How Much Does a Paramedic Make in Hickory, NC in 2026?
Typical pay for Paramedics in Hickory, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Hickory · Lenoir · Morganton metro area
A typical Paramedic in Hickory, North Carolina earns $23.78 per hour, or $49,460 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,122 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $48,570, and the top 10% of earners make over $59,670.
That pay is 14% below the North Carolina figure of $57,320 and 18% below the national figure of $60,600. Hickory ranks 12th of 12 metro areas in North Carolina for Paramedic pay. About 180 Paramedics work in the Hickory · Lenoir · Morganton area. Hickory is part of the Hickory · Lenoir · Morganton metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Morganton and Lenoir share these figures.
Paramedic pay in Hickory at a glance
- Typical pay is $23.78 an hour, or $49,460 a year.
- That is 14% below the North Carolina figure, ranking 12th of 12 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $48,570; the top 10% make over $59,670.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Paramedic make in Hickory?
Pay in Hickory runs from entry-level positions at around $23.35 an hour to more than $28.69 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the North Carolina and national figures.
Paramedic pay by career stage in Hickory
| Career stage | Hickory | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $48,570$23.35 an hour | $44,730$21.51 an hour | $44,230$21.27 an hour |
| First years | $48,570$23.35 an hour | $48,630$23.38 an hour | $49,660$23.88 an hour |
| Typical Paramedic | $49,460$23.78 an hour | $57,320$27.56 an hour | $60,600$29.13 an hour |
| Experienced | $52,730$25.35 an hour | $63,820$30.69 an hour | $73,470$35.32 an hour |
| Top 10% | $59,670$28.69 an hour | $75,170$36.14 an hour | $84,850$40.80 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Hickory · Lenoir · Morganton area as BLS defines it
Paramedic pay growth in Hickory
Typical (median) annual wage for Paramedics in the Hickory · Lenoir · Morganton area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical Paramedic pay in Hickory was $46,150 a year. By 2025 it had reached $49,460.
How Hickory compares with other North Carolina cities
Fayetteville pays Paramedics the most in North Carolina at $68,220 a year, $18,760 more than Hickory. The lowest-paying area in the state is Lenoir at $49,460.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Hickory | Paramedics employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville | $68,220 | $32.80 | +38% | 130 |
| 2 | Raleigh metro incl. Cary | $65,220 | $31.36 | +32% | 470 |
| 3 | Chapel Hill metro incl. Durham | $64,310 | $30.92 | +30% | 230 |
| 4 | Chesapeake metro incl. Norfolk | $64,120 | $30.83 | +30% | 400 |
| 5 | Asheville | $63,480 | $30.52 | +28% | 280 |
| 6 | Charlotte | $61,660 | $29.64 | +25% | 1,180 |
| 7 | Wilmington | $61,060 | $29.36 | +23% | 210 |
| 8 | Greensboro metro incl. High Point | $58,980 | $28.36 | +19% | 320 |
| 9 | Winston metro incl. Salem | $58,110 | $27.94 | +17% | 420 |
| 10 | Greenville | $53,210 | $25.58 | +8% | 120 |
| 11 | Rocky Mount | $52,470 | $25.23 | +6% | 130 |
| 12 | Hickory | $49,460 | $23.78 | this city | 180 |
Every metro area in North Carolina with Paramedic wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Carolina typical pay $57,320
Is Hickory a good place to work as a Paramedic?
Paramedics in Hickory earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $49,460 a year, 18% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Hickory · Lenoir · Morganton area, about 1.2 are Paramedic positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 0.7. That makes the local economy more reliant on Paramedics than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Paramedic make in Hickory, NC?
- A typical Paramedic in Hickory earns $49,460 a year, or $23.78 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $48,570 and the top 10% earn over $59,670.
- How much does a Paramedic make an hour in Hickory?
- Typical hourly pay for Paramedics in Hickory is $23.78. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $23.35, and the top 10% earn over $28.69 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Paramedic in Hickory?
- Entry-level Paramedic positions in Hickory typically offer around $23.35 an hour, or $48,570 a year.
- Is Paramedic pay in Hickory higher than in the rest of North Carolina?
- Hickory pay is 14% below the North Carolina figure of $57,320 a year, ranking 12th of 12 metro areas in the state. Fayetteville pays the most in North Carolina at $68,220.