29 Series · SOC 29-2042

Emergency Medical Technicians Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$44,470
Median / year
+7.6%
2024→2025
$62,500
Top 10% earn
+5.1%
Growth '24–'34
180,510
Estimated US jobs

Emergency Medical Technicians earn a median of $44,470 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $44,470, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $34,130 (10th percentile) to $62,500 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 180,510 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Hawaii ($66,410).

29 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Emergency Medical Technicians earn a median of $44,470, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 18% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Healthcare Practitioners and Technical, it ranks #70 of 71 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 5.1% by 2034.

$44,470
Median annual wage
Top 82%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#70 of 71
in Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
1.8×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Hawaii at $66,410. Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.

Emergency Medical Technicians (SOC 29-2042) has a national median of $44,470 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $34,130 to $62,500, and the published mean is $46,830. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 180,510 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 53 state or territory areas and 436 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $41,340 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $44,470 in May 2025, a rise of $3,130 (+7.6%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +5.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as faster than average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 14,100 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns Postsecondary nondegree award as typical education needed for entry. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Hawaii pays the highest state median at $66,410, which is +49% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Lexington Park, MD at $68,160. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.

BLS OEWS May 2025 180,510 jobs Median $44,470/yr

Median Salary

$44,470

per year

Median Hourly

$21.38/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$46,830

average

Employment

180,510

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Emergency Medical Technicians pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$44,470 Bottom 18% higher than 18% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000 and above: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $180,000+ every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$20,000 0 US occupations 0%
$20,000–$40,000 98 US occupations 12%
$40,000–$60,000 (this entry) 298 US occupations 36%
$60,000–$80,000 209 US occupations 25%
$80,000–$100,000 82 US occupations 10%
$100,000–$120,000 58 US occupations 7%
$120,000–$140,000 32 US occupations 4%
$140,000–$160,000 14 US occupations 2%
$160,000–$180,000 9 US occupations 1%
$180,000 and above 25 US occupations 3%

$44,470 · 18th percentile of 825 US occupations

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 29-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Emergency Medical Technicians; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 24 29-series occupations with growth data, Emergency Medical Technicians sits on the faster-growing side at +5.1% growth and $44,470 median pay. Scatter plot of 24 data points. $0$50000$100000$150000$200000$250000$300000 0%10%20%30%40%50% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage Registered Nurses - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.9% · Median annual wage: $97550Licensed Practical a… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.6% · Median annual wage: $64400Pharmacy Technicians - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 6.4% · Median annual wage: $45750Physicians, All Other - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.5% · Median annual wage: $265930Clinical Laboratory … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.7% · Median annual wage: $62930Nurse Practitioners - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 40.1% · Median annual wage: $132300Pharmacists - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.6% · Median annual wage: $140910Physical Therapists - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 10.9% · Median annual wage: $102760Radiologic Technolog… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.3% · Median annual wage: $80110Dental Hygienists - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 7% · Median annual wage: $98100Medical Records Spec… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 7.1% · Median annual wage: $51140Speech-Language Path… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 15% · Median annual wage: $97870Health Technologists… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.2% · Median annual wage: $50290Emergency Medical Te… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.1% · Median annual wage: $44470Occupational Therapi… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 13.8% · Median annual wage: $100330Physician Assistants - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 20.4% · Median annual wage: $135880Psychiatric Technici… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 20% · Median annual wage: $45130Respiratory Therapists - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 12.1% · Median annual wage: $82280Veterinary Technolog… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 9.1% · Median annual wage: $47380Dentists, General - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.1% · Median annual wage: $170950Surgical Technologists - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.5% · Median annual wage: $64650Family Medicine Phys… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.7% · Median annual wage: $244180Paramedics - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5% · Median annual wage: $60600Diagnostic Medical S… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 13% · Median annual wage: $96590
Among 24 29-series occupations with growth data, Emergency Medical Technicians sits on the faster-growing side at +5.1% growth and $44,470 median pay.
Read the chart as text
  • Registered Nurses: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.9%, Median annual wage $97550
  • Licensed Practical a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.6%, Median annual wage $64400
  • Pharmacy Technicians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.4%, Median annual wage $45750
  • Physicians, All Other: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.5%, Median annual wage $265930
  • Clinical Laboratory …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.7%, Median annual wage $62930
  • Nurse Practitioners: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 40.1%, Median annual wage $132300
  • Pharmacists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.6%, Median annual wage $140910
  • Physical Therapists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 10.9%, Median annual wage $102760
  • Radiologic Technolog…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.3%, Median annual wage $80110
  • Dental Hygienists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7%, Median annual wage $98100
  • Medical Records Spec…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7.1%, Median annual wage $51140
  • Speech-Language Path…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 15%, Median annual wage $97870
  • Health Technologists…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.2%, Median annual wage $50290
  • Emergency Medical Te…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.1%, Median annual wage $44470
  • Occupational Therapi…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 13.8%, Median annual wage $100330
  • Physician Assistants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 20.4%, Median annual wage $135880
  • Psychiatric Technici…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 20%, Median annual wage $45130
  • Respiratory Therapists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 12.1%, Median annual wage $82280
  • Veterinary Technolog…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 9.1%, Median annual wage $47380
  • Dentists, General: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.1%, Median annual wage $170950
  • Surgical Technologists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $64650
  • Family Medicine Phys…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.7%, Median annual wage $244180
  • Paramedics: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5%, Median annual wage $60600
  • Diagnostic Medical S…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 13%, Median annual wage $96590

