EMT Salary in California
California is the state with the highest employment level for EMTs and paramedics in May, 2017 (as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics). A total of 19,660 emergency medical technicians were employed by the state and the employment per 1000 jobs was 1.178. The mean hourly income of these professionals was $17.48 while the mean annual salary was $36,370. As per indeed.com survey in May 2018, the average EMT salary in California is around $31,020, which was 7% higher than the average EMT salaries at the national level.
Average Annual Salary of EMTs on Different Percentile Brackets in CA
| Percentile Bracket | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 90th | $57,620 |
| 75th | $43,600 |
| 50th | $29,600 |
| 25th | $22,580 |
| 10th | $19,720 |
Information Source – Bureau of Labor Statistics (as of May 2017)
- 90% of EMTs earned less than $59,070; the rest of 10% earned more than $59,070.
- 75% of employees made an average annual income of $43,710; the remaining 25% made more than $43,710.
- 50% workers took home less than $31,140 while other 50% took more than $31,140.
- 25% emergency medical technicians earned a gross income less than $ 24,800; 75% earned more than $24,800.
- The average annual income of 10% employees was less than $22,610; the rest 90% were paid more than $22,610.
Salary as per Geographical Location
Besides education and experience, salary largely depends on the geographical location where you render your services. According to the www1.salary.com April 2018 report, the EMTs located in different regions or cities in California got different salaries. The highest paying city is San Francisco with median annual and the hourly salary of $43,090 and $21 respectively. With $34,576 median annual salary and $17 median hourly salary, Visalia is the lowest paying city.
| Name of the City | Median Annual Salary | Median Monthly Salary | Median Weekly Salary | Median Hourly Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaheim | $38,607 | $3,217 | $804 | $19 |
| Antioch | $39,580 | $3,298 | $824 | $19 |
| Apple Valley | $36,731 | $3,061 | $765 | $18 |
| Bakersfield | $37,217 | $3,101 | $775 | $18 |
| Berkeley | $40,970 | $3,034 | $853 | $18 |
| Burbank | $39,024 | $3,252 | $813 | $19 |
| Carlsbad | $36,939 | $3,078 | $769 | $18 |
| Carson | $38,572 | $3,214 | $803 | $19 |
| Chico | $35,480 | $2,957 | $739 | $17 |
| Chula Vista | $37,148 | $3,096 | $774 | $18 |
| Coachella | $36,800 | $3,067 | $766 | $18 |
| Concord | $39,016 | $3,252 | $814 | $19 |
| Corona | $37,043 | $3,087 | $771 | $18 |
| Costa Mesa | $38,642 | $3,220 | $805 | $19 |
| Daly City | $43,090 | $3,264 | $897 | $19 |
| Downey | $38,711 | $3,226 | $806 | $19 |
| El Cajon | $37,039 | $3,087 | $769 | $18 |
| El Monte | $38,989 | $3,249 | $825 | $19 |
| Elk Grove | $37,704 | $3,142 | $785 | $18 |
| Escondido | $36,939 | $3,078 | $760 | $18 |
| Fairfield | $38,992 | $3,249 | $812 | $19 |
| Fontana | $37,113 | $3,093 | $773 | $18 |
| Fermont | $41,526 | $3,461 | $896 | $19 |
| Fresno | $34,785 | $2,899 | $724 | $17 |
| Fullerton | $38,607 | $3,217 | $804 | $18 |
| Garden Grove | $38,602 | $3,217 | $803 | $19 |
| Glendale | $39,024 | $3,252 | $750 | $19 |
| Hayward | $40,901 | $3,408 | $852 | $19 |
| Huntington Beach | $38,642 | $3,220 | $805 | $19 |
| Inglewood | $39,024 | $3,252 | $813 | $19 |
| Irvine | $38,642 | $3,220 | $805 | $19 |
| Lancaster | $38,816 | $3,235 | $808 | $19 |
| Lompoc | $36,140 | $3,012 | $753 | $17 |
| Long Beach | $38,561 | $3,211 | $801 | $19 |
| Los Angeles | $39,021 | $3,252 | $812 | $19 |
| Modesto | $36,835 | $3,070 | $767 | $18 |
| Monterey | $38,569 | $3,214 | $803 | $19 |
| Moreno Valley | $37,078 | $3,090 | $772 | $18 |
| Murrieta | $37,773 | $3,148 | $787 | $17 |
