How much does a emergency medical technician make?
The median emergency medical technician in the United States earns $41,340 per year, about $19.88 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all emergency medical technicians earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 29-2042.
Emergency medical technician salary range
Pay for emergency medical technicians spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $31,410 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $60,780. The average (mean) wage of $44,790 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $31,410 | $15.10 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $36,730 | $17.66 | |
| Median (50th) | $41,340 | $19.88 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $48,160 | $23.16 | |
| 90th percentile | $60,780 | $29.22 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for emergency medical technicians (SOC 29-2042), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
Emergency medical technician salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Emergency medical technicians earn the most in Hawaii at $61,310 a year, and the least in Arkansas at $31,710. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $61,310 | 550 |
| Alaska | $56,900 | 290 |
| New Jersey | $49,500 | 5,630 |
| Rhode Island | $49,500 | 520 |
| Washington | $48,850 | 3,280 |
| Oregon | $48,070 | 1,760 |
| Connecticut | $47,550 | 2,100 |
| Maryland | $47,390 | 2,970 |
| New York | $46,000 | 14,350 |
| Massachusetts | $45,970 | 4,270 |
| District of Columbia | $45,920 | 410 |
| Maine | $45,720 | 1,010 |
| Minnesota | $45,690 | 2,840 |
| California | $45,680 | 19,020 |
| Delaware | $45,310 | 970 |
| New Hampshire | $45,170 | 1,070 |
| Virginia | $45,060 | 3,780 |
| Colorado | $43,950 | 3,420 |
| Wisconsin | $43,340 | 4,000 |
| Wyoming | $41,330 | 450 |
| Illinois | $40,780 | 8,480 |
| North Carolina | $40,530 | 7,540 |
| Florida | $40,420 | 6,770 |
| Indiana | $39,850 | 3,760 |
| South Dakota | $39,520 | 710 |
| Vermont | $39,520 | 880 |
| Idaho | $39,430 | 700 |
| Nebraska | $39,370 | 540 |
| Iowa | $39,260 | 1,210 |
| Georgia | $39,250 | 5,740 |
| Nevada | $38,980 | 1,390 |
| Michigan | $38,890 | 4,160 |
| South Carolina | $38,670 | 4,270 |
| Missouri | $38,580 | 3,320 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,580 | 9,810 |
| Ohio | $38,140 | 5,190 |
| Arizona | $38,110 | 3,660 |
| North Dakota | $37,670 | 1,270 |
| Tennessee | $37,630 | 3,420 |
| Texas | $37,000 | 13,550 |
| Utah | $36,940 | 1,360 |
| New Mexico | $36,850 | 1,400 |
| Alabama | $36,260 | 2,420 |
| Kentucky | $36,050 | 3,190 |
| Mississippi | $35,980 | 1,300 |
| West Virginia | $35,060 | 1,150 |
| Montana | $34,900 | 680 |
| Kansas | $34,650 | 1,770 |
| Louisiana | $33,990 | 2,290 |
| Oklahoma | $32,420 | 2,160 |
| Arkansas | $31,710 | 1,230 |
State median wages for emergency medical technicians (SOC 29-2042), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for emergency medical technicians
The BLS projects employment of emergency medical technicians to grow 5.8% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 181,900 jobs in 2025 moving toward 192,500 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 13,800 openings a year for emergency medical technicians. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become an emergency medical technician
The typical entry-level education for emergency medical technicians is a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, according to the BLS.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much an emergency medical technician earns
Specialty, work setting, shift differentials, certifications, and region drive the numbers. Hospitals, surgical settings, and high cost metros pay above clinics and rural facilities.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Hawaii, $61,310) and the lowest (Arkansas, $31,710) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 177,980 people work as emergency medical technicians in the United States. At $41,340 a year, the job pays below the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
Emergency medical technician salary FAQ
How much does an emergency medical technician make an hour?
The median hourly wage for an emergency medical technician is $19.88. The middle half of emergency medical technicians earn between $17.66 and $23.16 per hour.
What is the highest emergency medical technician salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of emergency medical technicians earn more than $60,780 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does an emergency medical technician make a year?
The median annual salary for an emergency medical technician is $41,340. The average (mean) wage of $44,790 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being an emergency medical technician a well paid job?
At $41,340 a year, an emergency medical technician earns below the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 177,980 people work as emergency medical technicians in the United States.
Which state pays emergency medical technicians the most?
Hawaii has the highest median salary for emergency medical technicians at $61,310 a year. Alaska ($56,900) and New Jersey ($49,500) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being an emergency medical technician a good career?
Employment of emergency medical technicians is projected to grow 5.8% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 13,800 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become an emergency medical technician?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for emergency medical technicians as a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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