Highest-Paying Emergency Medical Technician Jobs [2023]

Research Summary. Using a combination of public government and company data as well as data gathered from thousands of job postings, the Zippia data team has created average salary estimates for jobs across the US. Using that data set, the team has identified the types of emergency medical technicians that are the highest paid based on their average annual salaries.

Here is a summary of our findings for the highest-paying types of emergency medical technicians:

• Emergency Department Registered Nurse is the highest-paid type of emergency medical technician with an average salary of $81,260 and an average hourly rate of $39.07.

• The second highest-paying type of emergency medical technician is ambulance driver, with an average salary of $53,002.

• The average emergency medical technician salary is $39,743 per year, and the average hourly pay is $19.11.

Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs

Background

Choosing a career path can be difficult, and while pay shouldn’t be the only thing you consider in your decision, it is a significant factor. So if you’d like to work as an emergency medical technician, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of emergency medical technicians are so that you can plan your career progression.

Here are the top salaries for different types of emergency medical technicians:

1. Emergency Department Registered Nurse

   Average Salary: $81,260

   An emergency registered nurse is first in line for patients who need a response. These nurses are first to respond to emergency cases such as trauma, allergic reactions, and injuries. They assist doctors and other medical staff in emergency medical care. It is their responsibility to always provide high-quality standards for nursing. The skills they should possess include diligence, attention to detail, levelheadedness, and strong communication. They also need to be knowledgeable about emergency care.

2. Ambulance Driver

   Average Salary: $53,002

3. Firefighter/Paramedic

   Average Salary: $51,764

   Firefighters/paramedics handle emergency triage, ensure patient stability, and acute medical assessment. These professionals provide emergency medical care to infant, child, and adult trauma and medical patients based on assessment findings. They manage paramedic/EMT continuing education programs. They are trained in HAZMAT response and do exercises on a monthly basis. It is their responsibility to coordinate blood-borne infection and CPR yearly skills training and re-certification for county volunteers and employees.

4. Flight Paramedic

   Average Salary: $50,261

   Flight Paramedics are responsible for providing emergency medical care to patients while in transport to a medical facility. Their duties include carrying out pre-hospital life support medical care, managing patient care documentation, participate in clinical experiences, conduct equipment maintenance, reporting failure of equipment, and maintaining supplies. They are responsible for healthcare referrals, outreach education activities, pre-mission checklists, and employee orientation. Flight Paramedics also contribute to the departmental quality by undertaking research and ensure operations comply with safety standards.

5. Paramedic

   Average Salary: $44,640

   A paramedic is a healthcare professional who provides advanced medical care and emergency treatment to patients in the field. Although they can work on ambulances or hospital emergency rooms, paramedics may work as part of a helicopter’s flight crew to transport critically ill patients to a specialized hospital. Paramedics are required to create a patient care report and document the medical care of patients they are treating. Also, paramedics need to follow the guidelines they learned in training from their physician who supervises their work.

Below is a full table of the average pay for various emergency medical technician that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.

Highest-Paying Types Of Emergency Medical Technicians

Methodology

Zippia uses publicly published information from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to create its salary estimates.

Our data science team also checks job postings and company-published resources for additional up-to-date salary information for emergency medical technicians.

Once they’ve gathered the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title they’re estimating a salary for. For more details on our salary estimates, you can read the detailed methodology.

Highest-Paying Types Of Emergency Medical Technician Jobs FAQs

1. What is the highest-paid emergency medical technician job?

   The highest-paid emergency medical technician job is an emergency department registered nurse. Emergency Department Registered Nurses earn an average salary of $81,260, which is $ 39.07 hourly.

   An emergency registered nurse is first in line for patients who need a response. These nurses are first to respond to emergency cases such as trauma, allergic reactions, and injuries. They assist doctors and other medical staff in emergency medical care. It is their responsibility to always provide high-quality standards for nursing. The skills they should possess include diligence, attention to detail, levelheadedness, and strong communication. They also need to be knowledgeable about emergency care.

2. What is a good salary for an emergency medical technician?

   A good salary for an emergency medical technician is $39,743 or more. The average emergency medical technician salary is $39,743, so those making at least $39,743 are earning above-average paychecks.

   Keep in mind, however, that the average emergency medical technician salary does fluctuate based on location, as companies will adjust their pay scales based on the cost of living in that area. Research what the average salary is in your area for someone of your expertise and experience level to get a more accurate view on how well you’re being paid.

   In addition, if you’re just starting your career as an emergency medical technician, the average entry level salary is $0, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $39,743 average, as this includes all emergency medical technicians of all skill and experience levels.

3. Do Emergency Medical Technician jobs pay well?

   No, emergency medical technician jobs don’t pay well. As in any industry, some emergency medical technician jobs pay better than others, but the average emergency medical technician salary of $39,743 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.

   In addition to this, many emergency medical technician jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of emergency medical technicians earning $0 a year on average.

   Emergency Medical Technicians’ salaries will fluctuate based on their experience level, industry, and location, so pay attention to these factors when you’re looking for a job as an emergency medical technician. Do your research on the going rate for an emergency medical technician in your area with your expertise, and don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary based on that information.

4. Where do emergency medical technicians get paid the most?

   Emergency Medical Technicians get paid the most in New Jersey. In New Jersey, emergency medical technicians earn an average annual salary of $54,185 and an average hourly wage of $26.05.

   Following NJ, the states with the highest-paid emergency medical technicians are Delaware, West Virginia, and District of Columbia, with average annual salaries of $50,596, $46,142, and $54,920 respectively.

   The cities with the highest-paid emergency medical technician salaries are:

   1. New Brunswick, NJ – $54,165

   2. New York, NY – $51,658

   3. Boston, MA – $51,411

Author

Chris Kolmar

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.