Research Summary. Extensive research conducted by the Zippia data science team has revealed the following insights regarding emergency medical technician salaries across various states in the United States for 2026:
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New Jersey offers the highest average emergency medical technician salary at $54,185.
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Oklahoma has the lowest average salary for emergency medical technicians, at $35,016.
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The national average salary for emergency medical technicians stands at $39,743.
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The national hourly wage for emergency medical technicians is $19.11.
For more on our approach, you can review the specific methodology.
Background
When considering job opportunities, salary consistently ranks as the most important factor for many individuals. This is especially true for those in the emergency medical technician field, who often want to know: how much can I expect to earn in my area?
While individual salaries can vary based on location and experience, comprehensive data on average salaries for emergency medical technicians by state provides a valuable benchmark. These figures reflect the national landscape and can help you set realistic salary expectations based on your state.
Currently, New Jersey leads with the highest salary for emergency medical technicians in the country.
Here’s a snapshot of the top ten states for emergency medical technician salaries:
Let’s delve deeper into the data and provide a comprehensive ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Emergency Medical Technicians By State
| Rank | State | Average Emergency Medical Technician Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $54,185 | $30,000 | $96,000 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $53,789 | $30,000 | $93,000 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $51,591 | $30,000 | $87,000 |
| 4 | New York | $51,505 | $29,000 | $90,000 |
| 5 | Delaware | $50,596 | $28,000 | $90,000 |
| 6 | Vermont | $49,871 | $30,000 | $81,000 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $49,824 | $28,000 | $86,000 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $49,758 | $29,000 | $83,000 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $48,420 | $27,000 | $85,000 |
| 10 | Maryland | $47,465 | $26,000 | $84,000 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $46,560 | $29,000 | $74,000 |
| 12 | Virginia | $46,539 | $26,000 | $83,000 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $46,142 | $26,000 | $79,000 |
| 14 | Illinois | $44,978 | $28,000 | $72,000 |
| 15 | Maine | $44,841 | $27,000 | $73,000 |
| 16 | Michigan | $44,666 | $26,000 | $74,000 |
| 17 | Oregon | $44,022 | $33,000 | $58,000 |
| 18 | Ohio | $43,861 | $25,000 | $74,000 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $43,578 | $27,000 | $68,000 |
| 20 | Alaska | $43,405 | $36,000 | $50,000 |
| 21 | Washington | $42,795 | $32,000 | $55,000 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $42,208 | $28,000 | $62,000 |
| 23 | Georgia | $42,037 | $25,000 | $69,000 |
| 24 | Indiana | $42,009 | $25,000 | $68,000 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $41,840 | $24,000 | $72,000 |
| 26 | California | $41,798 | $29,000 | $59,000 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $41,200 | $26,000 | $65,000 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $41,003 | $25,000 | $66,000 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $40,880 | $28,000 | $58,000 |
| 30 | Nevada | $40,453 | $28,000 | $56,000 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $40,018 | $31,000 | $50,000 |
| 32 | Texas | $39,272 | $25,000 | $60,000 |
| 33 | Utah | $39,126 | $29,000 | $52,000 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $39,093 | $22,000 | $66,000 |
| 35 | Iowa | $38,040 | $25,000 | $57,000 |
| 36 | Florida | $37,724 | $22,000 | $62,000 |
| 37 | Missouri | $37,521 | $24,000 | $56,000 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $37,220 | $22,000 | $61,000 |
| 39 | Montana | $36,952 | $28,000 | $47,000 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $36,592 | $26,000 | $50,000 |
| 41 | Idaho | $36,499 | $27,000 | $47,000 |
| 42 | Kansas | $36,491 | $25,000 | $53,000 |
| 43 | Colorado | $36,433 | $26,000 | $49,000 |
| 44 | North Dakota | $36,360 | $26,000 | $49,000 |
| 45 | Alabama | $36,335 | $22,000 | $58,000 |
| 46 | Arizona | $35,888 | $24,000 | $51,000 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $35,727 | $24,000 | $51,000 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $35,610 | $23,000 | $54,000 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $35,404 | $26,000 | $46,000 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $35,016 | $23,000 | $51,000 |
Methodology: Emergency Medical Technician Salary By State
To accurately gauge emergency medical technician salaries across states, Zippia compiled data from multiple reliable sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This data was further supplemented with actual salaries posted in job listings. The result is a weighted average that reflects the average pay for emergency medical technicians by state.
We ranked each state based on the average annual salary data, identifying the state with the highest salary as the top-ranking state for emergency medical technicians.
Emergency Medical Technician Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for emergency medical technicians?
The highest-paid state for emergency medical technicians is New Jersey, with an average salary of $54,185 per year.
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What city pays emergency medical technicians the most?
New Brunswick, NJ ranks as the highest-paying city for emergency medical technicians, with an average salary of $54,165 per year.
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What is the worst state for emergency medical technicians?
The state with the lowest average salary for emergency medical technicians is Oklahoma, offering an average salary of $35,016 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