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+5.1%

Faster than average

Annual Openings

14,100

per year (projected)

Employment Change

+9,200

181,000 (2024) → 190,200 (2034)

Typical Education

Postsecondary nondegree award

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
Group

Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations context

Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade

Fatality Rate

0.7/100K

Injury Rate

1.5/100

Danger Index

6.4/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Emergency Medical Technicians roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Key Tasks

  • Administer first aid treatment or life support care to sick or injured persons in prehospital settings.
  • Assess nature and extent of illness or injury to establish and prioritize medical procedures.
  • Attend training classes to maintain certification licensure, keep abreast of new developments in the field, or maintain existing knowledge.
  • Comfort and reassure patients.
  • Communicate with dispatchers or treatment center personnel to provide information about situation, to arrange reception of survivors, or to receive instructions for further treatment.
  • Coordinate work with other emergency medical team members or police or fire department personnel.
  • Decontaminate ambulance interior following treatment of patient with infectious disease, and report case to proper authorities.
  • Drive mobile intensive care unit to specified location, following instructions from emergency medical dispatcher.
  • Immobilize patient for placement on stretcher and ambulance transport, using backboard or other spinal immobilization device.
  • Maintain vehicles and medical and communication equipment, and replenish first aid equipment and supplies.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$34,130
25th$37,960
Median$44,470
75th$50,100
90th$62,500

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th$16.41
25th$18.25
Median$21.38
75th$24.09
90th$30.05

Emergency Medical Technicians pay history, 2021–2025

Published national median across 5 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.

$34,000$36,000$38,000$40,000$42,000$44,000$46,000 20212022202320242025 National median - 2021: $35,470National median - 2022: $36,680National median - 2023: $38,930National median - 2024: $41,340National median - 2025: $44,470$44,470
National median annual wage for Emergency Medical Technicians, May 2021 to May 2025 OEWS releases
Read the chart as text
Period National median
2021 $35,470
2022 $36,680
2023 $38,930
2024 $41,340
2025 $44,470

2021 median

$35,470

2025 median

$44,470

2021–2025 change

+$9,000 (+25.4%)

Avg/year

+5.8%

Published national median annual wage and estimated employment for Emergency Medical Technicians by OEWS release year
Release Median Change Estimated jobs
May 2021 $35,470 First banked release 161,400
May 2022 $36,680 +3.4% 167,720
May 2023 $38,930 +6.1% 167,040
May 2024 $41,340 +6.2% 177,980
May 2025 $44,470 +7.6% 180,510

Across the 5 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $35,470 in May 2021 to $44,470 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2021–2025), the like-for-like change averages +5.8% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 161,400 in May 2021 to 180,510 in May 2025.

Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in.

