Salary guide
Emergency Medical Technician Salary & Pay Scale (2026)
What emergency medical technicians earn per year, per hour and per month, with the full percentile range, the factors that move pay and how to earn more.
The median emergency medical technician salary in the U.S. is $44,470 per year, or $21.38 per hour, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $34,130, while the top 10% earned more than $62,500.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
Emergency Medical Technician pay scale
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly* | What it usually reflects |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,130 | $16.41 | Typical for new workers, part-time markets and lower-paying settings |
| 25th percentile | $37,960 | $18.25 | Early career, a year or two of experience |
| Median (50th) | $44,470 | $21.38 | Mid-career: half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $50,100 | $24.09 | Experienced workers, specialists and higher-paying employers |
| 90th percentile | $62,500 | $30.05 | Top earners: senior, specialized, supervisory or high-cost areas |
*Hourly figures are annual wages divided by 2,080 hours. Percentile descriptions are general patterns, not guarantees.
Monthly and biweekly pay
| Pay period | At 25th percentile | At median | At 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per year | $37,960 | $44,470 | $50,100 |
| Per month | $3,163 | $3,706 | $4,175 |
| Every two weeks | $1,460 | $1,710 | $1,927 |
| Per week | $730 | $855 | $963 |
Gross pay before taxes and deductions.
What affects emergency medical technician pay
- Work setting (hospitals and outpatient care centers often pay more than physician offices or nursing homes)
- Shift differentials for nights, weekends and holidays
- Credentials such as national certification or state licensure
- Specialty experience (surgery, cardiology, oncology, pediatrics)
- Geography and cost of living: metropolitan areas and some states pay well above the national median
How to earn more as an emergency medical technician
- Get credentialed: NREMT EMT certification, State EMT license, BLS for Healthcare Providers.
- Build specialty experience: Add IV access and additional medications.
- Move up: roles such as paramedic and flight medic, supervisor, firefighter or nurse typically pay more.
- Negotiate: research local pay and use our salary negotiation guide.
Emergency Medical Technician pay vs. related careers
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of emergency medical technicians to change by +5.8% from 2025–35, faster than average compared with the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 13,800 openings are projected each year, on average, including openings to replace workers who retire or change occupations.
About this data
Figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2025), which covers wage and salary workers nationwide under SOC code 29-2042 (“Emergency medical technicians”). Wages exclude self-employment income, overtime and most bonuses unless they are part of regular pay. We refresh these numbers when BLS releases new estimates each spring.
Emergency Medical Technician salary FAQ
How much does an emergency medical technician make per hour?
The median hourly wage for emergency medical technicians was $21.38 in May 2025 (BLS). Hourly pay for the lowest 10% was about $16.41 and the top 10% earned about $30.05 or more.
How much does an emergency medical technician make a month?
At the median annual wage of $44,470, that works out to about $3,706 per month before taxes, or about $1,710 every two weeks.
What is the starting salary for an emergency medical technician?
New emergency medical technicians often start near the lower end of the range. The 10th percentile was $34,130 and the 25th percentile was $37,960 per year in May 2025. Starting pay depends on location, employer and credentials.
How can emergency medical technicians earn more?
Common ways include earning NREMT EMT certification and State EMT license, gaining specialty experience, taking shifts or roles with premium pay, and moving up the career ladder to roles such as paramedic.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 29-2042 (Emergency medical technicians).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Emergency medical technicians (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.