Emergency Medical Technician Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Emergency Medical Technicians in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $47,790 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,112 take-home, or $3,259 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median emergency medical technician salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,555
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,963
- Medicare (1.45%)$693
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,467
- Take-home pay$39,112
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $1,787 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $37,325 ($3,110 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. 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 Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,490 | $18.50 | $31,925 | $2,660 |
| 25th percentile | $44,910 | $21.59 | $36,886 | $3,074 |
| Median (50th) | $47,790 | $22.98 | $39,112 | $3,259 |
| 75th percentile | $54,280 | $26.10 | $44,128 | $3,677 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,960 | $29.31 | $49,290 | $4,107 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,790 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median emergency medical technician's $39,112 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,138 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Philadelphia, PA has 1.5× the national concentration of emergency medical technician jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for emergency medical technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #3 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 Philadelphia, PA?
The median emergency medical technician salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $47,790 a year, or about $22.98 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,910 and $54,280.
What is a emergency medical technician’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $47,790 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $39,112 a year ($3,259 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,467 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a emergency medical technician?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $44,470. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,138 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #3 of 10 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a emergency medical technician afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median emergency medical technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Philadelphia, PA
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Dentists, General — $163,390
- Pharmacist — $148,740
- Nurse Practitioner — $135,700
- Physician Assistant — $135,640
- Physical Therapist — $105,790
- Occupational Therapist — $103,140
- Registered Nurse — $101,180
- Dental Hygienist — $100,820
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $100,080
- Respiratory Therapist — $88,790
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $80,190