Salary by State

View all 53 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Hawaii $66,410 +49% above national
2 Alaska $57,440 +29% above national
3 New Jersey $53,610 +21% above national
4 Washington $52,690 +18% above national
5 Rhode Island $51,290 +15% above national
6 Connecticut $50,640 +14% above national
7 Massachusetts $50,230 +13% above national
8 Oregon $49,270 +11% above national
9 New York $48,400 +9% above national
10 Maryland $48,100 +8% above national
11 Minnesota $48,090 +8% above national
12 Wyoming $47,070 +6% above national
13 Virgin Islands $47,040 +6% above national
14 Delaware $46,790 +5% above national
15 New Hampshire $46,790 +5% above national
16 District of Columbia $46,650 +5% above national
17 California $46,380 +4% above national
18 Maine $46,340 +4% above national
19 Colorado $45,750 +3% above national
20 Vermont $45,600 +3% above national
21 Georgia $45,550 +2% above national
22 Virginia $45,420 +2% above national
23 North Carolina $44,250 same as national
24 Pennsylvania $43,310 3% below national
25 Wisconsin $43,060 3% below national
26 Indiana $42,740 4% below national
27 Illinois $42,260 5% below national
28 Missouri $42,160 5% below national
29 Nebraska $41,710 6% below national
30 Iowa $40,660 9% below national
31 South Carolina $40,370 9% below national
32 Tennessee $40,330 9% below national
33 Ohio $40,220 10% below national
34 Florida $39,870 10% below national
35 Michigan $39,870 10% below national
36 North Dakota $39,670 11% below national
37 Arizona $39,500 11% below national
38 Utah $38,930 12% below national
39 Idaho $38,840 13% below national
40 Alabama $37,810 15% below national
41 Nevada $37,560 16% below national
42 New Mexico $37,550 16% below national
43 Texas $37,260 16% below national
44 Kentucky $36,800 17% below national
45 South Dakota $36,800 17% below national
46 Mississippi $36,630 18% below national
47 Arkansas $36,230 19% below national
48 Montana $36,140 19% below national
49 Louisiana $35,870 19% below national
50 Kansas $35,780 20% below national
51 West Virginia $34,360 23% below national
52 Oklahoma $34,170 23% below national
53 Puerto Rico $27,610 38% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 303 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Lexington Park, MD $68,160 +53% above national
2 Urban Honolulu, HI $67,050 +51% above national
3 Redding, CA $60,120 +35% above national
4 Trenton-Princeton, NJ $56,430 +27% above national
5 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $55,700 +25% above national
6 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $54,990 +24% above national
7 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $54,650 +23% above national
8 Bismarck, ND $53,940 +21% above national
9 Wilmington, NC $53,850 +21% above national
10 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $53,820 +21% above national
11 New Haven, CT $53,440 +20% above national
12 Vineland, NJ $52,890 +19% above national
13 Waterbury-Shelton, CT $52,440 +18% above national
14 Iowa City, IA $52,210 +17% above national
15 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $52,010 +17% above national
16 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $51,970 +17% above national
17 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $51,760 +16% above national
18 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $51,480 +16% above national
19 Anchorage, AK $51,130 +15% above national
20 Morristown, TN $51,000 +15% above national
21 Salem, OR $50,800 +14% above national
22 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $50,560 +14% above national
23 Worcester, MA $50,560 +14% above national
24 Rochester, MN $50,070 +13% above national
25 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $49,970 +12% above national
26 Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA $49,870 +12% above national
27 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $49,550 +11% above national
28 Sheboygan, WI $49,490 +11% above national
29 Napa, CA $49,340 +11% above national
30 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $49,250 +11% above national
31 Burlington, NC $49,180 +11% above national
32 Fond du Lac, WI $49,160 +11% above national
33 Raleigh-Cary, NC $49,160 +11% above national
34 Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $48,890 +10% above national
35 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $48,880 +10% above national
36 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $48,510 +9% above national
37 Clarksville, TN-KY $48,480 +9% above national
38 Medford, OR $48,460 +9% above national
39 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $48,440 +9% above national
40 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $48,400 +9% above national
41 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $48,330 +9% above national
42 Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA $48,320 +9% above national
43 Manchester-Nashua, NH $48,250 +9% above national
44 Burlington-South Burlington, VT $48,230 +8% above national
45 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $48,220 +8% above national
46 Auburn-Opelika, AL $48,210 +8% above national
47 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $47,990 +8% above national
48 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $47,790 +7% above national
49 Portland-South Portland, ME $47,780 +7% above national
50 Gainesville, GA $47,710 +7% above national
51 Bakersfield-Delano, CA $47,660 +7% above national
52 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $47,560 +7% above national
53 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $47,500 +7% above national
54 Salinas, CA $47,370 +7% above national
55 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $47,310 +6% above national
56 Richmond, VA $47,290 +6% above national
57 Modesto, CA $47,160 +6% above national
58 Appleton, WI $47,130 +6% above national
59 Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $47,060 +6% above national
60 Lewiston-Auburn, ME $46,850 +5% above national
61 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $46,690 +5% above national
62 Kennewick-Richland, WA $46,480 +5% above national
63 Eau Claire, WI $46,440 +4% above national
64 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $46,330 +4% above national
65 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $46,320 +4% above national
66 Fayetteville, NC $46,300 +4% above national
67 Naples-Marco Island, FL $46,220 +4% above national
68 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN $46,200 +4% above national
69 Colorado Springs, CO $46,180 +4% above national
70 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $46,020 +3% above national
