In a game neither side could afford to lose Tommy Mooney gave Wycombe the lead before Symes hit back to deny Wanderers all three points.
Both teams were out of the traps well and started the game with real intent, although they did cancel each other out in the opening stages as neither team could really work an opening.
The first meaningful effort came from Shrewsbury on 23 minutes. A cleared corner fell to Neil Ashton but he could not control his shot and volleyed over.
Wycombe were starting to get a little impatient, and then from nowhere got their opener. Shrews' Stewart Drummond played a suicidal back-pass that Mooney intercepted and he went on to round the keeper and slot home.
The lead only lasted five minutes as the visitors fired back straight away. Ben Davies scuffed his shot but it fell kindly to Symes who finished well from 10 yards.
Wycombe created a glorious chance on the stroke of half-time. Russell Martin's cross picked out Mooney but he missed the target from eight yards.
Wycombe started the second-half well and should have taken the lead within a minute of the re-start. The ball fell kindly to Mooney on the edge of the six-yard box but he somehow blasted over.
Wycombe continued to dominate and Mooney had yet another chance just before the hour mark, but his volley was well saved by keeper Scott Shearer.
Shrewsbury's Derek Asamoah blasted an effort into the side netting on 70 minutes after racing on to a Lee Canoville long ball.
On 80 minutes Shrewsbury thought they had won the game when Dave Edwards headed in from five yards after Asamoah's effort hit the woodwork, but Wycombe were saved by the linesman's flag.