Emergency Medical Technician salary in Illinois
Emergency Medical Technicians in Illinois earn a median of $42,260 a year ($20.32 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,840 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $135,490 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $44,470. Illinois ranks 26th of 51 states for emergency medical technicians pay. There are 1.3 emergency medical technicians per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $56,080, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for emergency medical technicians in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,420 | $17.51 |
| 25th percentile | $39,430 | $18.96 |
| Median | $42,260 | $20.32 |
| 75th percentile | $49,640 | $23.87 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $135,490 | $65.14 |
| Average (mean) | $56,080 | $26.96 |
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 | $3,521.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,760.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,625.38 |
| Weekly | $812.69 |
| Hourly | $20.32 |
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 Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Rockford, IL | $45,760 | 70 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $44,020 | 5,610 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $41,910 | 1,550 |
| Bloomington, IL | $41,070 | 80 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $39,830 | 160 |
| Springfield, IL | $38,650 | 110 |
| Peoria, IL | $37,870 | 450 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $37,140 | 80 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $35,550 | 50 |
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 Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technician | $46,650 | $22.43 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $75,000 | $36.06 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $71,950 | $34.59 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $46,200 | $22.21 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $79,930 | $38.43 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $56,440 | $27.14 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $46,440 | $22.33 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $49,930 | $24.00 |
| Paramedic | $60,660 | $29.16 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 | $31.08 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $100,660 | $48.40 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $47,100 | $22.64 |
| Opticians, Dispensing | $43,960 | $21.14 |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist | $95,380 | $45.86 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for emergency medical technicians in Illinois is $42,260 a year, or $20.32 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $135,490 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid emergency medical technicians make in Illinois?
The top 10% of emergency medical technicians in Illinois earn at least $135,490 a year. The top 25% earn $49,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for emergency medical technicians in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,420 a year, and a quarter of emergency medical technicians earn $39,430 or less.
How many emergency medical technicians work in Illinois?
About 7,840 emergency medical technicians are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.