How Much Does a Paramedic Make in Salem, NC in 2026?
Typical pay for Paramedics in Salem, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Winston · Salem metro area
A typical Paramedic in Salem, North Carolina earns $27.94 per hour, or $58,110 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,843 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $41,030, and the top 10% of earners make over $62,610.
That pay is 1% above the North Carolina figure of $57,320 and 4% below the national figure of $60,600. Salem ranks 9th of 12 metro areas in North Carolina for Paramedic pay. About 420 Paramedics work in the Winston · Salem area. Salem is part of the Winston · Salem metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Winston share these figures.
Paramedic pay in Salem at a glance
- Typical pay is $27.94 an hour, or $58,110 a year.
- That is 1% above the North Carolina figure, ranking 9th of 12 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $41,030; the top 10% make over $62,610.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Paramedic make in Salem?
Pay in Salem runs from entry-level positions at around $19.73 an hour to more than $30.10 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 Salem
| Career stage | Salem | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $41,030$19.73 an hour | $44,730$21.51 an hour | $44,230$21.27 an hour |
| First years | $48,720$23.42 an hour | $48,630$23.38 an hour | $49,660$23.88 an hour |
| Typical Paramedic | $58,110$27.94 an hour | $57,320$27.56 an hour | $60,600$29.13 an hour |
| Experienced | $61,280$29.46 an hour | $63,820$30.69 an hour | $73,470$35.32 an hour |
| Top 10% | $62,610$30.10 an hour | $75,170$36.14 an hour | $84,850$40.80 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Winston · Salem area as BLS defines it
Paramedic pay growth in Salem
Typical (median) annual wage for Paramedics in the Winston · Salem area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical Paramedic pay in Salem was $37,210 a year. By 2025 it had reached $58,110.
How Salem compares with other North Carolina cities
Fayetteville pays Paramedics the most in North Carolina at $68,220 a year, $10,110 more than Salem. The lowest-paying area in the state is Lenoir at $49,460.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Salem | Paramedics employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville | $68,220 | $32.80 | +17% | 130 |
| 2 | Raleigh metro incl. Cary | $65,220 | $31.36 | +12% | 470 |
| 3 | Chapel Hill metro incl. Durham | $64,310 | $30.92 | +11% | 230 |
| 4 | Chesapeake metro incl. Norfolk | $64,120 | $30.83 | +10% | 400 |
| 5 | Asheville | $63,480 | $30.52 | +9% | 280 |
| 6 | Charlotte | $61,660 | $29.64 | +6% | 1,180 |
| 7 | Wilmington | $61,060 | $29.36 | +5% | 210 |
| 8 | Greensboro metro incl. High Point | $58,980 | $28.36 | +1% | 320 |
| 9 | Salem metro incl. Winston | $58,110 | $27.94 | this city | 420 |
| 10 | Greenville | $53,210 | $25.58 | -8% | 120 |
| 11 | Rocky Mount | $52,470 | $25.23 | -10% | 130 |
| 12 | Hickory | $49,460 | $23.78 | -15% | 180 |
Every metro area in North Carolina with Paramedic wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Carolina typical pay $57,320
Is Salem a good place to work as a Paramedic?
Paramedic pay in Salem sits close to the national figure: $58,110 a year, 4% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Winston · Salem area, about 1.5 are Paramedic positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 0.6. 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 Salem, NC?
- A typical Paramedic in Salem earns $58,110 a year, or $27.94 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $41,030 and the top 10% earn over $62,610.
- How much does a Paramedic make an hour in Salem?
- Typical hourly pay for Paramedics in Salem is $27.94. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $19.73, and the top 10% earn over $30.10 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Paramedic in Salem?
- Entry-level Paramedic positions in Salem typically offer around $19.73 an hour, or $41,030 a year.
- Is Paramedic pay in Salem higher than in the rest of North Carolina?
- Salem pay is 1% above the North Carolina figure of $57,320 a year, ranking 9th of 12 metro areas in the state. Fayetteville pays the most in North Carolina at $68,220.