EMT salary

EMTs in the U.S. earn a median $44,470 a year.

Median pay
$44,470
Median hourly
$21.38
Typical range
$34,130–$62,500
Jobs
180,510

Pay range

Annual pay percentiles for EMTs in the U.S.
PercentileAnnual pay
10th (entry level)$34,130
25th$37,960
Median$44,470
75th$50,100
90th (top earners)$62,500

Pay in the biggest metro areas

Median pay by metro area
Metro areaMedian payJobs
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$53,82013,780
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$45,0906,610
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$44,0205,610
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$47,7904,970
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$51,4803,580
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$50,5603,410
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA$47,5003,090
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$37,9003,000
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ$39,5002,840
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$38,8902,680

EMT salary by state

  1. 1Hawaii$66,410
  2. 2Alaska$57,440
  3. 3New Jersey$53,610
  4. 4Washington$52,690
  5. 5Rhode Island$51,290
  6. 6Connecticut$50,640
  7. 7Massachusetts$50,230
  8. 8Oregon$49,270
  9. 9New York$48,400
  10. 10Maryland$48,100
  11. 11Minnesota$48,090
  12. 12Wyoming$47,070
  13. 13Delaware$46,790
  14. 14New Hampshire$46,790
  15. –District of Columbia$46,650
  16. 15California$46,380
  17. 16Maine$46,340
  18. 17Colorado$45,750
  19. 18Vermont$45,600
  20. 19Georgia$45,550
  21. 20Virginia$45,420
  22. 21North Carolina$44,250
  23. 22Pennsylvania$43,310
  24. 23Wisconsin$43,060
  25. 24Indiana$42,740
  26. 25Illinois$42,260
  27. 26Missouri$42,160
  28. 27Nebraska$41,710
  29. 28Iowa$40,660
  30. 29South Carolina$40,370
  31. 30Tennessee$40,330
  32. 31Ohio$40,220
  33. 32Florida$39,870
  34. 33Michigan$39,870
  35. 34North Dakota$39,670
  36. 35Arizona$39,500
  37. 36Utah$38,930
  38. 37Idaho$38,840
  39. 38Alabama$37,810
  40. 39Nevada$37,560
  41. 40New Mexico$37,550
  42. 41Texas$37,260
  43. 42Kentucky$36,800
  44. 43South Dakota$36,800
  45. 44Mississippi$36,630
  46. 45Arkansas$36,230
  47. 46Montana$36,140
  48. 47Louisiana$35,870
  49. 48Kansas$35,780
  50. 49West Virginia$34,360
  51. 50Oklahoma$34,170
  52. –Puerto Rico$27,610

Start training

See what the work is like and how long training takes, then compare schools.

EMT and paramedic schoolsHow to become an EMT

Frequently asked questions

How much do EMTs make?

The median pay for EMTs in the U.S. is $44,470 a year ($21.38 an hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $34,130, and the top 10% earn over $62,500.

Which states pay EMTs the most?

The top-paying states are Hawaii ($66,410), Alaska ($57,440), New Jersey ($53,610), Washington ($52,690), Rhode Island ($51,290).

How can an EMT earn more?

Pay rises with experience, certifications, specialized skills, overtime and willingness to travel. Union jobs and employers in high-cost metro areas often pay more. Our guide on how to become an EMT covers the certifications that matter most.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (Emergency Medical Technicians, SOC 29-2042). Figures exclude self-employed workers.