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Paramedic salary in North Carolina

Updated October 31, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$57,320median pay per year in North Carolina, or $27.56 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $44,730lowest 10% earn less
  2. $48,63025th percentile
  3. $57,320median
  4. $63,82075th percentile
  5. $75,170top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $60,600[3]

Paramedics in North Carolina had a median pay of $57,320 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $3,280 lower than the US median[6].

Jobs in NC
5,660[4]
Rank by median pay
36 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
−5.4%[6]

How much do paramedics make in North Carolina?

The median pay for paramedics in North Carolina was $57,320 a year, or $27.56 an hour[1]. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. Across the US, the median was $60,600[3], so the state figure sat 5.4% lower[6]. Among the 50 states and DC with a published median, North Carolina ranked 36th[5].

Paid against other work in the state, paramedics did better. The median for all jobs in North Carolina was $47,970[7], which is $9,350 below the paramedic median[8]. The lowest-paid 10% of paramedics earned less than $44,730, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $75,170[2].

Pay differs by place. Fayetteville had the highest median among the metro areas with a published figure, at $68,220[9]. Raleigh-Cary was at $65,220 and Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia was at $61,660[10].

OEWS counts people paid a wage or salary. Self-employed people are left out, and so are bonuses that are not tied to production and the cost of benefits like health insurance[11].

North Carolina vs US pay

Pay for paramedics in North Carolina next to the national figures[1][3].

NCUS
Median per year$57,320[1]$60,600[3]
Median per hour$27.56[1]$29.13[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$44,730[2]$44,230[12]
Top 10% earn more than$75,170[2]$84,850[12]
Jobs5,660[4]100,610[3]

Pay by metro area in North Carolina

Metro areas in North Carolina with the most jobs for paramedics, and the median pay in each[10]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC[10]$61,6601,180
Raleigh-Cary, NC$65,220470
Winston-Salem, NC$58,110420
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC$64,120400
Greensboro-High Point, NC$58,980320
Asheville, NC$63,480280
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC$64,310230
Wilmington, NC$61,060210

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for paramedics in the states that border North Carolina, highest first[13].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Virginia[13]$60,4801,960
Tennessee$57,6903,710
Georgia$57,6603,250
South Carolina$53,5502,250

Median pay for paramedics in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for paramedics are projected to grow 5.7% from 2025 to 2035[14]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: postsecondary nondegree award[15].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a paramedic make in North Carolina?
The median pay for paramedics in North Carolina was $57,320 a year in May 2025[1]. The US median was $60,600[3].
How much does a paramedic make an hour in North Carolina?
The median hourly wage for paramedics in North Carolina was $27.56[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $21.51 an hour, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $36.14[16][2].
Which city in North Carolina pays paramedics the most?
Fayetteville had the highest median among the metro areas with a published figure, at $68,220 a year[9].
Is North Carolina a good state for paramedics?
North Carolina had the 36th highest median pay for paramedics out of the 50 states and DC with a published median[5]. The state median was 5.4% lower than the US median[6].
What do you need to become a paramedic in North Carolina?
This is a US figure, not a North Carolina one. Across the US, the typical path into the job starts with a postsecondary nondegree award, with less than 5 years of related work experience and no typical on-the-job training[15].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Paramedics in North Carolina was $57,320 per year and $27.56 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Paramedics in North Carolina: 10th percentile $44,730, 25th percentile $48,630, 75th percentile $63,820, 90th percentile $75,170. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Paramedics in the US as a whole was $60,600 per year and $29.13 per hour, with about 100,610 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 5,660 people worked as Paramedics in North Carolina (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: North Carolina had the 36th highest median annual wage for Paramedics out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Paramedics in North Carolina ($57,320) was $3,280 (5.4%) lower than the US median ($60,600). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in North Carolina was $47,970. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Paramedics in North Carolina was $9,350 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($47,970). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 12 metro areas in or partly in North Carolina with a published median for Paramedics, Fayetteville, NC had the highest median annual wage, $68,220. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Paramedics in the US: 10th percentile $44,230, 25th percentile $49,660, 75th percentile $73,470, 90th percentile $84,850. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Paramedics in states that border North Carolina (highest first): Virginia $60,480; Tennessee $57,690; Georgia $57,660; South Carolina $53,550. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Paramedics is projected to grow 5.7% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 4,300 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Paramedics: education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Paramedics in North Carolina: 10th percentile $21.51, 25th percentile $23.38, 75th percentile $30.69, 90th percentile $36.14. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only North Carolina. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.