Emergency Medical Technician Salary in Fayetteville, NC: $48,995 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time emergency medical technician in Fayetteville, NC earns a median $48,995/year (โ $23.56/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 โ projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2042). Once you factor in Fayetteville's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 92.0), that paycheck buys what $53,268 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.1% above the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data ยท View source

In Fayetteville, North Carolina, the projected median annual salary for emergency medical technicians stands at $48,995 in 2026, offering a competitive edge when compared to the national average of $47,058. The salary range for this role extends from $40,106 at the P10 level to $50,476 at the P90 level, indicating a healthy spread based on varying employer types and experience levels. These figures derive from official BLS OEWS surveys that highlight the city's potential for EMTs, particularly when considering sectors like industrial and oil-field medic roles, which can command higher wages. With a growing demand for emergency medical services and a projected annual growth rate of 5.82%, Fayetteville is positioning itself as a viable market for EMT employment opportunities.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $40,106 | $19.28 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $45,862 | $22.05 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $48,995 | $23.56 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $48,995 | $23.56 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $50,476 | $24.26 |
Median Salary Position
4.12% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Fayetteville
In Fayetteville, NC, the emergency medical technician salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $10,370 (2026 est.). At $48,995, the local median is 4.12% above the national median of $47,058.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Fayetteville: You'd be in the upper quartile
How Fayetteville Emergency Medical Technician Pay Compares
Fayetteville median: $48,995/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Fayetteville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $48,462 | +1.10% more |
| National Average | $47,058 | +4.12% more |
Emergency Medical Technicians in Fayetteville, NC earn a median of $48,995 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.12% higher than the national median of $47,058 and 1.10% above the North Carolina state average of $48,462.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Fayetteville has a cost of living 8.02% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal ร (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Fayetteville, NC has a cost-of-living index of 91.978 (below the national average of 100). A emergency medical technician earning $48,995 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $53,268 in an average-cost city โ an effective 8.72% boost.
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2021 BLS Actual
$22,550
2025 BLS Actual
$46,300
2026 Current Est.
$48,995
2021โ2027 Growth
+129.9%
Salary Trajectory for Emergency Medical Technicians in Fayetteville (2021โ2027)
2021โ2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.82% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $22,550 | Actual |
| 2022 | $24,990 | Actual |
| 2023 | $26,480 | Actual |
| 2024 | $44,530 | Actual |
| 2025 | $46,300 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $48,995 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $51,846 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Fayetteville metropolitan area, the median emergency medical technician salary grew 105.3% from $22,550 (2021) to $46,300 (2025). At a 5.82% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $51,846 by 2027 โ a total increase of $29,296 (129.92%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021โ2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Fayetteville metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026โ2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.82% CAGR derived from 5-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $40,106 โ $45,862 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $45,862 โ $48,995 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $48,995 โ $48,995 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $48,995 โ $50,476 |
EMT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual emergency medical technician compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Emergency Medical Technician Job Market in Fayetteville
Your take-home pay as an emergency medical technician in Fayetteville will be closely influenced by the local job market and cost-of-living factors. Currently, there are around 80 emergency medical technicians employed in the area, but the cost-of-living index sits below the national average at 91.978, which can enhance your purchasing power significantly. Employers such as private ambulance services, municipal fire departments, and industrial firms offer varying pay scales, with fire department EMTs often earning 2-3 times more due to union contracts compared to their counterparts in private ambulance companies. The variation in pay can also be attributed to factors like shift differentials, overtime opportunities, and potential career advancements from EMT to paramedic. To maximize earnings in this environment, pursuing certification and training for specialized roles and considering positions with higher-paying employers like oil-field medic companies can be beneficial.
More salary data for Fayetteville, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do emergency medical technicians make in Fayetteville, NC in 2026?
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Can emergency medical technicians make $100K in Fayetteville?
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $46,300 for emergency medical techniciansin the Fayetteville metropolitan area. A 5.82% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10โP90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 5-year dataset (โ). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.82%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for emergency medical technicians (SOC 29-2042).
Compiled and verified by Aisha Patel, EMT-P, a licensed emergency medical technician with 10+ years of clinical experience. ยท View source data at BLS.gov