Emergency Medical Technician Salary in Houston, TX
Emergency Medical Technicians in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $38,890 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $33,428 take-home, or $2,786 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median emergency medical technician salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,487
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,411
- Medicare (1.45%)$564
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$33,428
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Emergency Medical Technician pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,610 | $15.68 | $28,382 | $2,365 |
| 25th percentile | $36,740 | $17.66 | $31,701 | $2,642 |
| Median (50th) | $38,890 | $18.70 | $33,428 | $2,786 |
| 75th percentile | $46,260 | $22.24 | $39,350 | $3,279 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,690 | $25.81 | $45,320 | $3,777 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,890 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median emergency medical technician's $33,428 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,893 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 less concentrated in Houston, TX than nationally (location quotient 0.70), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for emergency medical technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #7 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 Texas
- Dallas, TX — $37,900
Frequently asked questions
How much does a emergency medical technician make in Houston, TX?
The median emergency medical technician salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $38,890 a year, or about $18.70 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,740 and $46,260.
What is a emergency medical technician’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $38,890 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $33,428 a year ($2,786 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a emergency medical technician?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $44,470. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,893 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #7 of 10 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a emergency medical technician afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 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 Houston, TX
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $140,470
- Physician Assistant — $137,240
- Nurse Practitioner — $134,560
- Physical Therapist — $107,700
- Dental Hygienist — $104,930
- Occupational Therapist — $103,580
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $100,400
- Registered Nurse — $99,830
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $80,780
- Respiratory Therapist — $80,450
- Surgical Technologist — $71,050