Emergency Medical Technicians Salary
In Washington, emergency medical technicians earn $52,690 at the median, or about $25.33 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $51,652 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 50% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $53K get you in Washington?
About emergency medical technicians
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What this looks like in Washington
Washington sits well above the national pay line for emergency medical technicians, local pay runs about 18% higher than the U.S. median of $44K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,830/month, which is 49.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level emergency medical technicians (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $53K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Emergency Medical Technicians salary by metro in Washington
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $56K | +6% | 1,290 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $52K | -2% | 140 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $50K | -5% | 100 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $48K | -10% | 300 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $46K | -12% | 110 |
Compare to other states
Track emergency medical technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a emergency medical technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $53K, rent takes 49.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new emergency medical technicians typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,237/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 82% 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 Washington?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $53K here vs. $44K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for emergency medical technicians?
Washington pays $53K median vs. the U.S. average of $44K — that’s +18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do emergency medical technicians make in Washington?
The median is $52,690 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,290, and experienced emergency medical technicians can clear $60,960. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $53K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,698/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 49.5% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median emergency medical technicians salary is worth about $51,652 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.