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Study: Raleigh fourth worst-paying metro for first responders

A new data by Smartest Dollar showed the Raleigh-Cary area was the fourth worst-paying large metro in the United States.

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RALEIGH, N.C.A new study by Smartest Dollar showed the Raleigh-Cary* area was the fourth worst-paying large metro in the United States.

In Raleigh, first responders, which typically includes EMTS, paramedics, firefighters and police officers, earned an adjusted mean annual wage of $47, 429 -- below the national annual wage of $60,292.

Smartest Dollar data for first responders in Raleigh-Cary:

  • Mean annual wage for first responders (adjusted): $47,429
  • Mean annual wage for first responders (actual): $45,580
  • Mean annual wage for all workers (actual): $56,720
  • Cost of living (compared to average): -3.9%

Smartest Dollar data for the United States:

  • Mean annual wage for first responders (adjusted): N/A
  • Mean annual wage for first responders (actual): $60,292
  • Mean annual wage for all workers (actual): $56,310
  • Cost of living (compared to average): N/A

The areas where first responders earned less than Raleigh first responders were:

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, S.C.-N.C.

  • Mean annual wage for first responders (adjusted): $47,174
  • Mean annual wage for first responders (actual): $44,532
  • Mean annual wage for all workers (actual): $55,330
  • Cost of living (compared to average): -5.6%

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, Ga.

  • Mean annual wage for first responders (adjusted): $46,813
  • Mean annual wage for first responders (actual): $45,830
  • Mean annual wage for all workers (actual): $56,790
  • Cost of living (compared to average): -2.1%

New Orleans-Metairie, La.

  • Mean annual wage for first responders (adjusted): $46,337
  • Mean annual wage for first responders (actual): $43,139
  • Mean annual wage for all workers (actual): $50,020
  • Cost of living (compared to average): -6.9%

The highest paying large metros were:

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif.

  • Mean annual wage for first responders (adjusted): $95,589
  • Mean annual wage for first responders (actual): $121,111
  • Mean annual wage for all workers (actual): $93,450
  • Cost of living (compared to average): +26.7%

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, Calif.

  • Mean annual wage for first responders (adjusted): $84,676
  • Mean annual wage for first responders (actual): $100,595
  • Mean annual wage for all workers (actual): $63,660
  • Cost of living (compared to average): +18.8%

Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, Calif.

  • Mean annual wage for first responders (adjusted): $79,940
  • Mean annual wage for first responders (actual): $84,097
  • Mean annual wage for all workers (actual): $62,820
  • Cost of living (compared to average): +5.2%

To find the best and worst paying locations, researchers looked at data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Bureau of Economic Analysis and ranked locations according to the cost-of-living adjusted annual wage for first responders. Researchers also included the actual average wage for first responders, the average wage for all workers and the relative cost of living.

*In Smartest Dollar's study, Raleigh-Cary was listed as a large metro, while the Durham-Chapel Hill area was listed as a medium metro

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