How Much Do Paramedics Make in 2026? (EMT & Paramedic Salary)
By Wealthvieu · Updated
Paramedics in the US earn $49,000 on average — with flight paramedics and fire department medics earning significantly more.
Average EMT & Paramedic Salary in 2026
Certification Level
Average Salary
Hourly Rate
EMT-Basic (EMT-B)
$36,000
$17.31
Advanced EMT (AEMT)
$41,000
$19.71
Paramedic (EMT-P)
$49,000
$23.56
Critical Care Paramedic
$58,000
$27.88
Flight Paramedic
$65,000
$31.25
Paramedic Salary by State
State
Average Salary
Hourly Rate
vs. National
Hawaii
$63,670
$30.61
+30%
Washington
$62,620
$30.10
+28%
California
$59,380
$28.55
+21%
Alaska
$58,960
$28.35
+20%
Maryland
$57,230
$27.51
+17%
Connecticut
$55,700
$26.78
+14%
Massachusetts
$54,820
$26.36
+12%
New York
$54,310
$26.11
+11%
Nevada
$52,180
$25.09
+6%
Colorado
$51,470
$24.75
+5%
Texas
$46,500
$22.36
-5%
Florida
$43,800
$21.06
-11%
Georgia
$40,100
$19.28
-18%
Alabama
$35,500
$17.07
-28%
Paramedic Salary by Employer Type
Employer
Average Salary
Benefits
Fire Department
$55,000-$85,000
Excellent
Hospital-based EMS
$48,000-$60,000
Good
Municipal EMS (government)
$45,000-$65,000
Excellent
Private ambulance
$38,000-$50,000
Fair
Air ambulance/flight
$60,000-$80,000
Good
Industrial/oil field
$55,000-$75,000
Good
Event medical
$25-$50/hour
None
Fire department paramedics often earn the most due to union contracts and firefighter pay scales.
Fire Department Paramedic vs. Private EMS
Factor
Fire Dept Medic
Private EMS
Starting salary
$50,000-$60,000
$35,000-$45,000
Top salary
$80,000-$110,000
$55,000-$70,000
Pension
50-80% of salary
401(k)
Health insurance
Full family
Varies
Job security
Excellent
Moderate
Hiring difficulty
Very competitive
Available
Overtime and Total Earnings
Many paramedics work significant overtime:
Base Salary
OT Hours/Week
Annual OT
Total Earnings
$45,000
8
$13,000
$58,000
$45,000
16
$26,000
$71,000
$55,000
8
$16,000
$71,000
$55,000
16
$32,000
$87,000
24-hour shift schedules often create overtime opportunities.
Flight Paramedic Salary
Component
Amount
Base salary
$55,000-$70,000
Flight pay premium
$10,000-$15,000
Total compensation
$65,000-$85,000
Flight paramedics also receive additional certifications: FP-C (Flight Paramedic Certified) and CCP-C (Critical Care Paramedic).
How to Become a Paramedic
Step
Duration
Cost
EMT-B training
3-6 months
$1,000-$3,000
Work as EMT-B
6-12 months
Paid
Paramedic training
1-2 years
$5,000-$15,000
National Registry exam
1 month
$400
State licensure
1 month
$100-$200
Total time to paramedic
2-3.5 years
—
Some employers offer paid paramedic training programs.
Paramedic Salary by Experience
Experience Level
Salary Range
New paramedic (0-2 years)
$40,000-$48,000
Experienced (3-5 years)
$48,000-$55,000
Senior (6-10 years)
$52,000-$62,000
Lead/supervisor
$60,000-$75,000
EMS Chief/Director
$75,000-$100,000+
Paramedic Salary After Taxes
Gross Salary
Federal Tax
FICA
State Tax
Take-Home
$40,000
$2,200
$3,060
$1,600
$33,140
$49,000
$3,200
$3,749
$1,960
$40,091
$65,000
$5,500
$4,973
$2,600
$51,927
$80,000
$8,400
$6,120
$3,200
$62,280
Specialty Certifications That Pay More
Certification
Salary Boost
Flight Paramedic (FP-C)
+$10,000-$20,000
Critical Care (CCP-C)
+$5,000-$10,000
Certified Tactical Paramedic
+$5,000-$8,000
Pediatric (CP-C)
+$2,000-$5,000
Community Paramedic
+$3,000-$8,000
Is Paramedic a Good Career?
Pros:
Meaningful, life-saving work
24-hour shifts = more days off
No college degree required
Path to flight/fire careers
Adrenaline and variety
Cons:
Relatively low pay for responsibility
High stress and trauma exposure
Physical demands
Night/weekend work
Burnout common
Bottom Line
Paramedics earn $49,000 average, but fire department medics earn $55,000-$85,000 and flight paramedics earn $65,000-$85,000. Private EMS pays the least at $38,000-$50,000. The career offers fast entry (2-3 years) and meaningful work, but compensation often doesn’t match the life-or-death responsibility. Fire department positions are the most desirable for pay and benefits.