Paramedic Salary: Pay and Take-Home by State
The typical (median) paramedic in the US earns $29.13 an hour, or $60,600 a year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for 100,610 jobs (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,660 and $73,470 a year, and the top 10% earn more than $84,850.
After federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, the median salary leaves a single filer about $50,872 a year ($4,239 a month) in a state with no income tax. Using each state's own median pay for this job, take-home is highest in Washington ($80,765 a year) and lowest in Oklahoma ($38,224).
Paramedic pay range
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly | Take-home a year* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $21.27 | $44,230 | $37,719 |
| 25th percentile | $23.88 | $49,660 | $42,082 |
| Median (half earn more) | $29.13 | $60,600 | $50,872 |
| 75th percentile | $35.32 | $73,470 | $60,516 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $40.80 | $84,850 | $68,522 |
The average (mean) is $63,360 a year ($30.46 an hour), above the median because a minority of high earners pull it up. *Take-home after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer in a state with no income tax (2026). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 29-2043. Source
Paramedic salary by state
The highest median pay for paramedics is in Washington ($104,310), New Jersey ($86,630), Hawaii ($81,290), District of Columbia ($78,560), Connecticut ($77,480). The lowest is in Oklahoma ($46,800), West Virginia ($48,460), Alabama ($48,550).
The most paramedics work in Texas (8,410), Florida (6,970), New York (6,110).
After each state's taxes, the most take-home at the local median is in Washington ($80,765), New Jersey ($65,291), Hawaii ($60,976), Connecticut ($59,314), Alaska ($59,024). A state with no income tax can come out ahead of a state that pays more before tax.
Median pay in each state for this job (BLS, May 2025), and take-home at that pay. Take-home is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the state's income tax and payroll programs, for a single filer with a 2026 W-4 and no deductions. Local taxes are not included. *District of Columbia: federal taxes only (DC income tax is not modeled yet).
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Take-home a year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $23.34 | $48,550 | $39,185 | 1,700 |
| Alaska | $34.55 | $71,860 | $59,024 | 310 |
| Arizona | $28.17 | $58,590 | $48,085 | 2,200 |
| Arkansas | $24.19 | $50,320 | $41,238 | 1,170 |
| California | $35.86 | $74,590 | $57,318 | 5,190 |
| Colorado | $30.73 | $63,920 | $50,688 | 2,110 |
| Connecticut | $37.25 | $77,480 | $59,314 | 1,000 |
| Delaware | $30.88 | $64,230 | $50,634 | 340 |
| District of Columbia | $37.77 | $78,560 | $64,097* | 90 |
| Florida | $28.91 | $60,130 | $50,494 | 6,970 |
| Georgia | $27.72 | $57,660 | $46,381 | 3,250 |
| Hawaii | $39.08 | $81,290 | $60,976 | 140 |
| Idaho | $29.03 | $60,380 | $48,356 | 440 |
| Illinois | $29.16 | $60,650 | $48,055 | 3,890 |
| Indiana | $29.00 | $60,320 | $47,699 | 2,680 |
| Iowa | $29.13 | $60,590 | $49,096 | 1,170 |
| Kansas | $24.53 | $51,020 | $41,127 | 1,030 |
| Kentucky | $23.99 | $49,900 | $40,646 | 1,800 |
| Louisiana | $26.95 | $56,060 | $45,890 | 2,040 |
| Maine | $30.31 | $63,040 | $49,735 | 470 |
| Maryland | $32.05 | $66,660 | $50,950 | 1,910 |
| Massachusetts | $31.89 | $66,330 | $52,328 | 1,860 |
| Michigan | $25.04 | $52,080 | $42,064 | 2,750 |
| Minnesota | $36.68 | $76,290 | $57,779 | 1,690 |
| Mississippi | $26.27 | $54,640 | $44,627 | 1,150 |
| Missouri | $28.45 | $59,180 | $47,885 | 3,300 |
| Montana | $24.47 | $50,900 | $41,440 | 300 |
| Nebraska | $27.04 | $56,240 | $45,413 | 490 |
| Nevada | $28.50 | $59,280 | $49,812 | 950 |
| New Hampshire | $30.87 | $64,210 | $53,773 | 420 |
| New Jersey | $41.65 | $86,630 | $65,291 | 540 |
| New Mexico | $26.70 | $55,540 | $44,983 | 810 |
| New York | $35.19 | $73,200 | $56,591 | 6,110 |
| North Carolina | $27.56 | $57,320 | $46,416 | 5,660 |
| North Dakota | $29.96 | $62,320 | $52,150 | 220 |
| Ohio | $24.67 | $51,310 | $42,255 | 3,600 |
