How Much Does an EMT Make in Salem, NC in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Salem, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Winston · Salem metro area
A typical EMT in Salem, North Carolina earns $21.57 per hour, or $44,860 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,738 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $32,360, and the top 10% of earners make over $57,990.
That pay is 1% above the North Carolina figure of $44,250 and 1% above the national figure of $44,470. Salem ranks 9th of 13 metro areas in North Carolina for EMT pay. About 480 EMTs work in the Winston · Salem area. Salem is part of the Winston · Salem metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Winston share these figures.
EMT pay in Salem at a glance
- Typical pay is $21.57 an hour, or $44,860 a year.
- That is 1% above the North Carolina figure, ranking 9th of 13 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $32,360; the top 10% make over $57,990.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Salem?
Pay in Salem runs from entry-level positions at around $15.56 an hour to more than $27.88 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 Salem
| Career stage | Salem | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $32,360$15.56 an hour | $35,190$16.92 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $37,140$17.86 an hour | $38,260$18.40 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $44,860$21.57 an hour | $44,250$21.27 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $47,670$22.92 an hour | $49,310$23.71 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $57,990$27.88 an hour | $59,750$28.72 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Winston · Salem area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Salem
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Winston · Salem area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in Salem was $35,260 a year. By 2025 it had reached $44,860.
How Salem compares with other North Carolina cities
Wilmington pays EMTs the most in North Carolina at $53,850 a year, $8,990 more than Salem. The lowest-paying area in the state is Rocky Mount at $40,480.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Salem | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilmington | $53,850 | $25.89 | +20% | 240 |
| 2 | Burlington | $49,180 | $23.64 | +10% | 190 |
| 3 | Cary metro incl. Raleigh | $49,160 | $23.63 | +10% | 600 |
| 4 | Durham metro incl. Chapel Hill | $46,330 | $22.27 | +3% | 340 |
| 5 | Fayetteville | $46,300 | $22.26 | +3% | 80 |
| 6 | Hickory | $46,020 | $22.12 | +3% | 370 |
| 7 | Norfolk metro incl. Chesapeake | $45,900 | $22.07 | +2% | 690 |
| 8 | Charlotte | $45,550 | $21.90 | +2% | 1,210 |
| 9 | Salem metro incl. Winston | $44,860 | $21.57 | this city | 480 |
| 10 | High Point metro incl. Greensboro | $44,250 | $21.27 | -1% | 370 |
| 11 | Greenville | $44,220 | $21.26 | -1% | 200 |
| 12 | Asheville | $43,690 | $21.01 | -3% | 140 |
| 13 | Rocky Mount | $40,480 | $19.46 | -10% | 140 |
Every metro area in North Carolina with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Carolina typical pay $44,250
Is Salem a good place to work as an EMT?
EMT pay in Salem sits close to the national figure: $44,860 a year, 1% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Winston · Salem area, about 1.8 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 Salem, NC?
- A typical EMT in Salem earns $44,860 a year, or $21.57 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $32,360 and the top 10% earn over $57,990.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Salem?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Salem is $21.57. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $15.56, and the top 10% earn over $27.88 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Salem?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Salem typically offer around $15.56 an hour, or $32,360 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Salem higher than in the rest of North Carolina?
- Salem pay is 1% above the North Carolina figure of $44,250 a year, ranking 9th of 13 metro areas in the state. Wilmington pays the most in North Carolina at $53,850.