Emergency Medical Technician Salary in San Francisco, CA
Emergency Medical Technicians in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $51,480 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $41,737 take-home, or $3,478 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median emergency medical technician salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,998
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,192
- Medicare (1.45%)$746
- California income tax$1,138
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$669
- Take-home pay$41,737
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Emergency Medical Technician pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,120 | $22.17 | $37,804 | $3,150 |
| 25th percentile | $46,380 | $22.30 | $37,999 | $3,167 |
| Median (50th) | $51,480 | $24.75 | $41,737 | $3,478 |
| 75th percentile | $71,810 | $34.52 | $55,882 | $4,657 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $87,690 | $42.16 | $65,454 | $5,455 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $51,480 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median emergency medical technician's $41,737 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,100 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Francisco, CA has 1.3× 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
San Francisco, CA ranks #5 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.
Emergency Medical Technician salaries elsewhere in California
- Los Angeles, CA — $45,090
Frequently asked questions
How much does a emergency medical technician make in San Francisco, CA?
The median emergency medical technician salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $51,480 a year, or about $24.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,380 and $71,810.
What is a emergency medical technician’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $51,480 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $41,737 a year ($3,478 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,808 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a emergency medical technician?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $44,470. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,100 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #5 of 10 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a emergency medical technician afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 75% of a median emergency medical technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Practitioner — $219,080
- Registered Nurse — $186,610
- Pharmacist — $177,410
- Dental Hygienist — $146,760
- Physical Therapist — $141,980
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $141,780
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $94,310
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $84,130
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other — $71,360
- Pharmacy Technician — $60,550