California paramedic and EMT salaries by employer, 2025
2,263 people worked as paramedics and EMTs for 83 cities, counties, fire and ambulance districts and health care districts in California in 2025. Those who worked the full year earned an average of $92,008, overtime included.
What is the average paramedic and EMT salary in California?
Highest- and lowest-paying among the 12 employers with at least 10 full-year paramedics and EMTs. The lists below include every employer with at least 5.
- Paramedics and EMTs
- 2,263
- 436 of them worked the full year
- Employers
- 83
- 69 with 5 or more paramedics and EMTs, in 26 counties
- Median total pay
- $85,956
- the middle paramedic and EMT: half earned more, half less
- Overtime
- $33,901
- average per full-year paramedic and EMT
Employers also paid an average of $9,441 into pensions and $12,112 for health, dental and vision cover per full-year paramedic and EMT, on top of wages.1
What stands out in California paramedic and EMT pay
Paramedics average $111,337, EMTs $80,008.
Of the 2,263 positions, 670 are paramedic titles and 1,593 EMT titles, ambulance operators included. 167 paramedics and 269 EMTs worked the full year.1
Overtime makes up 37% of their pay.
Full-year paramedics and EMTs had an average base pay of $53,383 and an average total pay of $92,008, with $33,901 of it overtime. The middle one was paid $29,252 in overtime.1
Firefighter-paramedics average $188,869.
2,784 firefighters at 115 fire departments have a title that names paramedic duties. Their pay is on the firefighter pages and in the section below, never in the paramedic and EMT figures on this page.1
Depending on the employer, average total pay runs from $59,190 to $120,478.
That's the range across the 12 employers with at least 10 full-year paramedics and EMTs. Those at the best-paying one earn more than twice what those at the lowest-paying one do.1
Alameda, Fresno and San Bernardino counties pay the most.
By county, the average total pay of paramedics and EMTs across local public employers is highest in Alameda, Fresno and San Bernardino counties ($113,869, $113,196 and $112,118).
Which California employers pay paramedics and EMTs the most?
By average total pay of full-year paramedics and EMTs, among employers with at least 5 of them.
Highest average total pay
- BerkeleyCity in Alameda County
6 full-year paramedics and EMTs$129,028 - SelmaCity in Fresno County
14 full-year paramedics and EMTs$120,478 - Chula VistaCity in San Diego County
6 full-year paramedics and EMTs$119,819 - San Bernardino CountyCounty government
59 full-year paramedics and EMTs$113,714 - El Dorado County Fire Protection DistrictFire protection district in El Dorado County
12 full-year paramedics and EMTs$110,491 - Mono CountyCounty government
13 full-year paramedics and EMTs$109,726 - North County Fire Protection District (San Diego)Fire protection district in San Diego County
8 full-year paramedics and EMTs$106,282 - El Dorado Hills County Water DistrictSpecial district in El Dorado County
7 full-year paramedics and EMTs$103,004 - OaklandCity in Alameda County
6 full-year paramedics and EMTs$98,710 - TorranceCity in Los Angeles County
16 full-year paramedics and EMTs$98,311
California average, $92,008
Highest paramedic and EMT starting salaries in California: every employer compared
Compare paramedic and EMT pay at every California employer
Official pay range across each employer's paramedic and EMT titles, what full-year staff earned, and whether most are paramedics or EMTs. Firefighter-paramedics aren't in these figures. Click a column to sort it.
Showing 1 to 25 of 69 employers, highest average total pay first.
