There were approximately 167,000 emergency medical technicians (EMTs) working in the U.S. as of May 2023 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  EMTs work in varied settings, including ambulance service providers, public and private hospitals, and local government agencies. Unlike many other trained healthcare professionals, emergency medical technicians earn lower average salaries and wages than workers in most other occupations.  Per BLS estimates, as of May 2023, the national mean wage for EMTs was $43,100 annually.  Pay for the profession varies widely from state to state, with EMTs in some states making double annually what their peers earn elsewhere. As of May 2023, according to BLS annual mean wage data, the ten best and worst states for emergency medical technician pay were:

The Best and Worst States for Emergency Medical Technician Pay

Best Paying States
Hawaii	$65,200
Alaska	$53,670
District of Columbia	$53,420
California	$52,100
Illinois	$51,920
Maryland	$51,640
Connecticut	$50,530
Massachusetts	$50,170
New Jersey	$48,470
Oregon	$48,150

Worst Paying States
Missouri	$37,450
Wyoming	$36,920
Arizona	$36,420
Montana	$36,130
Louisiana	$35,660
Arkansas	$34,450
Mississippi	$33,920
Kansas	$33,310
West Virginia	$33,150
Oklahoma	$32,830

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on June 1, 2024