Paramedic Salary in Riverside, CA
Paramedics in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $72,520 a year — 20% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $56,316 take-home, or $4,693 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median paramedic salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,124
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,496
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,052
- California income tax$2,589
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$943
- Take-home pay$56,316
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Paramedic pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,240 | $23.67 | $40,100 | $3,342 |
| 25th percentile | $64,090 | $30.81 | $50,928 | $4,244 |
| Median (50th) | $72,520 | $34.87 | $56,316 | $4,693 |
| 75th percentile | $82,980 | $39.89 | $62,640 | $5,220 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,560 | $47.38 | $71,949 | $5,996 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $72,520 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 paramedic's $56,316 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,907 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Paramedic jobs are less concentrated in Riverside, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.52), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for paramedics, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #15 of 40 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $123,310 | $95,548 | $85,977 |
| 2 | Memphis, TN | $66,830 | $55,845 | $60,583 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $77,670 | $59,771 | $57,697 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $67,290 | $56,169 | $57,276 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $77,430 | $59,560 | $56,820 |
| 6 | Salt Lake City, UT | $71,440 | $56,839 | $56,350 |
| 7 | Nashville, TN | $63,450 | $53,162 | $55,183 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $79,550 | $61,095 | $54,276 |
| 15 | Riverside, CA | $72,520 | $56,316 | $52,907 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 40 metros →
Paramedic salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $83,090
- Los Angeles, CA — $74,900
Frequently asked questions
How much does a paramedic make in Riverside, CA?
The median paramedic salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $72,520 a year, or about $34.87 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $64,090 and $82,980.
What is a paramedic’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $72,520 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $56,316 a year ($4,693 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,532 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a paramedic?
Pay here is 20% above the national median of $60,600. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,907 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #15 of 40 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a paramedic 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) — 38% of a median paramedic’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