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Best states for a paramedic
Quoted expert
April Heinze
- Rank 1 - 10
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Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for paramedics? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for paramedic jobs.As paramedics are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for paramedics. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a paramedic, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
In order to get you the best states for paramedics, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a paramedic, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for paramedics in 2025
1. West Virginia
Total paramedic jobs: 79 Average annual salary: $52,206 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 1.39
2. New Hampshire
Total paramedic jobs: 84 Average annual salary: $51,533 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
3. Louisiana
Total paramedic jobs: 146 Average annual salary: $49,170 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
4. New Jersey
Total paramedic jobs: 341 Average annual salary: $53,332 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
5. Tennessee
Total paramedic jobs: 307 Average annual salary: $46,114 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location Quotient: 1.41
6. Arizona
Total paramedic jobs: 274 Average annual salary: $47,871 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
7. Vermont
Total paramedic jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $51,781 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 0.81
8. Nevada
Total paramedic jobs: 99 Average annual salary: $47,185 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
9. Oregon
Total paramedic jobs: 132 Average annual salary: $52,002 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
10. Maine
Total paramedic jobs: 86 Average annual salary: $46,439 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 1.75
Paramedic jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a paramedic
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a paramedic
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | $52,206 | $36,000 | 1,815,857 | 79 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $51,533 | $35,000 | 1,342,795 | 84 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $49,170 | $35,000 | 4,684,333 | 146 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $53,332 | $35,000 | 9,005,644 | 341 |
| 5 | Tennessee | $46,114 | $33,000 | 6,715,984 | 307 |
| 6 | Arizona | $47,871 | $35,000 | 7,016,270 | 274 |
| 7 | Vermont | $51,781 | $36,000 | 623,657 | 23 |
| 8 | Nevada | $47,185 | $34,000 | 2,998,039 | 99 |
| 9 | Oregon | $52,002 | $40,000 | 4,142,776 | 132 |
| 10 | Maine | $46,439 | $32,000 | 1,335,907 | 86 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $54,713 | $36,000 | 6,859,819 | 159 |
| 12 | Washington | $51,643 | $40,000 | 7,405,743 | 251 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $48,647 | $32,000 | 12,805,537 | 425 |
| 14 | Mississippi | $45,926 | $33,000 | 2,984,100 | 93 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $50,602 | $33,000 | 1,059,639 | 16 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $46,360 | $34,000 | 5,795,483 | 192 |
| 17 | Alaska | $48,978 | $44,000 | 739,795 | 38 |
| 18 | Michigan | $45,057 | $32,000 | 9,962,311 | 287 |
| 19 | New York | $50,050 | $33,000 | 19,849,399 | 428 |
| 20 | California | $53,131 | $38,000 | 39,536,653 | 567 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | $44,638 | $33,000 | 3,930,864 | 121 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $54,135 | $36,000 | 693,972 | 31 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $47,607 | $31,000 | 3,588,184 | 155 |
| 24 | Delaware | $49,584 | $33,000 | 961,939 | 23 |
| 25 | Indiana | $41,871 | $30,000 | 6,666,818 | 397 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $46,035 | $35,000 | 1,920,076 | 38 |
| 27 | Utah | $46,049 | $34,000 | 3,101,833 | 82 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $46,114 | $35,000 | 5,576,606 | 159 |
| 29 | Kansas | $42,943 | $32,000 | 2,913,123 | 134 |
| 30 | Wyoming | $41,298 | $32,000 | 579,315 | 28 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $41,278 | $30,000 | 2,088,070 | 169 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $42,385 | $33,000 | 755,393 | 34 |
| 33 | Montana | $43,664 | $34,000 | 1,050,493 | 37 |
| 34 | Texas | $40,904 | $29,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,113 |
| 35 | Ohio | $41,355 | $29,000 | 11,658,609 | 359 |
| 36 | Iowa | $41,070 | $31,000 | 3,145,711 | 155 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $41,898 | $29,000 | 5,024,369 | 175 |
| 38 | Maryland | $46,566 | $31,000 | 6,052,177 | 163 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $41,078 | $28,000 | 10,273,419 | 392 |
| 40 | Florida | $39,510 | $28,000 | 20,984,400 | 851 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $37,407 | $29,000 | 869,666 | 57 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $43,214 | $35,000 | 1,427,538 | 27 |
| 43 | Virginia | $44,235 | $30,000 | 8,470,020 | 229 |
| 44 | Georgia | $39,264 | $28,000 | 10,429,379 | 523 |
| 45 | Alabama | $40,263 | $29,000 | 4,874,747 | 142 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $39,917 | $29,000 | 3,004,279 | 95 |
| 47 | Colorado | $42,977 | $32,000 | 5,607,154 | 149 |
| 48 | Idaho | $42,140 | $32,000 | 1,716,943 | 35 |
| 49 | Illinois | $42,163 | $30,000 | 12,802,023 | 338 |
| 50 | Missouri | $39,916 | $30,000 | 6,113,532 | 237 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $39,066 | $28,000 | 4,454,189 | 136 |
Highest paying states for paramedics
| Rank | State | Avg. Paramedic Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | $52,206 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $51,533 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $49,170 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $53,332 |
| 5 | Tennessee | $46,114 |
| 6 | Arizona | $47,871 |
| 7 | Vermont | $51,781 |
| 8 | Nevada | $47,185 |
| 9 | Oregon | $52,002 |
| 10 | Maine | $46,439 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $54,713 |
| 12 | Washington | $51,643 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $48,647 |
| 14 | Mississippi | $45,926 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $50,602 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $46,360 |
| 17 | Alaska | $48,978 |
| 18 | Michigan | $45,057 |
| 19 | New York | $50,050 |
| 20 | California | $53,131 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | $44,638 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $54,135 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $47,607 |
| 24 | Delaware | $49,584 |
| 25 | Indiana | $41,871 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $46,035 |
| 27 | Utah | $46,049 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $46,114 |
| 29 | Kansas | $42,943 |
| 30 | Wyoming | $41,298 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $41,278 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $42,385 |
| 33 | Montana | $43,664 |
| 34 | Texas | $40,904 |
| 35 | Ohio | $41,355 |
| 36 | Iowa | $41,070 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $41,898 |
| 38 | Maryland | $46,566 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $41,078 |
| 40 | Florida | $39,510 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $37,407 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $43,214 |
| 43 | Virginia | $44,235 |
| 44 | Georgia | $39,264 |
| 45 | Alabama | $40,263 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $39,917 |
| 47 | Colorado | $42,977 |
| 48 | Idaho | $42,140 |
| 49 | Illinois | $42,163 |
| 50 | Missouri | $39,916 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $39,066 |
Expert opinions on the best states for paramedics
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for paramedics to find work opportunities?
April Heinze
NENA's 9-1-1 and PSAP Operations Director, NENA
There are job opportunities within the public safety communications field all across the United States. Prospective candidates simply need to go to the local, county, and/or state municipality websites and search for job vacancies.
Paramedic best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025