SOC 29-2043 · May 2025
Paramedic Salary
Paramedics in the US earn a median of $60,600 a year ($30.46 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Paramedic pay climbed from $49,500 in 2021 to $63,360 in 2025, a +28.0% change in 4 years.
Median annual
$60,600
Half of all Paramedics 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
+28.0% since 2021 · +4.5% YoY
Hourly
$30.46
Job growth 2025-35
+5.7%
US workers
100,610
BLS series
Annual median wage for Paramedics in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Paramedics is $44,230 – $84,850.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$44,230
25th
$49,660
Median
$60,600
75th
$73,470
90th
$84,850
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Paramedics. 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 | $44,230 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $49,660 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $60,600 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $73,470 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $84,850 |
Geography
Paramedic pay by state
Paramedics earn the most in Washington ($104,310, +72% against the national median) and the least in Oklahoma ($46,790). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$60,600
Highest-paying states for paramedics
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $104,310 | +72% | 2,110 |
| New Jersey | $86,630 | +43% | 540 |
| Hawaii | $81,280 | +34% | 140 |
| D.C. | $78,550 | +30% | 90 |
| Connecticut | $77,480 | +28% | 1,000 |
| Minnesota | $76,300 | +26% | 1,690 |
| Oregon | $74,840 | +23% | 1,210 |
| California | $74,590 | +23% | 5,190 |
| New York | $73,200 | +21% | 6,110 |
| Alaska | $71,860 | +19% | 310 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $104,310 | 2,110 |
| New Jersey | $86,630 | 540 |
| Hawaii | $81,280 | 140 |
| D.C. | $78,550 | 90 |
| Connecticut | $77,480 | 1,000 |
| Minnesota | $76,300 | 1,690 |
| Oregon | $74,840 | 1,210 |
| California | $74,590 | 5,190 |
| New York | $73,200 | 6,110 |
| Alaska | $71,860 | 310 |
| Maryland | $66,660 | 1,910 |
| Massachusetts | $66,340 | 1,860 |
| Utah | $65,420 | 960 |
| Delaware | $64,240 | 340 |
| New Hampshire | $64,210 | 420 |
| Wyoming | $64,040 | 230 |
| Colorado | $63,910 | 2,110 |
| Rhode Island | $63,550 | 160 |
| Maine | $63,050 | 470 |
| North Dakota | $62,320 | 220 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,000 | 4,750 |
| Illinois | $60,660 | 3,890 |
| Iowa | $60,590 | 1,170 |
| Virginia | $60,480 | 1,960 |
| Idaho | $60,380 | 440 |
| Vermont | $60,360 | 190 |
| Indiana | $60,320 | 2,680 |
| Florida | $60,140 | 6,970 |
| Wisconsin | $59,710 | 1,990 |
| Nevada | $59,280 | 950 |
| Missouri | $59,180 | 3,300 |
| Arizona | $58,600 | 2,200 |
| Tennessee | $57,690 | 3,710 |
| Georgia | $57,660 | 3,250 |
| Texas | $57,500 | 8,410 |
| North Carolina | $57,320 | 5,660 |
| Nebraska | $56,230 | 490 |
| Louisiana | $56,050 | 2,040 |
| New Mexico | $55,530 | 810 |
| Mississippi | $54,630 | 1,150 |
| South Carolina | $53,550 | 2,250 |
| Michigan | $52,080 | 2,750 |
| Ohio | $51,300 | 3,600 |
| Kansas | $51,020 | 1,030 |
| Montana | $50,890 | 300 |
| Arkansas | $50,310 | 1,170 |
| Kentucky | $49,890 | 1,800 |
| South Dakota | $48,830 | 280 |
| Alabama | $48,540 | 1,700 |
| West Virginia | $48,460 | 1,090 |
| Oklahoma | $46,790 | 1,590 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Paramedics
Paramedics (BLS SOC 29-2043) provide advanced emergency medical care in pre-hospital settings, administering medications, performing advanced airway management, and managing complex medical and trauma cases. The role requires completion of a 1,200–1,800-hour paramedic program plus state licensure and National Registry certification. Critical-care and flight paramedics command premium pay; rural and private-ambulance paramedics fall closer to the OEWS median.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $44,230 – $84,850. 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 Washington, New Jersey and Hawaii. Pay in Washington runs 2.2 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 4,300 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 5.7% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Paramedic salary in the US?
How much does a Paramedic make an hour?
How much do Paramedics make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Paramedics the most?
Is the average Paramedic salary higher than the median?
Is Paramedic a growing career?
Open positions
Open Paramedic roles hiring now
Browse current Paramedic 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: 29-2043. 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.