210$23.18 an hour | $37,810$18.18 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $57,320$27.56 an hour | $44,210$21.26 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $57,320$27.56 an hour | $51,160$24.60 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Auburn · Opelika area as BLS defines it
How Opelika compares with other Alabama cities
Opelika pays EMTs the most of any metro area in Alabama. The lowest-paying area in the state is Dothan at $32,920.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Opelika | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Opelika metro incl. Auburn | $48,210 | $23.18 | this city | 110 |
| 2 | Montgomery | $40,440 | $19.44 | -16% | 150 |
| 3 | Mobile | $39,490 | $18.99 | -18% | 90 |
| 4 | Birmingham | $38,920 | $18.71 | -19% | 420 |
| 5 | Daphne | $38,470 | $18.50 | -20% | 60 |
| 6 | Tuscaloosa | $37,390 | $17.98 | -22% | 80 |
| 7 | Decatur | $36,030 | $17.32 | -25% | 50 |
| 8 | Florence metro incl. Muscle Shoals | $35,260 | $16.95 | -27% | 80 |
| 9 | Oxford metro incl. Anniston | $33,150 | $15.94 | -31% | 90 |
| 10 | Dothan | $32,920 | $15.83 | -32% | 100 |
Every metro area in Alabama with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Alabama typical pay $37,810
Is Opelika a good place to work as an EMT?
EMTs in Opelika earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $48,210 a year, 8% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Auburn · Opelika area, about 1.5 are EMT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.2. That makes the local economy more reliant on EMTs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an EMT make in Opelika, AL?
- A typical EMT in Opelika earns $48,210 a year, or $23.18 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $32,660 and the top 10% earn over $57,320.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Opelika?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Opelika is $23.18. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $15.70, and the top 10% earn over $27.56 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Opelika?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Opelika typically offer around $15.70 an hour, or $32,660 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Opelika higher than in the rest of Alabama?
- Opelika pay is 28% above the Alabama figure of $37,810 a year, ranking 1st of 10 metro areas in the state.