| Oklahoma | $22.50 | $46,800 | $38,224 | 1,590 |
| Oregon | $35.98 | $74,840 | $55,913 | 1,210 |
| Pennsylvania | $29.33 | $61,010 | $49,286 | 4,750 |
| Rhode Island | $30.55 | $63,540 | $50,190 | 160 |
| South Carolina | $25.74 | $53,540 | $43,264 | 2,250 |
| South Dakota | $23.48 | $48,840 | $41,423 | 280 |
| Tennessee | $27.74 | $57,700 | $48,542 | 3,710 |
| Texas | $27.65 | $57,510 | $48,389 | 8,410 |
| Utah | $31.45 | $65,420 | $51,833 | 960 |
| Vermont | $29.02 | $60,360 | $48,894 | 190 |
| Virginia | $29.08 | $60,490 | $48,120 | 1,960 |
| Washington | $50.15 | $104,310 | $80,765 | 2,110 |
| West Virginia | $23.30 | $48,460 | $39,738 | 1,090 |
| Wisconsin | $28.71 | $59,720 | $47,417 | 1,990 |
| Wyoming | $30.79 | $64,040 | $53,636 | 230 |
Overtime and pay rules for paramedics
Paramedics who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. A fire department or other public agency can instead pay overtime on a work period of 7 to 28 days: for fire protection staff, after 212 hours in 28 days (or the same proportion for a shorter period). Source The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not. Source Estimate your deduction.
How the exemptions work across jobs: who gets overtime pay.
Taxes on a paramedic's pay
On the median $60,600, federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare take about 16.1% of pay for a single filer: $5,092 of income tax and $4,636 of Social Security and Medicare a year.
Tax bracket. After the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $44,500, so the top federal rate is 12%. Each extra dollar from a raise or extra shifts is taxed at about 19.65% before state tax: 12% income tax plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare. Source
401(k). Putting 5% ($3,030 a year) into a traditional 401(k) lowers federal income tax by about $364, so it costs about $2,666 of take-home pay.
Self-employed or contract work
BLS pay figures cover employees only; self-employed paramedics are not counted. If you work as a contractor (1099), you pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare (15.3% self-employment tax) and usually make quarterly estimated payments. Use the 1099 Tax Calculator to see what to set aside, and see 1099 vs W-2 take-home pay for how much more a contractor needs to earn.
Jobs with similar pay
| Job | Median yearly | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC Technician | $61,010 | $29.33 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 | $29.12 |
| Firefighter | $59,280 | $28.50 |
| Correctional Officer | $58,940 | $28.34 |
| Truck Driver | $58,640 | $28.19 |
For a full breakdown of a similar wage, see $29 an hour is how much a year.
Paramedic salary questions
How much does a paramedic make?
The median pay is $29.13 an hour, or $60,600 a year (May 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics). The bottom 10% earn less than $44,230 and the top 10% more than $84,850.
How much does a paramedic make after taxes?
About $50,872 a year, or $1,957 every two weeks, on the median salary for a single filer in a state with no income tax. In Oklahoma, at that state's own median pay, it is about $38,224.
How much does a paramedic make a month?
About $5,050 a month before taxes at the median salary, and roughly $4,239 after federal taxes in a state with no income tax.
Which state pays paramedics the most?
Washington, with a median of $104,310 a year ($50.15 an hour). Next are New Jersey ($86,630) and Hawaii ($81,290). After state taxes, take-home at the local median is highest in Washington.
How much does a paramedic make an hour?
The median is $29.13 an hour. The middle half earn $23.88 to $35.32, and the top 10% more than $40.80.
Do paramedics get paid overtime?
Paramedics who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. A fire department or other public agency can instead pay overtime on a work period of 7 to 28 days: for fire protection staff, after 212 hours in 28 days (or the same proportion for a shorter period). The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not.
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All jobs · Hourly to salary chart. BLS data published 2026, reference period May 2025; tax figures checked Oct 26, 2026.