71 Ames, IA $46,000 +3% above national
72 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $45,900 +3% above national
73 Grand Junction, CO $45,860 +3% above national
74 Macon-Bibb County, GA $45,780 +3% above national
75 Rockford, IL $45,760 +3% above national
76 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $45,750 +3% above national
77 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $45,750 +3% above national
78 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $45,740 +3% above national
79 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $45,710 +3% above national
80 Springfield, MA $45,600 +3% above national
81 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $45,550 +2% above national
82 Pittsfield, MA $45,330 +2% above national
83 Kingston, NY $45,280 +2% above national
84 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $45,210 +2% above national
85 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $45,190 +2% above national
86 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $45,090 +1% above national
87 Green Bay, WI $45,080 +1% above national
88 Albany, GA $45,070 +1% above national
89 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $45,060 +1% above national
90 Dover, DE $45,060 +1% above national
91 Winston-Salem, NC $44,860 +1% above national
92 Bangor, ME $44,810 +1% above national
93 Boulder, CO $44,660 same as national
94 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $44,630 same as national
95 Cleveland, OH $44,480 same as national
96 College Station-Bryan, TX $44,420 same as national
97 Greensboro-High Point, NC $44,250 same as national
98 Greenville, NC $44,220 1% below national
99 Lancaster, PA $44,200 1% below national
100 Midland, TX $44,140 1% below national
101 Madison, WI $44,130 1% below national
102 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $44,120 1% below national
103 Reading, PA $44,100 1% below national
104 Syracuse, NY $44,090 1% below national
105 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $44,020 1% below national
106 Columbia, MO $43,980 1% below national
107 Springfield, MO $43,700 2% below national
108 Asheville, NC $43,690 2% below national
109 Lexington-Fayette, KY $43,660 2% below national
110 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $43,620 2% below national
111 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $43,540 2% below national
112 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $43,500 2% below national
113 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA $43,500 2% below national
114 Yuba City, CA $43,470 2% below national
115 Stockton-Lodi, CA $43,450 2% below national
116 Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ $43,380 2% below national
117 Rochester, NY $43,330 3% below national
118 Greeley, CO $43,300 3% below national
119 Eugene-Springfield, OR $43,280 3% below national
120 Canton-Massillon, OH $43,270 3% below national
121 Pittsburgh, PA $43,240 3% below national
122 Reno, NV $43,220 3% below national
123 Utica-Rome, NY $43,060 3% below national
124 Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL $42,990 3% below national
125 Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA $42,990 3% below national
126 Glens Falls, NY $42,790 4% below national
127 Binghamton, NY $42,720 4% below national
128 Kansas City, MO-KS $42,670 4% below national
129 Salisbury, MD $42,670 4% below national
130 Fort Wayne, IN $42,640 4% below national
131 Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL $42,500 4% below national
132 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $42,470 4% below national
133 Akron, OH $42,440 5% below national
134 Lebanon, PA $42,440 5% below national
135 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $42,310 5% below national
136 Columbia, SC $42,290 5% below national
137 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $42,050 5% below national
138 Ann Arbor, MI $42,010 6% below national
139 St. Louis, MO-IL $41,910 6% below national
140 Ithaca, NY $41,710 6% below national
141 Sioux City, IA-NE-SD $41,710 6% below national
142 Roanoke, VA $41,690 6% below national
143 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $41,670 6% below national
144 Kokomo, IN $41,670 6% below national
145 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $41,580 6% below national
146 Columbus, OH $41,520 7% below national
147 Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ $41,410 7% below national
148 Chattanooga, TN-GA $41,390 7% below national
149 Omaha, NE-IA $41,350 7% below national
150 Savannah, GA $41,320 7% below national
151 Dubuque, IA $41,260 7% below national
152 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY $41,190 7% below national
153 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI $41,170 7% below national
154 Bloomington, IL $41,070 8% below national
155 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $41,000 8% below national
156 Brunswick-St. Simons, GA $40,770 8% below national
157 Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI $40,700 8% below national
158 Rocky Mount, NC $40,480 9% below national
159 Pueblo, CO $40,460 9% below national
160 Montgomery, AL $40,440 9% below national
161 Port St. Lucie, FL $40,310 9% below national
162 Albuquerque, NM $40,270 9% below national
163 Santa Fe, NM $40,190 10% below national
164 Cedar Rapids, IA $40,160 10% below national
165 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $40,100 10% below national
166 Spartanburg, SC $39,980 10% below national
167 Lansing-East Lansing, MI $39,940 10% below national
168 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $39,910 10% below national
169 Toledo, OH $39,850 10% below national
170 El Centro, CA $39,840 10% below national
171 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $39,830 10% below national
172 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC $39,830 10% below national
173 Charlottesville, VA $39,760 11% below national
174 Joplin, MO-KS $39,670 11% below national
175 Amherst Town-Northampton, MA $39,580 11% below national
176 York-Hanover, PA $39,580 11% below national
177 Gainesville, FL $39,560 11% below national
178 Williamsport, PA $39,560 11% below national
179 Visalia, CA $39,530 11% below national
180 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $39,500 11% below national
181 Mobile, AL $39,490 11% below national
182 Warner Robins, GA $39,490 11% below national
183 Florence, SC $39,440 11% below national
184 Rapid City, SD $39,440 11% below national
185 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $39,400 11% below national
