Emergency Medical Technicians Salary
In Arkansas, emergency medical technicians earn $36,230 at the median, or about $17.42 an hour. The range runs from $28K at the entry level to $50K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $41,340 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,021/month, about 41.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $36K get you in Arkansas?
About emergency medical technicians
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for emergency medical technicians in Arkansas runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $44K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,021/month, which is 41% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for emergency medical technicianss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level emergency medical technicians (10th percentile) start around $28K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $50K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Emergency Medical Technicians salary by metro in Arkansas
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $42K | +15% | 110 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $38K | +4% | 240 |
| Hot Springs | $35K | -4% | 80 |
| Jonesboro | $35K | -4% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track emergency medical technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a emergency medical technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $36K, rent takes 41% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for emergency medical technicians in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new emergency medical technicians typically earn — is $28K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,702/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 60% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is emergency medical technician a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $36K here vs. $44K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for emergency medical technicians?
Arkansas pays $36K median vs. the U.S. average of $44K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $41K — below the national median.
How much do emergency medical technicians make in Arkansas?
The median is $36,230 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,370, and experienced emergency medical technicians can clear $49,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,492/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 41% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a emergency medical technicians salary go in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median emergency medical technicians salary is worth about $41,340 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do emergency medical technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.