California Median
$74,590
per year
Hourly Rate
$35.86
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+23% vs US median
US median $60,600
State Rank
#8 of 51
5,190 employed here
How much does a Paramedic make in California?
A Paramedic working in California earns a median salary of $74,590 per year, or about $35.86 per hour. That is 23% above the national median of $60,600 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $53,370 while the top 10% make $102,450 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $63,490 and $90,730 a year.
Paramedic salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,370 | $25.66 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $63,490 | $30.52 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $74,590 | $35.86 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $90,730 | $43.62 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,450 | $49.25 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 8th out of 51 states and territories for Paramedic pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Paramedic salary in other states
Washington $104,310New Jersey $86,630Hawaii $81,280District of Columbia $78,550Connecticut $77,480Minnesota $76,300Oregon $74,840New York $73,200Alaska $71,860Maryland $66,660Massachusetts $66,340Utah $65,420Delaware $64,240New Hampshire $64,210Wyoming $64,040Colorado $63,910Rhode Island $63,550Maine $63,050North Dakota $62,320Pennsylvania $61,000Illinois $60,660Iowa $60,590Virginia $60,480Idaho $60,380Vermont $60,360Indiana $60,320Florida $60,140Wisconsin $59,710Nevada $59,280Missouri $59,180Arizona $58,600Tennessee $57,690Georgia $57,660Texas $57,500North Carolina $57,320Nebraska $56,230Louisiana $56,050New Mexico $55,530Mississippi $54,630South Carolina $53,550Michigan $52,080Ohio $51,300Kansas $51,020Montana $50,890Arkansas $50,310Kentucky $49,890South Dakota $48,830Alabama $48,540West Virginia $48,460Oklahoma $46,790
Working as a Paramedic in California
Nationally, about 101,000 people work as Paramedics in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($74,590) 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 a Paramedic make in California?
The median Paramedic salary in California is $74,590 per year, or about $35.86 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $53,370 at the entry level to $102,450 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Paramedics about 23% more than the national median of $60,600. California ranks 8th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Paramedics?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $74,590 a year. About 5,190 Paramedics 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 Paramedic 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.