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Emergency Medical Technician Salary in the United States

How much does an Emergency Medical Technician make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Emergency Medical Technician in the United States is $40,037 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.

However, an Emergency Medical Technician's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $46,966
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $35,340 to $43,664
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $31,064
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Emergency Medical Technician Salaries

An Emergency Medical Technician's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Emergency Medical Technician Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Emergency Medical Technician's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Emergency Medical Technician (1-3 years): $40,037
  • Paramedic (3-5 years): $48,141
  • EMT/Paramedic Supervisor (5+ years): $65,483
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Emergency Medical Technician1-3 years$40,037
Paramedic3-5 years$48,141
EMT/Paramedic Supervisor5+ years$65,483
View as Graph

How Do Emergency Medical Technicians Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Emergency Medical Technicians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $44,329.
  • California: $44,161.
  • Massachusetts: $43,572.

Top Paying Cities for Emergency Medical Technician

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $50,499
  • San Francisco: $49,946
  • Oakland: $48,893

What Skills Can Increase an Emergency Medical Technician's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 7.49% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Installation (Mentioned in 2.59% Job Postings): The action or process of installing someone or something, or of being installed. the act of installing the state of being installed, something that is installed for use.
  • Cardiac (Mentioned in 1.81% Job Postings): Cardiac means relating to the heart. The adjective cardiac is most often used in a medical context: a doctor who operates on people's hearts is a cardiac surgeon and an irregular heart beat is called "cardiac arrhythmia."
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 7.49%
Installation 2.59%
Cardiac 1.81%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Emergency Medical Technician's salary.

  • Repairing: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Troubleshooting: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Repairing $44,041
10%
Analysis $43,240
8%
Troubleshooting $43,240
8%
Get Latest Data

Emergency Medical Technician Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Emergency Medical Technician salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $42,468. While startup companies pay approximate $36,189.

Emergency Medical Technician Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $36,189
Growth Stage 51~500 $38,202
Established 501~5000 $41,079
Enterprise 5000+ $42,468

Emergency Medical Technician Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Emergency Medical Technician roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Emergency Medical Technician positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Emergency Medical Technician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Emergency Medical Technician

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$48,044$23.020%

How Education impacts an Emergency Medical Technician's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Emergency Medical Technician enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Emergency Medical Technician with a Bachelor's Degree is between $36,306 and $38,652.

Emergency Medical Technician Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Emergency Medical Technician
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.1%
High School 60.6%
Associates 19.6%
Bachelors 16.7%
Masters 1.5%
Doctorate 0.6%
View as Graph

Emergency Medical Technician Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Emergency Medical Technician's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$35,340
Average $40,037/year
$43,664
$2,945
Average $3,336/month
$3,639
$680
Average $770/week
$840
$17
Average $19/hour
$21
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $43,664 $3,639 $840 $21
Average $40,037 $3,336 $770 $19
25th Percentile $35,340 $2,945 $680 $17

Emergency Medical Technician Salary Growth & Career Path

Emergency Medical Technician

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As an Emergency Medical Technician, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Fire Fighter II $62,735 57%
Paramedic $48,141 20%
Police Sergeant $83,560 109%

Most common benefits for Emergency Medical Technician

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Emergency Medical Technician

Here are companies hiring for Emergency Medical Technician and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Emergency Medical Technician

1. Where can an Emergency Medical Technician earn the most?

An Emergency Medical Technician's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, an Emergency Medical Technician earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Emergency Medical Technician is $50,499.

2. What is the highest pay for Emergency Medical Technician?

The highest pay for Emergency Medical Technician is $46,966.

3. What is the lowest pay for Emergency Medical Technician?

The lowest pay for Emergency Medical Technician is $31,064.

4. What are the responsibilities of Emergency Medical Technician?

Responds to emergency calls for medical assistance, assesses the situation, obtains a basic medical history and physical examination of the patient, and provides emergency care at the scene and during transit to the hospital. Utilizes necessary medical equipment to treat the patient and ascertains the extent of their injuries or illness. Communicates with the medical care facility receiving the patient about the patient's condition, status, and arrival time. May require registry in NREMT. Requires a high school diploma or equivalent. Requires Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Requires Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) - Basic. Typically reports to a supervisor. Works under moderate supervision. Gaining or has attained full proficiency in a specific area of discipline. Typically requires 1-3 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Emergency Medical Technician?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Emergency Medical Technician roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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