Emergency Medical Technician Salary in Riverside, CA
Emergency Medical Technicians in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $43,500 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,837 take-home, or $2,986 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median emergency medical technician salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,040
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,697
- Medicare (1.45%)$631
- California income tax$729
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$566
- Take-home pay$35,837
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Emergency Medical Technician pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,100 | $17.84 | $31,034 | $2,586 |
| 25th percentile | $37,750 | $18.15 | $31,522 | $2,627 |
| Median (50th) | $43,500 | $20.91 | $35,837 | $2,986 |
| 75th percentile | $49,470 | $23.78 | $40,268 | $3,356 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,840 | $29.73 | $49,305 | $4,109 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,500 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median emergency medical technician's $35,837 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,668 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 Riverside, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.17).
Best-paying cities for emergency medical technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #59 of 71 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $67,050 | $52,434 | $47,254 |
| 2 | Nashville, TN | $47,990 | $40,740 | $42,289 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $55,700 | $46,935 | $42,233 |
| 4 | New Haven, CT | $53,440 | $43,639 | $41,736 |
| 5 | Milwaukee, WI | $48,880 | $40,085 | $41,352 |
| 6 | Raleigh, NC | $49,160 | $40,227 | $40,983 |
| 7 | Winston, NC | $44,860 | $36,944 | $40,138 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $44,480 | $37,479 | $39,904 |
| 59 | Riverside, CA | $43,500 | $35,837 | $33,668 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 71 metros →
Emergency Medical Technician salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $54,650
- Sacramento, CA — $49,550
- Modesto, CA — $47,160
- San Francisco, CA — $51,480
- Los Angeles, CA — $45,090
- San Diego, CA — $43,620
- Fresno, CA — $38,740
Frequently asked questions
How much does a emergency medical technician make in Riverside, CA?
The median emergency medical technician salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $43,500 a year, or about $20.91 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,750 and $49,470.
What is a emergency medical technician’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $43,500 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $35,837 a year ($2,986 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,295 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a emergency medical technician?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $44,470. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,668 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #59 of 71 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a emergency medical technician afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 60% of a median emergency medical technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Psychiatrist — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Practitioner — $169,920
- Physician Assistant — $165,490
- Pharmacist — $161,870
- Veterinarian — $160,860
- Registered Nurse — $133,940
- Optometrist — $129,990
- Dentists, General — $125,230
- Physical Therapist — $120,110
- Occupational Therapist — $119,530
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $118,560