How Much Does an EMT Make in Wilmington, NC in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Wilmington, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Wilmington metro area
A typical EMT in Wilmington, North Carolina earns $25.89 per hour, or $53,850 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,488 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,200, and the top 10% of earners make over $65,220.
That pay is 22% above the North Carolina figure of $44,250 and 21% above the national figure of $44,470. Wilmington ranks 1st of 13 metro areas in North Carolina for EMT pay. About 240 EMTs work in the Wilmington area.
EMT pay in Wilmington at a glance
- Typical pay is $25.89 an hour, or $53,850 a year.
- That is 22% above the North Carolina figure, ranking 1st of 13 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,200; the top 10% make over $65,220.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Wilmington?
Pay in Wilmington runs from entry-level positions at around $17.40 an hour to more than $31.36 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 Wilmington
| Career stage | Wilmington | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $36,200$17.40 an hour | $35,190$16.92 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $36,200$17.40 an hour | $38,260$18.40 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $53,850$25.89 an hour | $44,250$21.27 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $53,850$25.89 an hour | $49,310$23.71 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $65,220$31.36 an hour | $59,750$28.72 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Wilmington area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Wilmington
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Wilmington area · BLS OES May estimates, 2022 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2022, typical EMT pay in Wilmington was $35,200 a year. By 2025 it had reached $53,850.
How Wilmington compares with other North Carolina cities
Wilmington pays EMTs the most of any metro area in North Carolina. The lowest-paying area in the state is Rocky Mount at $40,480.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Wilmington | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilmington | $53,850 | $25.89 | this city | 240 |
| 2 | Burlington | $49,180 | $23.64 | -9% | 190 |
| 3 | Cary metro incl. Raleigh | $49,160 | $23.63 | -9% | 600 |
| 4 | Durham metro incl. Chapel Hill | $46,330 | $22.27 | -14% | 340 |
| 5 | Fayetteville | $46,300 | $22.26 | -14% | 80 |
| 6 | Hickory | $46,020 | $22.12 | -15% | 370 |
| 7 | Norfolk metro incl. Chesapeake | $45,900 | $22.07 | -15% | 690 |
| 8 | Charlotte | $45,550 | $21.90 | -15% | 1,210 |
| 9 | Winston metro incl. Salem | $44,860 | $21.57 | -17% | 480 |
| 10 | High Point metro incl. Greensboro | $44,250 | $21.27 | -18% | 370 |
| 11 | Greenville | $44,220 | $21.26 | -18% | 200 |
| 12 | Asheville | $43,690 | $21.01 | -19% | 140 |
| 13 | Rocky Mount | $40,480 | $19.46 | -25% | 140 |
Every metro area in North Carolina with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Carolina typical pay $44,250
Is Wilmington a good place to work as an EMT?
EMTs in Wilmington earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $53,850 a year, 21% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Wilmington area, about 1.3 are EMT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.2. 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 Wilmington, NC?
- A typical EMT in Wilmington earns $53,850 a year, or $25.89 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $36,200 and the top 10% earn over $65,220.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Wilmington?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Wilmington is $25.89. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.40, and the top 10% earn over $31.36 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Wilmington?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Wilmington typically offer around $17.40 an hour, or $36,200 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Wilmington higher than in the rest of North Carolina?
- Wilmington pay is 22% above the North Carolina figure of $44,250 a year, ranking 1st of 13 metro areas in the state.