Paramedic salary in the U.S.
Paramedics in the U.S. earn a median of $60,600 a year ($29.13 an hour), based on BLS data for 100,610 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,230 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,850 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $63,360, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for paramedics in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,230 | $21.27 |
| 25th percentile | $49,660 | $23.88 |
| Median | $60,600 | $29.13 |
| 75th percentile | $73,470 | $35.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,850 | $40.80 |
| Average (mean) | $63,360 | $30.46 |
Half of paramedics 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 | $5,050 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,525 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,330.77 |
| Weekly | $1,165.38 |
| Hourly | $29.13 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Paramedic salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $104,310 | 2,110 |
| New Jersey | $86,630 | 540 |
| Hawaii | $81,280 | 140 |
| District of Columbia | $78,550 | 90 |
| Connecticut | $77,480 | 1,000 |
| Minnesota | $76,300 | 1,690 |
| Oregon | $74,840 | 1,210 |
| California | $74,590 | 5,190 |
| New York | $73,200 | 6,110 |
| Alaska | $71,860 | 310 |
| Maryland | $66,660 | 1,910 |
| Massachusetts | $66,340 | 1,860 |
| Utah | $65,420 | 960 |
| Delaware | $64,240 | 340 |
| New Hampshire | $64,210 | 420 |
| Wyoming | $64,040 | 230 |
| Colorado | $63,910 | 2,110 |
| Rhode Island | $63,550 | 160 |
| Maine | $63,050 | 470 |
| North Dakota | $62,320 | 220 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,000 | 4,750 |
| Illinois | $60,660 | 3,890 |
| Iowa | $60,590 | 1,170 |
| Virginia | $60,480 | 1,960 |
| Idaho | $60,380 | 440 |
| Vermont | $60,360 | 190 |
| Indiana | $60,320 | 2,680 |
| Florida | $60,140 | 6,970 |
| Wisconsin | $59,710 | 1,990 |
| Nevada | $59,280 | 950 |
| Missouri | $59,180 | 3,300 |
| Arizona | $58,600 | 2,200 |
| Tennessee | $57,690 | 3,710 |
| Georgia | $57,660 | 3,250 |
| Texas | $57,500 | 8,410 |
| North Carolina | $57,320 | 5,660 |
| Nebraska | $56,230 | 490 |
| Louisiana | $56,050 | 2,040 |
| New Mexico | $55,530 | 810 |
| Mississippi | $54,630 | 1,150 |
| South Carolina | $53,550 | 2,250 |
| Michigan | $52,080 | 2,750 |
| Ohio | $51,300 | 3,600 |
| Kansas | $51,020 | 1,030 |
| Montana | $50,890 | 300 |
| Arkansas | $50,310 | 1,170 |
| Kentucky | $49,890 | 1,800 |
| South Dakota | $48,830 | 280 |
| Alabama | $48,540 | 1,700 |
| West Virginia | $48,460 | 1,090 |
| Oklahoma | $46,790 | 1,590 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,960 | 1,390 |
Best-paying metro areas for paramedics
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $123,310 | 750 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $120,260 | 100 |
| Bellingham, WA | $119,970 | 70 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $119,700 | 80 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $109,620 | 70 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $101,250 | 80 |
| Redding, CA | $88,740 | 40 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $84,480 | 110 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $83,090 | 780 |
| Ogden, UT | $82,650 | 50 |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | $82,310 | 40 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $82,060 | 140 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $81,430 | 390 |
| Salinas, CA | $80,710 | 50 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $80,590 | 60 |
Metro areas with the most paramedics
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 3,850 | $79,550 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,560 | $77,670 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,980 | $60,130 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 1,890 | $63,050 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,760 | $68,640 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,650 | $68,160 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,570 | $60,300 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,490 | $61,940 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 1,310 | $63,450 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,240 | $66,460 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,200 | $74,900 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 1,180 | $61,660 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 1,100 | $53,400 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,090 | $65,090 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,060 | $61,900 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $64,400 | $30.96 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $45,750 | $22.00 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $62,930 | $30.26 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $80,110 | $38.52 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $51,140 | $24.59 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $50,290 | $24.18 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $44,470 | $21.38 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $45,130 | $21.70 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $47,380 | $22.78 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 | $31.08 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 | $46.44 |
| Opticians, Dispensing | $47,260 | $22.72 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $45,570 | $21.91 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $74,310 | $35.73 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-2043. 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 paramedic make in the U.S.?
The median salary for paramedics in the U.S. is $60,600 a year, or $29.13 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,230 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,850 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paramedics make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of paramedics in the U.S. earn at least $84,850 a year. The top 25% earn $73,470 or more.
What is the starting pay for paramedics in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,230 a year, and a quarter of paramedics earn $49,660 or less.
How many paramedics work in the U.S.?
About 100,610 paramedics are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.