Emergency Medical Technician Salary in California
Emergency Medical Technicians in California earn a median of $46,380 a year, or $22.30 an hour. That ranks California #16 of 51 states and is $1,910 more than the national median.
- Median / year
- $46,380
- Median / hour
- $22.30
- Employed
- 21,880
- National rank
- #16of 51
Pay range in California
Emergency Medical Technician pay by California metro area
| Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Redding, CA | $60,120 | 80 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $54,650 | 830 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $51,970 | 70 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $51,480 | 3,580 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $49,550 | 1,250 |
| Napa, CA | $49,340 | 120 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $47,660 | 270 |
| Salinas, CA | $47,370 | 130 |
| Modesto, CA | $47,160 | 440 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $45,750 | 350 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $45,710 | 340 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $45,190 | 120 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $45,090 | 6,610 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $43,620 | 1,750 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $43,500 | 2,340 |
| Yuba City, CA | $43,470 | 90 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $43,450 | 390 |
| El Centro, CA | $39,840 | 50 |
| Visalia, CA | $39,530 | 170 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $39,310 | — |
| Fresno, CA | $38,740 | 710 |
FAQ
How much does an emergency medical technician make in California?
The median annual wage is $46,380 ($22.30 per hour), according to the BLS for May 2025. That is $1,910 above the U.S. median of $44,470.
What do entry-level EMTs make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of California EMTs earned $38,740 or less ($18.62/hour), a reasonable estimate for new graduates.
Where do EMTs earn the most in California?
Redding, CA has the highest metro median at $60,120.
How many EMTs work in California?
About 21,880 EMTs were employed in California in May 2025.