| Newhall | $38,572 | $3,214 | $804 | $17 |
| Norwalk | $38,581 | $3,219 | $809 | $17 |
| Oakland | $40,970 | $3,414 | $788 | $19 |
| Oceanside | $37,252 | $3,104 | $776 | $17 |
| Ontario | $37,043 | $3,087 | $712 | $17 |
| Orange | $38,642 | $3,220 | $805 | $17 |
| Oxnard | $37,248 | $3,199 | $774 | $17 |
| Palmdale | $38,781 | $3,232 | $807 | $17 |
| Pasadena | $39,034 | $3,258 | $815 | $19 |
| Petaluma | $39,094 | $3,264 | $820 | $19 |
| Pomona | $38,538 | $3,211 | $802 | $18 |
| Rancho Cucamonga | $36,904 | $3,075 | $769 | $18 |
| Rialto | $36,870 | $3,072 | $760 | $18 |
| Richmond | $41,040 | $3,264 | $856 | $19 |
| Riverside | $37,113 | $3,093 | $773 | $18 |
| Roseville | $37,634 | $3,136 | $784 | $18 |
| Sacramento | $37,738 | $3,145 | $786 | $18 |
| Salinas | $38,503 | $3,209 | $802 | $19 |
| San Bernardino | $36,870 | $3,072 | $768 | $18 |
| San Diego | $37,148 | $3,096 | $774 | $18 |
| San Francisco | $43,090 | $3,591 | $897 | $21 |
| San Jose | $41,596 | $3,155 | $867 | $18 |
| Santa Ana | $38,607 | $3,217 | $805 | $19 |
| Santa Barbara | $37,182 | $3,099 | $774 | $18 |
| Santa Clara | $41,596 | $3,209 | $867 | $19 |
| Santa Clarita | $38,503 | $3,209 | $802 | $19 |
| Santa Cruz | $38,816 | $3,235 | $808 | $19 |
| Santa Maria | $36,487 | $3,041 | $760 | $18 |
| Santa Rosa | $37,877 | $3,156 | $789 | $18 |
| Simi Valley | $37,982 | $3,165 | $730 | $18 |
| Stockton | $37,252 | $3,104 | $716 | $18 |
| Sunnyvale | $41,596 | $3,466 | $800 | $20 |
| Temecula | $37,287 | $3,107 | $717 | $18 |
| Thousand Oaks | $37,704 | $3,142 | $725 | $18 |
| Torrance | $38,572 | $3,214 | $742 | $19 |
| Vallejo | $39,094 | $3,258 | $752 | $19 |
| Ventura | $37,252 | $2,896 | $668 | $17 |
| Victorville | $36,765 | $3,064 | $707 | $18 |
| Visalia | $34,576 | $2,881 | $665 | $17 |
| West Covina | $38,538 | $3,211 | $741 | $19 |
Information Source – salary.com (as of January 2015)
Salary of Professionals with Similar Job Titles in CA
There are several related titles in the field of Emergency Medical Services. The higher your designation, the higher would be the salary. Related professions such as physician assistants, registered nurses, emergency management directors and medical assistants in California also earn good average salaries.In January 2015 (as per the reports of indeed.com), Cardiovascular Specialists Ral earned the highest income, i.e., $72,000 per annum. Firefighter Recruit and EMT P earned $49,000 and $47,000 per year respectively. EMT Akron OH was the lowest paid employee with average annual salary of $22,000.
| Name of the Title | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| EMT Paramedic Instructor | $28,000 |
| Security Officer EMT | $29,000 |
| Cardiovascular Specialists Ral | $72,000 |
| EMT Basic | $25,000 |
| EMT Akron OH | $22,000 |
| Electrician Journeyman | $46,000 |
| Paramedic Evansville | $38,000 |
| EMT Emergency Medical Technician | $28,000 |
| EMT P | $47,000 |
| Firefighter Recruit | $49,000 |
| Firefighter EMT | $42,000 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $31,000 |
Information Source – indeed.com (as of January 2015)
Other Benefits
In addition to handsome salary package, EMTs enjoy other monetary and non-monetary perks in CA as well. Some of them are as follows:
- Sick leaves
- Paid leaves
- Access to the credit union
- Life Insurance
- Financial assistance for continuing further education
- Bonus and good overtime
- Retirement plans
Employment Outlook
Keeping in mind the increasing number of emergency situations, the BLS has projected a hike of 33% in the employment of emergency medical technicians by the year 2020. One can expect immense growth opportunities and a bright future in this field. Therefore, get yourself enrolled for the EMT program in CA so as to avail the golden opportunity.