186 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $39,310 12% below national
187 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $39,220 12% below national
188 Jackson, TN $39,180 12% below national
189 Fargo, ND-MN $39,160 12% below national
190 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $39,150 12% below national
191 Wausau, WI $39,150 12% below national
192 Boise City, ID $39,120 12% below national
193 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $39,120 12% below national
194 Jacksonville, FL $39,120 12% below national
195 Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN $39,070 12% below national
196 Tallahassee, FL $39,020 12% below national
197 Topeka, KS $38,960 12% below national
198 Traverse City, MI $38,950 12% below national
199 Birmingham, AL $38,920 12% below national
200 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC $38,900 13% below national
201 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $38,890 13% below national
202 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $38,830 13% below national
203 Tucson, AZ $38,820 13% below national
204 Fresno, CA $38,740 13% below national
205 St. Joseph, MO-KS $38,680 13% below national
206 Springfield, IL $38,650 13% below national
207 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $38,620 13% below national
208 Billings, MT $38,570 13% below national
209 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $38,510 13% below national
210 Ocala, FL $38,480 13% below national
211 Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL $38,470 13% below national
212 Athens-Clarke County, GA $38,440 14% below national
213 Columbus, GA-AL $38,400 14% below national
214 Flint, MI $38,380 14% below national
215 Knoxville, TN $38,330 14% below national
216 Janesville-Beloit, WI $38,320 14% below national
217 Abilene, TX $38,290 14% below national
218 Missoula, MT $38,190 14% below national
219 Twin Falls, ID $38,130 14% below national
220 Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL $38,020 15% below national
221 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL $38,000 15% below national
222 Bloomington, IN $37,970 15% below national
223 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $37,940 15% below national
224 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $37,900 15% below national
225 Sandusky, OH $37,880 15% below national
226 Sherman-Denison, TX $37,880 15% below national
227 Peoria, IL $37,870 15% below national
228 Flagstaff, AZ $37,840 15% below national
229 Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV $37,840 15% below national
230 State College, PA $37,800 15% below national
231 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI $37,720 15% below national
232 Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ $37,680 15% below national
233 Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA $37,680 15% below national
234 Erie, PA $37,650 15% below national
235 Ogden, UT $37,630 15% below national
236 Sumter, SC $37,630 15% below national
237 Bowling Green, KY $37,600 15% below national
238 Youngstown-Warren, OH $37,590 15% below national
239 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $37,530 16% below national
240 Elkhart-Goshen, IN $37,440 16% below national
241 Evansville, IN $37,440 16% below national
242 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $37,440 16% below national
243 Tyler, TX $37,410 16% below national
244 Hattiesburg, MS $37,390 16% below national
245 Tuscaloosa, AL $37,390 16% below national
246 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $37,160 16% below national
247 Paducah, KY-IL $37,140 16% below national
248 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $37,080 17% below national
249 Laredo, TX $37,040 17% below national
250 Farmington, NM $37,020 17% below national
251 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $36,900 17% below national
252 Wichita, KS $36,860 17% below national
253 Jackson, MS $36,800 17% below national
254 Sioux Falls, SD-MN $36,800 17% below national
255 Jefferson City, MO $36,770 17% below national
256 Las Cruces, NM $36,740 17% below national
257 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $36,680 18% below national
258 Bend, OR $36,630 18% below national
259 Johnson City, TN $36,620 18% below national
260 Wichita Falls, TX $36,370 18% below national
261 Amarillo, TX $36,300 18% below national
262 Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA $36,290 18% below national
263 Lake Charles, LA $36,260 18% below national
264 Corpus Christi, TX $36,120 19% below national
265 Baton Rouge, LA $36,050 19% below national
266 Duluth, MN-WI $36,050 19% below national
267 Decatur, AL $36,030 19% below national
268 Lincoln, NE $35,820 19% below national
269 Chambersburg, PA $35,800 19% below national
270 Springfield, OH $35,740 20% below national
271 Alexandria, LA $35,680 20% below national
272 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH $35,630 20% below national
273 Oklahoma City, OK $35,630 20% below national
274 Cape Girardeau, MO-IL $35,550 20% below national
275 Waco, TX $35,550 20% below national
276 Johnstown, PA $35,300 21% below national
277 Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL $35,260 21% below national
278 Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH $35,250 21% below national
279 Wheeling, WV-OH $35,250 21% below national
280 New Orleans-Metairie, LA $35,180 21% below national
281 Lubbock, TX $35,130 21% below national
282 Hot Springs, AR $34,830 22% below national
283 Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $34,750 22% below national
284 Jonesboro, AR $34,680 22% below national
285 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $34,680 22% below national
286 Niles, MI $34,640 22% below national
287 Monroe, LA $34,230 23% below national
288 Eagle Pass, TX $33,980 24% below national
289 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX $33,820 24% below national
290 El Paso, TX $33,820 24% below national
291 Victoria, TX $33,770 24% below national
292 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX $33,620 24% below national
293 Homosassa Springs, FL $33,610 24% below national
294 Anniston-Oxford, AL $33,150 25% below national
295 Morgantown, WV $32,950 26% below national
296 Dothan, AL $32,920 26% below national
297 Charleston, WV $32,850 26% below national
298 Beckley, WV $32,590 27% below national
299 Longview, TX $32,290 27% below national
300 Shreveport-Bossier City, LA $31,610 29% below national
301 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $29,330 34% below national
302 Tulsa, OK $28,350 36% below national
303 Ponce, PR $21,840 51% below national

