How Much Does an EMT Make in Charlotte, NC in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Charlotte, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Charlotte · Concord · Gastonia metro area
A typical EMT in Charlotte, North Carolina earns $21.90 per hour, or $45,550 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,796 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,110, and the top 10% of earners make over $62,460.
That pay is 3% above the North Carolina figure of $44,250 and 2% above the national figure of $44,470. Charlotte ranks 8th of 13 metro areas in North Carolina for EMT pay. About 1,210 EMTs work in the Charlotte · Concord · Gastonia area.
EMT pay in Charlotte at a glance
- Typical pay is $21.90 an hour, or $45,550 a year.
- That is 3% above the North Carolina figure, ranking 8th of 13 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,110; the top 10% make over $62,460.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Charlotte?
Pay in Charlotte runs from entry-level positions at around $17.84 an hour to more than $30.03 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the North Carolina and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in Charlotte
| Career stage | Charlotte | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $37,110$17.84 an hour | $35,190$16.92 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $39,940$19.20 an hour | $38,260$18.40 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $45,550$21.90 an hour | $44,250$21.27 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $48,210$23.18 an hour | $49,310$23.71 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $62,460$30.03 an hour | $59,750$28.72 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Charlotte · Concord · Gastonia area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Charlotte
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Charlotte · Concord · Gastonia area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in Charlotte was $36,590 a year. By 2025 it had reached $45,550.
How Charlotte compares with other North Carolina cities
Wilmington pays EMTs the most in North Carolina at $53,850 a year, $8,300 more than Charlotte. The lowest-paying area in the state is Rocky Mount at $40,480.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Charlotte | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilmington | $53,850 | $25.89 | +18% | 240 |
| 2 | Burlington | $49,180 | $23.64 | +8% | 190 |
| 3 | Cary metro incl. Raleigh | $49,160 | $23.63 | +8% | 600 |
| 4 | Durham metro incl. Chapel Hill | $46,330 | $22.27 | +2% | 340 |
| 5 | Fayetteville | $46,300 | $22.26 | +2% | 80 |
| 6 | Hickory | $46,020 | $22.12 | +1% | 370 |
| 7 | Norfolk metro incl. Chesapeake | $45,900 | $22.07 | +1% | 690 |
| 8 | Charlotte | $45,550 | $21.90 | this city | 1,210 |
| 9 | Winston metro incl. Salem | $44,860 | $21.57 | -2% | 480 |
| 10 | High Point metro incl. Greensboro | $44,250 | $21.27 | -3% | 370 |
| 11 | Greenville | $44,220 | $21.26 | -3% | 200 |
| 12 | Asheville | $43,690 | $21.01 | -4% | 140 |
| 13 | Rocky Mount | $40,480 | $19.46 | -11% | 140 |
Every metro area in North Carolina with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Carolina typical pay $44,250
Is Charlotte a good place to work as an EMT?
EMT pay in Charlotte sits close to the national figure: $45,550 a year, 2% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Charlotte · Concord · Gastonia area, about 0.9 are EMT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.2. That makes EMTs a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an EMT make in Charlotte, NC?
- A typical EMT in Charlotte earns $45,550 a year, or $21.90 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $37,110 and the top 10% earn over $62,460.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Charlotte?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Charlotte is $21.90. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.84, and the top 10% earn over $30.03 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Charlotte?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Charlotte typically offer around $17.84 an hour, or $37,110 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Charlotte higher than in the rest of North Carolina?
- Charlotte pay is 3% above the North Carolina figure of $44,250 a year, ranking 8th of 13 metro areas in the state. Wilmington pays the most in North Carolina at $53,850.