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🚑 Paramedic / EMS · BLS median $58,410

Paramedic Salary Calculator: Your Take-Home Pay

The median paramedic earns $58,410 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024) — well above the $41,340 median for entry-level EMTs. Long 24/48-hour shifts mean heavy overtime, and fire-based EMS roles often pay more. Set your pay, pick your state, and see your take-home.

● BLS median $58,410 ● State tax included ● 2026 federal data

🚑 Paramedic take-home pay

Paramedic pay

What paramedics earn — and take home — in 2026

The paramedic is the top clinical tier in pre-hospital care, and the pay reflects the extra certification. The BLS lists the median paramedic at $58,410 (May 2024) versus $41,340 for EMTs — the gap between the two credentials. The top 10% of paramedics earn over $82,000, and fire-department medics typically out-earn private-ambulance medics.

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Shift work and overtime: Many EMS systems run 24-hour or 48/96 shifts, so weekly hours regularly exceed 40 and overtime is built into the job. A paramedic's annualized take-home often beats the base wage thanks to time-and-a-half hours and shift differentials.

Where a paramedic's paycheck goes

On the $58,410 median, a single paramedic sits in the 12%–22% federal brackets after the standard deduction, plus FICA. Fire-based medics may be in a public pension system; some are outside Social Security. State income tax ranges from nothing in Texas and Florida to several percent elsewhere.

The highest-paying states for paramedics

Average paramedic pay runs highest in Washington, California, Hawaii, Alaska and Maryland. Washington and Alaska levy no income tax, so they often deliver the best take-home for a given salary.

Compare EMS with other careers

See how paramedic pay compares with a firefighter, a registered nurse or a police officer, or check your exact net in Texas or California.

Questions

Paramedic Salary Calculator FAQ

How much does a paramedic make in 2026?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $58,410 for paramedics (May 2024), compared with $41,340 for entry-level EMTs. The top 10% of paramedics earn over $82,000. Fire-department-based medics generally earn more than private-ambulance medics, and overtime is common.

What is a paramedic's take-home pay on $58,410?

A single paramedic earning the $58,410 median takes home roughly $48,000 to $49,000 a year after federal income tax and FICA in a no-income-tax state. State income tax elsewhere removes another $1,500 to $3,000. Overtime from 24- and 48-hour shifts can lift the total considerably.

What's the difference between EMT and paramedic pay?

Paramedics earn substantially more than EMTs — a median of $58,410 versus $41,340 (BLS, May 2024) — because paramedics complete far more training and can perform advanced life support, administer medications and interpret ECGs. The pay jump is the financial reward for upgrading the certification.

Which states pay paramedics the most?

Washington, California, Hawaii, Alaska and Maryland report the highest average paramedic pay. Washington and Alaska have no state income tax, so they often deliver the strongest take-home, while California pays the most on paper but taxes income heavily.

Mustafa Bilgic
Reviewed & maintained by
Mustafa Bilgic — Editor, SalaryCalculator.us

Paramedic wage data is taken from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook; tax figures from the IRS and SSA.

  • Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — EMTs and Paramedics (paramedic median $58,410; EMT median $41,340; May 2024) · IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 · SSA 2026 wage base ($184,500) · State departments of revenue.
  • 🔄 Last updated June 9, 2026 · Tax year 2026

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