Emergency Medical Technicians vs. Registered Nurses: Who Earns More?
Registered Nurses out-earn Emergency Medical Technicians by $53K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Emergency Medical Technicians land at $44,470 and Registered Nurses at $97,550. The education gap is real: emergency medical technician programs typically require bachelor's degree, while registered nurse programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Emergency Medical Technicians is Hawaii ($66,410); for Registered Nurses it's California ($140,270).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Emergency Medical Technicians median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Emergency Medical Technicians or Registered Nurses?
Registered Nurses earn more nationally. The median is $44,470 for Emergency Medical Technicians versus $97,550 for Registered Nurses, a difference of $53K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Emergency Medical Technicians or Registered Nurses?
Emergency Medical Technicians has the better 10-year outlook at 5.1% projected growth, compared to 4.9% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.
Which requires more education, Emergency Medical Technicians or Registered Nurses?
Emergency Medical Technicians typically requires bachelor's degree. Registered Nurses requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.
Where do Emergency Medical Technicians get paid the most?
Hawaii is the top-paying state for Emergency Medical Technicians at $66,410/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Emergency Medical Technicians vs. Registered Nurses pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In Hawaii, Emergency Medical Technicians earn $66,410 vs. $136,320 for Registered Nurses. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.