Emergency Medical Technician salary in California
Emergency Medical Technicians in California earn a median of $46,380 a year ($22.30 an hour), based on BLS data for 21,880 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,150 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $44,470. California ranks 16th of 51 states for emergency medical technicians pay. There are 1.2 emergency medical technicians per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $52,900, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for emergency medical technicians in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,740 | $18.62 |
| 25th percentile | $42,610 | $20.49 |
| Median | $46,380 | $22.30 |
| 75th percentile | $59,180 | $28.45 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,150 | $37.57 |
| Average (mean) | $52,900 | $25.43 |
Half of emergency medical technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,865 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,932.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,783.85 |
| Weekly | $891.92 |
| Hourly | $22.30 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Emergency Medical Technician salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Redding, CA | $60,120 | 80 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $54,650 | 830 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $51,970 | 70 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $51,480 | 3,580 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $49,550 | 1,250 |
| Napa, CA | $49,340 | 120 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $47,660 | 270 |
| Salinas, CA | $47,370 | 130 |
| Modesto, CA | $47,160 | 440 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $45,750 | 350 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $45,710 | 340 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $45,190 | 120 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $45,090 | 6,610 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $43,620 | 1,750 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $43,500 | 2,340 |
| Yuba City, CA | $43,470 | 90 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $43,450 | 390 |
| El Centro, CA | $39,840 | 50 |
| Visalia, CA | $39,530 | 170 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $39,310 | n/a |
| Fresno, CA | $38,740 | 710 |
Highest-paying states for emergency medical technicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $66,410 |
| Alaska | $57,440 |
| New Jersey | $53,610 |
| Washington | $52,690 |
| Rhode Island | $51,290 |
| Connecticut | $50,640 |
| Massachusetts | $50,230 |
| Oregon | $49,270 |
| New York | $48,400 |
| Maryland | $48,100 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $79,750 | $38.34 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $55,110 | $26.50 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $76,010 | $36.54 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $60,390 | $29.03 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $121,260 | $58.30 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $61,810 | $29.71 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $49,140 | $23.62 |
| Surgical Technologist | $81,310 | $39.09 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $60,630 | $29.15 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $128,530 | $61.79 |
| Opticians, Dispensing | $57,990 | $27.88 |
| Dietetic Technician | $46,410 | $22.31 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $78,170 | $37.58 |
| Paramedic | $74,590 | $35.86 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-2042. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a emergency medical technician make in California?
The median salary for emergency medical technicians in California is $46,380 a year, or $22.30 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid emergency medical technicians make in California?
The top 10% of emergency medical technicians in California earn at least $78,150 a year. The top 25% earn $59,180 or more.
What is the starting pay for emergency medical technicians in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,740 a year, and a quarter of emergency medical technicians earn $42,610 or less.
How many emergency medical technicians work in California?
About 21,880 emergency medical technicians are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.