How Much Does an EMT Make in Raleigh, NC in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Raleigh, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Raleigh · Cary metro area
A typical EMT in Raleigh, North Carolina earns $23.63 per hour, or $49,160 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,097 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,700, and the top 10% of earners make over $64,770.
That pay is 11% above the North Carolina figure of $44,250 and 11% above the national figure of $44,470. Raleigh ranks 3rd of 13 metro areas in North Carolina for EMT pay. About 600 EMTs work in the Raleigh · Cary area. Raleigh is part of the Raleigh · Cary metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Cary share these figures.
EMT pay in Raleigh at a glance
- Typical pay is $23.63 an hour, or $49,160 a year.
- That is 11% above the North Carolina figure, ranking 3rd of 13 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,700; the top 10% make over $64,770.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Raleigh?
Pay in Raleigh runs from entry-level positions at around $17.65 an hour to more than $31.14 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 Raleigh
| Career stage | Raleigh | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $36,700$17.65 an hour | $35,190$16.92 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $44,350$21.32 an hour | $38,260$18.40 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $49,160$23.63 an hour | $44,250$21.27 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $56,750$27.28 an hour | $49,310$23.71 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $64,770$31.14 an hour | $59,750$28.72 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Raleigh · Cary area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Raleigh
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Raleigh · Cary area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in Raleigh was $36,830 a year. By 2025 it had reached $49,160.
How Raleigh compares with other North Carolina cities
Wilmington pays EMTs the most in North Carolina at $53,850 a year, $4,690 more than Raleigh. The lowest-paying area in the state is Rocky Mount at $40,480.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Raleigh | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilmington | $53,850 | $25.89 | +10% | 240 |
| 2 | Burlington | $49,180 | $23.64 | 0% | 190 |
| 3 | Raleigh metro incl. Cary | $49,160 | $23.63 | this city | 600 |
| 4 | Durham metro incl. Chapel Hill | $46,330 | $22.27 | -6% | 340 |
| 5 | Fayetteville | $46,300 | $22.26 | -6% | 80 |
| 6 | Hickory | $46,020 | $22.12 | -6% | 370 |
| 7 | Norfolk metro incl. Chesapeake | $45,900 | $22.07 | -7% | 690 |
| 8 | Charlotte | $45,550 | $21.90 | -7% | 1,210 |
| 9 | Winston metro incl. Salem | $44,860 | $21.57 | -9% | 480 |
| 10 | High Point metro incl. Greensboro | $44,250 | $21.27 | -10% | 370 |
| 11 | Greenville | $44,220 | $21.26 | -10% | 200 |
| 12 | Asheville | $43,690 | $21.01 | -11% | 140 |
| 13 | Rocky Mount | $40,480 | $19.46 | -18% | 140 |
Every metro area in North Carolina with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Carolina typical pay $44,250
Is Raleigh a good place to work as an EMT?
EMTs in Raleigh earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $49,160 a year, 11% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Raleigh · Cary area, about 0.8 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 Raleigh, NC?
- A typical EMT in Raleigh earns $49,160 a year, or $23.63 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $36,700 and the top 10% earn over $64,770.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Raleigh?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Raleigh is $23.63. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.65, and the top 10% earn over $31.14 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Raleigh?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Raleigh typically offer around $17.65 an hour, or $36,700 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Raleigh higher than in the rest of North Carolina?
- Raleigh pay is 11% above the North Carolina figure of $44,250 a year, ranking 3rd of 13 metro areas in the state. Wilmington pays the most in North Carolina at $53,850.