Emergency Medical Technician Salary in Chicago, IL
Emergency Medical Technicians in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $44,020 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,516 take-home, or $2,960 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median emergency medical technician salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,102
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,729
- Medicare (1.45%)$638
- Illinois income tax$2,034
- Take-home pay$35,516
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Emergency Medical Technician pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,750 | $19.11 | $32,296 | $2,691 |
| 25th percentile | $42,140 | $20.26 | $34,098 | $2,842 |
| Median (50th) | $44,020 | $21.16 | $35,516 | $2,960 |
| 75th percentile | $57,140 | $27.47 | $45,408 | $3,784 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $135,490 | $65.14 | $97,311 | $8,109 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $44,020 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median emergency medical technician's $35,516 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,283 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Emergency Medical Technician jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.07).
Best-paying cities for emergency medical technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #6 of 10 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlanta, GA | $47,500 | $38,504 | $38,481 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $53,820 | $43,115 | $38,303 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $47,790 | $39,112 | $38,138 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $50,560 | $40,497 | $37,405 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $51,480 | $41,737 | $36,100 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $44,020 | $35,516 | $34,283 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $38,890 | $33,428 | $33,893 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | $45,090 | $37,031 | $32,607 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 10 metros →
About the job: emergency medical technicians
Assess injuries and illnesses and administer basic emergency medical care. May transport injured or sick persons to medical facilities.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.8% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a emergency medical technician make in Chicago, IL?
The median emergency medical technician salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $44,020 a year, or about $21.16 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $42,140 and $57,140.
What is a emergency medical technician’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $44,020 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $35,516 a year ($2,960 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,034 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a emergency medical technician?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $44,470. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,283 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #6 of 10 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a emergency medical technician afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 52% of a median emergency medical technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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