How Much Does an EMT Make in Charleston, SC in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Charleston, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across South Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Charleston · North Charleston metro area
A typical EMT in Charleston, South Carolina earns $21.46 per hour, or $44,630 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,719 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $39,460, and the top 10% of earners make over $52,830.
That pay is 11% above the South Carolina figure of $40,370 and right at the national figure of $44,470. Charleston ranks 3rd of 10 metro areas in South Carolina for EMT pay. About 780 EMTs work in the Charleston · North Charleston area. Charleston is part of the Charleston · North Charleston metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so North Charleston share these figures.
EMT pay in Charleston at a glance
- Typical pay is $21.46 an hour, or $44,630 a year.
- That is 11% above the South Carolina figure, ranking 3rd of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $39,460; the top 10% make over $52,830.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Charleston?
Pay in Charleston runs from entry-level positions at around $18.97 an hour to more than $25.40 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the South Carolina and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in Charleston
| Career stage | Charleston | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $39,460$18.97 an hour | $31,590$15.19 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $39,460$18.97 an hour | $38,050$18.29 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $44,630$21.46 an hour | $40,370$19.41 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $46,660$22.43 an hour | $46,660$22.43 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $52,830$25.40 an hour | $49,210$23.66 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Charleston · North Charleston area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Charleston
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Charleston · North Charleston area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in Charleston was $36,630 a year. By 2025 it had reached $44,630.
How Charleston compares with other South Carolina cities
Gastonia pays EMTs the most in South Carolina at $45,550 a year, $920 more than Charleston. The lowest-paying area in the state is Sumter at $37,630.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Charleston | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gastonia metro incl. Concord | $45,550 | $21.90 | +2% | 1,210 |
| 2 | Richmond County | $45,060 | $21.66 | +1% | 350 |
| 3 | Charleston metro incl. North Charleston | $44,630 | $21.46 | this city | 780 |
| 4 | Greenville | $42,310 | $20.34 | -5% | 540 |
| 5 | Columbia | $42,290 | $20.33 | -5% | 770 |
| 6 | Spartanburg | $39,980 | $19.22 | -10% | 580 |
| 7 | Hilton Head Island metro incl. Bluffton · Port Royal | $39,830 | $19.15 | -11% | 90 |
| 8 | Florence | $39,440 | $18.96 | -12% | 310 |
| 9 | Myrtle Beach metro incl. Conway · North Myrtle Beach | $38,900 | $18.70 | -13% | 60 |
| 10 | Sumter | $37,630 | $18.09 | -16% | 60 |
Every metro area in South Carolina with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · South Carolina typical pay $40,370
Is Charleston a good place to work as an EMT?
EMT pay in Charleston sits close to the national figure: $44,630 a year, right at the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Charleston · North Charleston area, about 2.0 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 Charleston, SC?
- A typical EMT in Charleston earns $44,630 a year, or $21.46 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $39,460 and the top 10% earn over $52,830.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Charleston?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Charleston is $21.46. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.97, and the top 10% earn over $25.40 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Charleston?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Charleston typically offer around $18.97 an hour, or $39,460 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Charleston higher than in the rest of South Carolina?
- Charleston pay is 11% above the South Carolina figure of $40,370 a year, ranking 3rd of 10 metro areas in the state. Gastonia pays the most in South Carolina at $45,550.