California Median
$46,380
per year
Hourly Rate
$22.30
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+4% vs US median
US median $44,470
State Rank
#16 of 51
21,880 employed here
How much does an Emergency Medical Technician make in California?
Emergency Medical Technicians in California take home a median of $46,380 annually — roughly $22.30 an hour — which runs 4% above the national median of $44,470.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $38,740 while the top 10% make $78,150 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $42,610 and $59,180 a year.
Emergency Medical Technician salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,740 | $18.63 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $42,610 | $20.49 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $46,380 | $22.30 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $59,180 | $28.45 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,150 | $37.57 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 16th out of 51 states and territories for Emergency Medical Technician pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Emergency Medical Technician salary in other states
Hawaii $66,410Alaska $57,440New Jersey $53,610Washington $52,690Rhode Island $51,290Connecticut $50,640Massachusetts $50,230Oregon $49,270New York $48,400Maryland $48,100Minnesota $48,090Wyoming $47,070Delaware $46,790New Hampshire $46,790District of Columbia $46,650Maine $46,340Colorado $45,750Vermont $45,600Georgia $45,550Virginia $45,420North Carolina $44,250Pennsylvania $43,310Wisconsin $43,060Indiana $42,740Illinois $42,260Missouri $42,160Nebraska $41,710Iowa $40,660South Carolina $40,370Tennessee $40,330Ohio $40,220Florida $39,870Michigan $39,870North Dakota $39,670Arizona $39,500Utah $38,930Idaho $38,840Alabama $37,810Nevada $37,560New Mexico $37,550Texas $37,260Kentucky $36,800South Dakota $36,800Mississippi $36,630Arkansas $36,230Montana $36,140Louisiana $35,870Kansas $35,780West Virginia $34,360Oklahoma $34,170
Working as an Emergency Medical Technician in California
Nationally, about 181,000 people work as Emergency Medical Technicians in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($46,380) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Emergency Medical Technician make in California?
The median Emergency Medical Technician salary in California is $46,380 per year, or about $22.30 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $38,740 at the entry level to $78,150 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Emergency Medical Technicians about 4% more than the national median of $44,470. California ranks 16th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Emergency Medical Technicians?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $46,380 a year. About 21,880 Emergency Medical Technicians are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Emergency Medical Technician salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.