SOC 29-2042 · May 2025
EMT Salary
Emts in the US earn a median of $44,470 a year ($22.52 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Emt pay climbed from $36,690 in 2021 to $46,830 in 2025, a +27.6% change in 4 years.
Median annual
$44,470
Half of all Emts in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+27.6% since 2021 · +4.6% YoY
Hourly
$22.52
Job growth 2025-35
+5.8%
US workers
180,510
BLS series
Annual median wage for Emergency Medical Technicians in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Emts is $34,130 – $62,500.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$34,130
25th
$37,960
Median
$44,470
75th
$50,100
90th
$62,500
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Emts. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $34,130 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $37,960 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $44,470 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $50,100 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $62,500 |
Geography
Emt pay by state
Emts earn the most in Hawaii ($66,410, +49% against the national median) and the least in Oklahoma ($34,170). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$44,470
Highest-paying states for emts
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $66,410 | +49% | 560 |
| Alaska | $57,440 | +29% | 310 |
| New Jersey | $53,610 | +21% | 6,120 |
| Washington | $52,690 | +18% | 2,940 |
| Rhode Island | $51,290 | +15% | 430 |
| Connecticut | $50,640 | +14% | 2,190 |
| Massachusetts | $50,230 | +13% | 4,550 |
| Oregon | $49,270 | +11% | 1,970 |
| New York | $48,400 | +9% | 14,840 |
| Maryland | $48,100 | +8% | 3,400 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $66,410 | 560 |
| Alaska | $57,440 | 310 |
| New Jersey | $53,610 | 6,120 |
| Washington | $52,690 | 2,940 |
| Rhode Island | $51,290 | 430 |
| Connecticut | $50,640 | 2,190 |
| Massachusetts | $50,230 | 4,550 |
| Oregon | $49,270 | 1,970 |
| New York | $48,400 | 14,840 |
| Maryland | $48,100 | 3,400 |
| Minnesota | $48,090 | 3,160 |
| Wyoming | $47,070 | 400 |
| New Hampshire | $46,790 | 1,010 |
| Delaware | $46,790 | 950 |
| D.C. | $46,650 | 370 |
| California | $46,380 | 21,880 |
| Maine | $46,340 | 1,110 |
| Colorado | $45,750 | 3,060 |
| Vermont | $45,600 | 790 |
| Georgia | $45,550 | 6,260 |
| Virginia | $45,420 | 4,490 |
| North Carolina | $44,250 | 6,680 |
| Pennsylvania | $43,310 | 10,160 |
| Wisconsin | $43,060 | 3,930 |
| Indiana | $42,740 | 4,160 |
| Illinois | $42,260 | 7,840 |
| Missouri | $42,160 | 2,800 |
| Nebraska | $41,710 | 540 |
| Iowa | $40,660 | 1,510 |
| South Carolina | $40,370 | 4,010 |
| Tennessee | $40,330 | 3,860 |
| Ohio | $40,220 | 5,560 |
| Michigan | $39,870 | 4,230 |
| Florida | $39,870 | 6,060 |
| North Dakota | $39,670 | 760 |
| Arizona | $39,500 | 3,970 |
| Utah | $38,930 | 1,280 |
| Idaho | $38,840 | 780 |
| Alabama | $37,810 | 2,020 |
| Nevada | $37,560 | 1,530 |
| New Mexico | $37,550 | 1,260 |
| Texas | $37,260 | 12,770 |
| South Dakota | $36,800 | 600 |
| Kentucky | $36,800 | 2,770 |
| Mississippi | $36,630 | 1,390 |
| Arkansas | $36,230 | 1,120 |
| Montana | $36,140 | 860 |
| Louisiana | $35,870 | 2,450 |
| Kansas | $35,780 | 1,510 |
| West Virginia | $34,360 | 900 |
| Oklahoma | $34,170 | 2,410 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Emts
EMTs and paramedics (BLS SOC 29-2042) provide emergency medical services in pre-hospital settings, responding to 911 calls, stabilizing patients, and transporting them to medical facilities. EMTs require a state-approved training program (typically 120–150 hours) plus state certification; paramedics complete additional 1,200–1,800-hour programs. Pay varies sharply by employer: hospital-based and fire-department EMS typically pays well above the OEWS median; private-ambulance services often pay below.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $34,130 – $62,500. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Hawaii, Alaska and New Jersey. Pay in Hawaii runs 1.9 times the level in Oklahoma, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as postsecondary nondegree award, and projects about 13,800 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 5.8% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Emt salary in the US?
How much does a Emt make an hour?
How much do Emts make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Emts the most?
Is the average Emt salary higher than the median?
Is Emt a growing career?
Open positions
Open Emt roles hiring now
Browse current Emt listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 29-2042. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.