Emergency Medical Technician Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Emergency Medical Technicians in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $45,090 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,031 take-home, or $3,086 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median emergency medical technician salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,231
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,796
- Medicare (1.45%)$654
- California income tax$793
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$586
- Take-home pay$37,031
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Emergency Medical Technician pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,850 | $18.68 | $32,348 | $2,696 |
| 25th percentile | $39,890 | $19.18 | $33,128 | $2,761 |
| Median (50th) | $45,090 | $21.68 | $37,031 | $3,086 |
| 75th percentile | $51,080 | $24.56 | $41,444 | $3,454 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $68,600 | $32.98 | $53,922 | $4,494 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,090 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median emergency medical technician's $37,031 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,607 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 Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.91).
Best-paying cities for emergency medical technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #8 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
- San Francisco, CA — $51,480
Frequently asked questions
How much does a emergency medical technician make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median emergency medical technician salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $45,090 a year, or about $21.68 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,890 and $51,080.
What is a emergency medical technician’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $45,090 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $37,031 a year ($3,086 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,379 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a emergency medical technician?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $44,470. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,607 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #8 of 10 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a emergency medical technician afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 73% of a median emergency medical technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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