EMT Salary

Carrboro vs Raleigh: Emergency Medical Technician Salary (2026)

Compare emergency medical technician salaries between Carrboro, NC and Raleigh, NC. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Carrboro, NC
$45,665
$21.96/hr
Raleigh, NC
$52,021
$25.01/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricCarrboro, NCRaleigh, NC
Median Salary$45,665$52,021
Hourly Rate$21.96$25.01
Entry Level (P10)$35,527$38,836
25th Percentile$41,545$46,931
75th Percentile$49,239$60,053
Top Earner (P90)$58,979$68,540
Total Employed6600
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Carrboro ($45,665) and Raleigh ($52,021) emergency medical technician salaries.CarrboroRaleighMedian Salary$45,665$52,021Entry Level (P10)$35,527$38,836Top Earner (P90)$58,979$68,540US Median $47,058

Verdict

Raleigh, NC offers better overall compensation for emergency medical technicians, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Carrboro.

The salary gap between Carrboro and Raleigh is $6,356 (13.92%). Raleigh's median is +10.55% compared to the US national median of $47,058.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Carrboro spans $23,452,Raleigh spans $29,704. Raleigh has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced emergency medical technicians.

Carrboro
P10 (Entry)$35,527
P25$41,545
Median$45,665
P75$49,239
P90 (Top)$58,979
Raleigh
P10 (Entry)$38,836
P25$46,931
Median$52,021
P75$60,053
P90 (Top)$68,540

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Raleigh ($52,998 effective) pays 8.63% more than Carrboro ($48,787 effective).

Carrboro
Nominal: $45,665
CoL Index: 93.6
Adjusted: $48,787
Raleigh
Nominal: $52,021
CoL Index: 98.157
Adjusted: $52,998

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Carrboro if…

  • You prefer the North Carolina area and lifestyle

Choose Raleigh if…

  • Higher median salary ($52,021/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($68,540)
  • Larger job market (600 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $52,998)
  • You prefer the North Carolina area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, emergency medical technician salaries in Carrboro grew 35.9% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 33.5% growth in Raleigh over the same period.

Carrboro, NC

+35.9%

$31,759 (2024) → $43,153 (2025)

Raleigh, NC

+33.5%

$36,830 (2021) → $49,160 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays emergency medical technicians more: Carrboro or Raleigh?

Raleigh has a higher median emergency medical technician salary at $52,021/year, compared to Carrboro at $45,665/year — a difference of $6,356 (13.92%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Carrboro and Raleigh?

Carrboro emergency medical technicians earn $21.96/hr while Raleigh hygienists earn $25.01/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Carrboro to Raleigh as a emergency medical technician?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Carrboro and Raleigh. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Carrboro = $48,787, Raleigh = $52,998), job availability (6 vs 600 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level emergency medical technicians earn in Carrboro vs Raleigh?

Entry-level (10th percentile) emergency medical technicians earn $35,527 in Carrboro and $38,836 in Raleigh. The Raleigh area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

AP

Written by Aisha Patel, EMT-P

Career Analyst

Aisha has 10 years of experience as an emergency medical technician. She specializes in pre-hospital care and triage. Aisha works primarily in urban emergency services.

Clinically reviewed by Carlos Mendoza, EMT-BData verified by Fatima Ali, EMT-I

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 5.82% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Aisha Patel, EMT-P, a licensed emergency medical technician with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov