Emergency Medical Technicians Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$38,740
- 25th Percentile — Junior$42,610
- 50th Percentile — Median$46,380
- 75th Percentile — Senior$59,180
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$78,150
Half of Emergency Medical Technicians in California earn more than $46,380. The top 10% make $78,150 or more, while entry-level workers start around $38,740.
Emergency Medical Technicians in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 6th of 51 states for Emergency Medical Technicians pay, at $52,900 per year (13.0% above the U.S. average of $46,830).
- 21,880 people work as Emergency Medical Technicians in California — 12.1% of all U.S. Emergency Medical Technicians jobs.
- Location quotient 1.03: Emergency Medical Technicians jobs are more concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $38,740; the top 10% earn over $78,150.
- Hourly equivalent: $25.43 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $68,110.
- Among healthcare jobs in California, Psychiatrists pays the most ($315,380).
Emergency Medical Technicians Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Emergency Medical Technicians here earn $52,900 on average, placing the state 6th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $52,900 is roughly equivalent to $37,254 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Alaska ($58,800), Illinois ($56,080), Maryland ($55,790) are the closest alternatives for Emergency Medical Technicians weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Healthcare Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Psychiatrists $315,380/yr California +496.2% vs this role
- Radiologists $309,990/yr California +486.0% vs this role
- Nurse Anesthetists $283,780/yr California +436.4% vs this role
- General Internal Medicine Physicians $273,270/yr California +416.6% vs this role
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists $272,520/yr California +415.2% vs this role
- Surgeons All Other $255,620/yr California +383.2% vs this role
- Family Medicine Physicians $252,930/yr California +378.1% vs this role
- Physicians All Other $249,620/yr California +371.9% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Emergency Medical Technicians salary in California?
The average Emergency Medical Technicians salary in California is $52,900 per year (median $46,380), which is 13.0% above the national average of $46,830.
How does California rank for Emergency Medical Technicians pay?
California ranks 6th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Hawaii ($68,110/yr).
How much do entry-level Emergency Medical Technicians make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Emergency Medical Technicians in California earn about $38,740 per year and the 25th percentile is $42,610.
How much do Emergency Medical Technicians make per hour in California?
About $25.43 per hour, based on the $52,900 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Emergency Medical Technicians work in California?
BLS counts 21,880 Emergency Medical Technicians jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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