Median Salary
$60,600
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$29.13
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$84,850
entry level starts ~$44,230
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 101,000 employed
How much does a Paramedic make?
Paramedics in the United States bring home a median salary of $60,600 a year, or around $29.13 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $44,230, while the top 10% earn $84,850.
That is $790 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Paramedic salary range by percentile
Half of all Paramedics earn between $49,660 and $73,470 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,230 | $21.26 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $49,660 | $23.88 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $60,600 | $29.13 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $73,470 | $35.32 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,850 | $40.79 |
|
Highest-paying states for Paramedic
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Washington leads the country for Paramedic pay at $104,310 a year, followed by New Jersey ($86,630) and Hawaii ($81,280). At the other end, Oklahoma posts the lowest median at $46,790 — a gap of $57,520 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Paramedic salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Washington $104,310New Jersey $86,630Hawaii $81,280District of Columbia $78,550Connecticut $77,480Minnesota $76,300Oregon $74,840California $74,590New 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
Workforce and education
About 101,000 people work as Paramedics in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $63,360 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Paramedic make in the United States?
The median Paramedic salary in the United States is $60,600 per year, or about $29.13 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $44,230, while the top 10% of earners make $84,850 or more.
How does Paramedic pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Paramedic median of $60,600 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Paramedics the most?
Washington is the highest-paying state for Paramedics, with a median salary of $104,310 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Paramedic?
Becoming a Paramedic typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Paramedics work in the United States?
About 101,000 people were employed as Paramedics in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.