Paramedic salary in California
Paramedics in California earn a median of $74,590 a year ($35.86 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,190 workers.
Pay ranges from $53,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $102,450 for the top 10%. That is 23% higher than the national median of $60,600. California ranks 8th of 51 states for paramedics pay. There are 0.28 paramedics per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.44). The average (mean) salary is $77,740, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for paramedics in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,370 | $25.66 |
| 25th percentile | $63,490 | $30.52 |
| Median | $74,590 | $35.86 |
| 75th percentile | $90,730 | $43.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,450 | $49.26 |
| Average (mean) | $77,740 | $37.37 |
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 | $6,215.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,107.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,868.85 |
| Weekly | $1,434.42 |
| Hourly | $35.86 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Paramedic salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Redding, CA | $88,740 | 40 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $84,480 | 110 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $83,090 | 780 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $81,430 | 390 |
| Salinas, CA | $80,710 | 50 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $80,590 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $74,900 | 1,200 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $74,080 | 70 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $73,930 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $72,520 | 580 |
| Modesto, CA | $72,170 | 130 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $71,390 | 40 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $70,630 | 430 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $69,050 | 120 |
| Merced, CA | $64,100 | 30 |
| Visalia, CA | $63,840 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for paramedics
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $104,310 |
| New Jersey | $86,630 |
| Hawaii | $81,280 |
| District of Columbia | $78,550 |
| Connecticut | $77,480 |
| Minnesota | $76,300 |
| Oregon | $74,840 |
| California | $74,590 |
| New York | $73,200 |
| Alaska | $71,860 |
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 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $46,380 | $22.30 |
| 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 |
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 29-2043. 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 California?
The median salary for paramedics in California is $74,590 a year, or $35.86 an hour. Pay ranges from $53,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $102,450 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paramedics make in California?
The top 10% of paramedics in California earn at least $102,450 a year. The top 25% earn $90,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for paramedics in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $53,370 a year, and a quarter of paramedics earn $63,490 or less.
How many paramedics work in California?
About 5,190 paramedics are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.