How Much Does an EMT Make in Durham, NC in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Durham, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Durham · Chapel Hill metro area
A typical EMT in Durham, North Carolina earns $22.27 per hour, or $46,330 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,861 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $40,230, and the top 10% of earners make over $59,750.
That pay is 5% above the North Carolina figure of $44,250 and 4% above the national figure of $44,470. Durham ranks 4th of 13 metro areas in North Carolina for EMT pay. About 340 EMTs work in the Durham · Chapel Hill area. Durham is part of the Durham · Chapel Hill metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Chapel Hill share these figures.
EMT pay in Durham at a glance
- Typical pay is $22.27 an hour, or $46,330 a year.
- That is 5% above the North Carolina figure, ranking 4th of 13 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $40,230; the top 10% make over $59,750.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Durham?
Pay in Durham runs from entry-level positions at around $19.34 an hour to more than $28.72 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 Durham
| Career stage | Durham | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $40,230$19.34 an hour | $35,190$16.92 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $40,230$19.34 an hour | $38,260$18.40 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $46,330$22.27 an hour | $44,250$21.27 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $57,070$27.44 an hour | $49,310$23.71 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $59,750$28.72 an hour | $59,750$28.72 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Durham · Chapel Hill area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Durham
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Durham · Chapel Hill area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in Durham was $58,520 a year. By 2025 it had reached $46,330.
How Durham compares with other North Carolina cities
Wilmington pays EMTs the most in North Carolina at $53,850 a year, $7,520 more than Durham. The lowest-paying area in the state is Rocky Mount at $40,480.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Durham | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilmington | $53,850 | $25.89 | +16% | 240 |
| 2 | Burlington | $49,180 | $23.64 | +6% | 190 |
| 3 | Cary metro incl. Raleigh | $49,160 | $23.63 | +6% | 600 |
| 4 | Durham metro incl. Chapel Hill | $46,330 | $22.27 | this city | 340 |
| 5 | Fayetteville | $46,300 | $22.26 | 0% | 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 | -2% | 1,210 |
| 9 | Winston metro incl. Salem | $44,860 | $21.57 | -3% | 480 |
| 10 | High Point metro incl. Greensboro | $44,250 | $21.27 | -4% | 370 |
| 11 | Greenville | $44,220 | $21.26 | -5% | 200 |
| 12 | Asheville | $43,690 | $21.01 | -6% | 140 |
| 13 | Rocky Mount | $40,480 | $19.46 | -13% | 140 |
Every metro area in North Carolina with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Carolina typical pay $44,250
Is Durham a good place to work as an EMT?
EMT pay in Durham sits close to the national figure: $46,330 a year, 4% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Durham · Chapel Hill area, about 1.0 are EMT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.1. EMT jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an EMT make in Durham, NC?
- A typical EMT in Durham earns $46,330 a year, or $22.27 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $40,230 and the top 10% earn over $59,750.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Durham?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Durham is $22.27. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $19.34, and the top 10% earn over $28.72 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Durham?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Durham typically offer around $19.34 an hour, or $40,230 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Durham higher than in the rest of North Carolina?
- Durham pay is 5% above the North Carolina figure of $44,250 a year, ranking 4th of 13 metro areas in the state. Wilmington pays the most in North Carolina at $53,850.