Same SOC major group

Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 29 (Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.

Showing 5 of 70 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.

Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale

Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($44,470 here) and reported employment (180,510 jobs here).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Emergency Medical Technicians make?
The median annual salary for Emergency Medical Technicians is $44,470 ($21.38/hour). The salary range spans from $34,130 at the 10th percentile to $62,500 at the 90th percentile.
Where does Emergency Medical Technicians pay rank nationally?
At a published national median of $44,470, Emergency Medical Technicians pay is higher than 18% of the 825 detailed occupations with a published BLS annual median in the May 2025 OEWS release. This compares occupation-level medians, not individual workers, job offers, or this occupation's own worker pay-percentile range.
What state pays Emergency Medical Technicians the most?
Hawaii pays the highest median salary for Emergency Medical Technicians at $66,410/year, which is +49% above the national median.
What education do Emergency Medical Technicians need?
BLS assigns Emergency Medical Technicians to Postsecondary nondegree award for typical education needed for entry.
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Emergency Medical Technicians?
BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for Emergency Medical Technicians in this release. WageDex shows the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations SOC-group rate only as broad context and does not rank it as this occupation's measured rate.
Is Emergency Medical Technicians a good career?
Employment for Emergency Medical Technicians is projected to grow 5.1% from 2024 to 2034, which is faster than average. About 14,100 openings are projected each year.
How does Emergency Medical Technicians pay vary by state?
Emergency Medical Technicians salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $66,410/year, while Puerto Rico pays the least at $27,610/year. BLS data covers 53 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Emergency Medical Technicians?
The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Lexington Park, MD at $68,160/year. BLS reports a median for 303 metropolitan areas for this occupation. The ranking does not establish why values differ.

What to do with this data

How to use Emergency Medical Technicians pay figures in a real decision

  • The 75th-percentile wage is about $50,100/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Hawaii leads at $66,410/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.