Salary · CA · SOC 29-2042
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) salary in California, per year and per hour
BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for emergency medical technicians in California, with every metro area BLS publishes.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026. Publisher page
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Emergency Medical Technician pay in California vs the US
| Measure | CA annual | CA hourly | US annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median (50th percentile) | $46,380 | $22.30 | $44,470 |
| Mean (average) | $52,900 | $25.43 | $46,830 |
| 10th percentile | $38,740 | $18.62 | $34,130 |
| 25th percentile | $42,610 | $20.49 | $37,960 |
| 75th percentile | $59,180 | $28.45 | $50,100 |
| 90th percentile | $78,150 | $37.57 | $62,500 |
Employment in California: 21,880. Location quotient: 1.03 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page
Emergency Medical Technician salary by metro area in California
| Metro area | Median annual | Median hourly | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $45,090 | $21.68 | 6,610 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $51,480 | $24.75 | 3,580 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $43,500 | $20.92 | 2,340 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $43,620 | $20.97 | 1,750 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $49,550 | $23.82 | 1,250 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $54,650 | $26.27 | 830 |
| Fresno, CA | $38,740 | $18.62 | 710 |
| Modesto, CA | $47,160 | $22.67 | 440 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $43,450 | $20.89 | 390 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $45,750 | $22.00 | 350 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $45,710 | $21.98 | 340 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $47,660 | $22.91 | 270 |
| Visalia, CA | $39,530 | $19.01 | 170 |
| Salinas, CA | $47,370 | $22.77 | 130 |
| Napa, CA | $49,340 | $23.72 | 120 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $45,190 | $21.73 | 120 |
| Yuba City, CA | $43,470 | $20.90 | 90 |
| Redding, CA | $60,120 | $28.90 | 80 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $51,970 | $24.98 | 70 |
| El Centro, CA | $39,840 | $19.15 | 50 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $39,310 | $18.90 | Not published |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page
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Questions
How much does an EMT make per hour in California?
The median hourly wage was $22.30 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $18.62 and the 90th was $37.57.
What is the average EMT salary in California?
BLS reports a mean (average) of $52,900 a year and a median of $46,380 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.
Do emergency medical technicians in California earn more than the US median?
The California median of $46,380 is 4% higher than the US median of $44,470 (BLS, May 2025).
How does California rank for emergency medical technician pay?
California ranks 16 of 51 states (plus DC) by median annual wage for emergency medical technicians (BLS, May 2025).
Where do these numbers come from?
The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates, SOC 29-2042. Figures BLS did not publish are left out.