How Much Does an EMT Make in Roanoke, VA in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Roanoke, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Virginia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Roanoke metro area
A typical EMT in Roanoke, Virginia earns $20.04 per hour, or $41,690 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,474 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,670, and the top 10% of earners make over $52,440.
That pay is 8% below the Virginia figure of $45,420 and 6% below the national figure of $44,470. Roanoke ranks 6th of 8 metro areas in Virginia for EMT pay. About 170 EMTs work in the Roanoke area.
EMT pay in Roanoke at a glance
- Typical pay is $20.04 an hour, or $41,690 a year.
- That is 8% below the Virginia figure, ranking 6th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,670; the top 10% make over $52,440.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Roanoke?
Pay in Roanoke runs from entry-level positions at around $17.15 an hour to more than $25.21 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Virginia and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in Roanoke
| Career stage | Roanoke | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $35,670$17.15 an hour | $36,540$17.57 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $40,610$19.53 an hour | $38,620$18.57 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $41,690$20.04 an hour | $45,420$21.84 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $46,750$22.48 an hour | $50,390$24.23 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $52,440$25.21 an hour | $59,180$28.45 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Roanoke area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Roanoke
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Roanoke area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in Roanoke was $28,980 a year. By 2025 it had reached $41,690.
How Roanoke compares with other Virginia cities
Arlington pays EMTs the most in Virginia at $49,250 a year, $7,560 more than Roanoke. The lowest-paying area in the state is Bristol at $36,680.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Roanoke | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arlington | $49,250 | $23.68 | +18% | 1,730 |
| 2 | Blacksburg metro incl. Christiansburg · Radford | $48,320 | $23.23 | +16% | 100 |
| 3 | Richmond | $47,290 | $22.74 | +13% | — |
| 4 | Virginia Beach | $45,900 | $22.07 | +10% | 690 |
| 5 | Staunton metro incl. Stuarts Draft | $42,990 | $20.67 | +3% | 130 |
| 6 | Roanoke | $41,690 | $20.04 | this city | 170 |
| 7 | Charlottesville | $39,760 | $19.12 | -5% | 130 |
| 8 | Bristol | $36,680 | $17.64 | -12% | 220 |
Every metro area in Virginia with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Virginia typical pay $45,420
Is Roanoke a good place to work as an EMT?
EMTs in Roanoke earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $41,690 a year, 6% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Roanoke area, about 1.1 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 Roanoke, VA?
- A typical EMT in Roanoke earns $41,690 a year, or $20.04 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $35,670 and the top 10% earn over $52,440.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Roanoke?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Roanoke is $20.04. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.15, and the top 10% earn over $25.21 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Roanoke?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Roanoke typically offer around $17.15 an hour, or $35,670 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Roanoke higher than in the rest of Virginia?
- Roanoke pay is 8% below the Virginia figure of $45,420 a year, ranking 6th of 8 metro areas in the state. Arlington pays the most in Virginia at $49,250.