How Much Does an EMT Make in Chesapeake, NC in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Chesapeake, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Virginia Beach · Chesapeake · Norfolk metro area
A typical EMT in Chesapeake, North Carolina earns $22.07 per hour, or $45,900 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,825 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,400, and the top 10% of earners make over $54,870.
That pay is 4% above the North Carolina figure of $44,250 and 3% above the national figure of $44,470. Chesapeake ranks 7th of 13 metro areas in North Carolina for EMT pay. About 690 EMTs work in the Virginia Beach · Chesapeake · Norfolk area. Chesapeake is part of the Virginia Beach · Chesapeake · Norfolk metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Norfolk share these figures.
EMT pay in Chesapeake at a glance
- Typical pay is $22.07 an hour, or $45,900 a year.
- That is 4% above the North Carolina figure, ranking 7th of 13 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,400; the top 10% make over $54,870.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Chesapeake?
Pay in Chesapeake runs from entry-level positions at around $17.98 an hour to more than $26.38 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 Chesapeake
| Career stage | Chesapeake | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $37,400$17.98 an hour | $35,190$16.92 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $38,430$18.48 an hour | $38,260$18.40 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $45,900$22.07 an hour | $44,250$21.27 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $48,950$23.53 an hour | $49,310$23.71 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $54,870$26.38 an hour | $59,750$28.72 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Virginia Beach · Chesapeake · Norfolk area as BLS defines it
How Chesapeake compares with other North Carolina cities
Wilmington pays EMTs the most in North Carolina at $53,850 a year, $7,950 more than Chesapeake. The lowest-paying area in the state is Rocky Mount at $40,480.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Chesapeake | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilmington | $53,850 | $25.89 | +17% | 240 |
| 2 | Burlington | $49,180 | $23.64 | +7% | 190 |
| 3 | Cary metro incl. Raleigh | $49,160 | $23.63 | +7% | 600 |
| 4 | Durham metro incl. Chapel Hill | $46,330 | $22.27 | +1% | 340 |
| 5 | Fayetteville | $46,300 | $22.26 | +1% | 80 |
| 6 | Hickory | $46,020 | $22.12 | 0% | 370 |
| 7 | Chesapeake metro incl. Norfolk | $45,900 | $22.07 | this city | 690 |
| 8 | Charlotte | $45,550 | $21.90 | -1% | 1,210 |
| 9 | Winston metro incl. Salem | $44,860 | $21.57 | -2% | 480 |
| 10 | High Point metro incl. Greensboro | $44,250 | $21.27 | -4% | 370 |
| 11 | Greenville | $44,220 | $21.26 | -4% | 200 |
| 12 | Asheville | $43,690 | $21.01 | -5% | 140 |
| 13 | Rocky Mount | $40,480 | $19.46 | -12% | 140 |
Every metro area in North Carolina with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Carolina typical pay $44,250
Is Chesapeake a good place to work as an EMT?
EMT pay in Chesapeake sits close to the national figure: $45,900 a year, 3% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Virginia Beach · Chesapeake · Norfolk 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 Chesapeake, NC?
- A typical EMT in Chesapeake earns $45,900 a year, or $22.07 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $37,400 and the top 10% earn over $54,870.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Chesapeake?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Chesapeake is $22.07. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.98, and the top 10% earn over $26.38 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Chesapeake?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Chesapeake typically offer around $17.98 an hour, or $37,400 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Chesapeake higher than in the rest of North Carolina?
- Chesapeake pay is 4% above the North Carolina figure of $44,250 a year, ranking 7th of 13 metro areas in the state. Wilmington pays the most in North Carolina at $53,850.