How Much Does a Paramedic Make in Raleigh, NC in 2026?
Typical pay for Paramedics in Raleigh, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Raleigh · Cary metro area
A typical Paramedic in Raleigh, North Carolina earns $31.36 per hour, or $65,220 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $5,435 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $48,940, and the top 10% of earners make over $75,950.
That pay is 14% above the North Carolina figure of $57,320 and 8% above the national figure of $60,600. Raleigh ranks 2nd of 12 metro areas in North Carolina for Paramedic pay. About 470 Paramedics work in the Raleigh · Cary area. Raleigh is part of the Raleigh · Cary metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Cary share these figures.
Paramedic pay in Raleigh at a glance
- Typical pay is $31.36 an hour, or $65,220 a year.
- That is 14% above the North Carolina figure, ranking 2nd of 12 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $48,940; the top 10% make over $75,950.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Paramedic make in Raleigh?
Pay in Raleigh runs from entry-level positions at around $23.53 an hour to more than $36.51 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 Raleigh
| Career stage | Raleigh | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $48,940$23.53 an hour | $44,730$21.51 an hour | $44,230$21.27 an hour |
| First years | $58,460$28.11 an hour | $48,630$23.38 an hour | $49,660$23.88 an hour |
| Typical Paramedic | $65,220$31.36 an hour | $57,320$27.56 an hour | $60,600$29.13 an hour |
| Experienced | $75,170$36.14 an hour | $63,820$30.69 an hour | $73,470$35.32 an hour |
| Top 10% | $75,950$36.51 an hour | $75,170$36.14 an hour | $84,850$40.80 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Raleigh · Cary area as BLS defines it
Paramedic pay growth in Raleigh
Typical (median) annual wage for Paramedics in the Raleigh · Cary area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical Paramedic pay in Raleigh was $47,010 a year. By 2025 it had reached $65,220.
How Raleigh compares with other North Carolina cities
Fayetteville pays Paramedics the most in North Carolina at $68,220 a year, $3,000 more than Raleigh. The lowest-paying area in the state is Lenoir at $49,460.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Raleigh | Paramedics employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville | $68,220 | $32.80 | +5% | 130 |
| 2 | Raleigh metro incl. Cary | $65,220 | $31.36 | this city | 470 |
| 3 | Chapel Hill metro incl. Durham | $64,310 | $30.92 | -1% | 230 |
| 4 | Chesapeake metro incl. Norfolk | $64,120 | $30.83 | -2% | 400 |
| 5 | Asheville | $63,480 | $30.52 | -3% | 280 |
| 6 | Charlotte | $61,660 | $29.64 | -5% | 1,180 |
| 7 | Wilmington | $61,060 | $29.36 | -6% | 210 |
| 8 | Greensboro metro incl. High Point | $58,980 | $28.36 | -10% | 320 |
| 9 | Winston metro incl. Salem | $58,110 | $27.94 | -11% | 420 |
| 10 | Greenville | $53,210 | $25.58 | -18% | 120 |
| 11 | Rocky Mount | $52,470 | $25.23 | -20% | 130 |
| 12 | Hickory | $49,460 | $23.78 | -24% | 180 |
Every metro area in North Carolina with Paramedic wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Carolina typical pay $57,320
Is Raleigh a good place to work as a Paramedic?
Paramedics in Raleigh earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $65,220 a year, 8% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Raleigh · Cary area, about 0.6 are Paramedic positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 0.6. Paramedic jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Paramedic make in Raleigh, NC?
- A typical Paramedic in Raleigh earns $65,220 a year, or $31.36 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $48,940 and the top 10% earn over $75,950.
- How much does a Paramedic make an hour in Raleigh?
- Typical hourly pay for Paramedics in Raleigh is $31.36. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $23.53, and the top 10% earn over $36.51 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Paramedic in Raleigh?
- Entry-level Paramedic positions in Raleigh typically offer around $23.53 an hour, or $48,940 a year.
- Is Paramedic pay in Raleigh higher than in the rest of North Carolina?
- Raleigh pay is 14% above the North Carolina figure of $57,320 a year, ranking 2nd of 12 metro areas in the state. Fayetteville pays the most in North Carolina at $68,220.