| BerkeleyAlameda County | Alameda | $129,028 | $40,439 | Paramedics | $68,186 to $102,279 | 35 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SelmaFresno County | Fresno | $120,478 | $49,816 | Paramedics | $45,191 to $68,332 | 39 |
| Chula VistaSan Diego County | San Diego | $119,819 | $45,907 | EMTs | $57,376 to $95,545 | 138 |
| San Bernardino CountySan Bernardino County | San Bernardino | $113,714 | $70,007 | Paramedics | $39,562 to $53,102 | 123 |
| El Dorado County Fire Protection DistrictEl Dorado County | El Dorado | $110,491 | $28,393 | Paramedics | $52,815 to $67,417 | 15 |
| Mono CountyMono County | Mono | $109,726 | $25,389 | Paramedics | $51,651 to $84,293 | 26 |
| North County Fire Protection District (San Diego)San Diego County | San Diego | $106,282 | $60,871 | EMTs | $38,480 to $53,040 | 36 |
| El Dorado Hills County Water DistrictEl Dorado County | El Dorado | $103,004 | $42,569 | Paramedics | $50,409 to $61,273 | 17 |
| OaklandAlameda County | Alameda | $98,710 | $11,264 | EMTs | $75,461 to $92,650 | 10 |
| TorranceLos Angeles County | Los Angeles | $98,311 | $52,943 | EMTs | $41,413 to $48,734 | 59 |
| Cloverdale Health Care DistrictSonoma County | Sonoma | $95,349 | $5,265 | Paramedics | $55,000 to $160,000 | 19 |
| Oak Valley Hospital DistrictStanislaus County | Stanislaus | $91,078 | $40,279 | Paramedics | $36,021 to $72,568 | 63 |
| Sacramento Metropolitan Fire DistrictSacramento County | Sacramento | $89,775 | $28,117 | EMTs | $50,440 to $62,476 | 98 |
| GlendaleLos Angeles County | Los Angeles | $87,871 | $39,898 | EMTs | $50,950 to $55,380 | 52 |
| Kern CountyKern County | Kern | $87,780 | $4,743 | Paramedics | $79,922 | 10 |
| Last Frontier Health DistrictModoc County | Modoc | $87,069 | $25,686 | EMTs | $41,579 to $77,958 | 19 |
| UkiahMendocino County | Mendocino | $86,631 | $18,743 | EMTs | $61,757 to $79,011 | 38 |
| DinubaTulare County | Tulare | $84,684 | $32,407 | Paramedics | $41,194 to $59,280 | 11 |
| Coast Life Support DistrictMendocino County | Mendocino | $83,214 | $2,866 | EMTs | $63,564 to $98,841 | 23 |
| EscondidoSan Diego County | San Diego | $81,060 | $19,933 | EMTs | $56,151 to $82,561 | 27 |
| CarlsbadSan Diego County | San Diego | $80,004 | $41,560 | EMTs | $40,498 to $49,504 | 25 |
| Los Angeles CountyLos Angeles County | Los Angeles | $75,762 | $6,283 | EMTs | $51,003 to $69,075 | 44 |
| Cathedral CityRiverside County | Riverside | $75,471 | $31,830 | EMTs | $35,656 to $44,450 | 13 |
| La VerneLos Angeles County | Los Angeles | $74,824 | $28,576 | EMTs | $35,152 to $42,727 | 17 |
| OceansideSan Diego County | San Diego | $73,521 | $34,965 | EMTs | $38,480 | 85 |
No employer matches. Clear the search or pick another county or size.
"Fewer than 5": fewer than 5 paramedics and EMTs worked the full year, too few for an average. "Not reported": the employer reported no pay range, so we can't tell who worked the full year. "Left out": the employer's records don't show who worked the full year (each person's own pay reported as their range, or total pay reported as salary), so we set its pay figures aside. Employers with fewer than 5 paramedics and EMTs aren't listed.
Do paramedics make more than EMTs in California?
Every public employer in California, 2025. Pay: full-year staff, overtime included.1
| Staff | Positions | Full year | Average total pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| EMTs | 1,593 | 269 | $80,008 |
| Paramedics | 670 | 167 | $111,337 |
| All paramedics and EMTs | 2,263 | 436 | $92,008 |
| Firefighter-paramedics | 2,784 | 2,173 | $188,869 |
Firefighter-paramedics are counted on their own, outside every figure above them.
Firefighter paramedic salary in California, by fire department
Firefighters whose title names paramedic duties (Firefighter/Paramedic, Fire Paramedic and the like), at every fire department with at least 10 who worked the full year. They're firefighters: each department's firefighter page has the rest of its pay. Pay: average total pay of full-year staff, overtime included.1
| Fire department | Firefighter-paramedics | Average total pay |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain View | 22 | $283,787 |
| Montecito Fire Protection District | 10 | $259,351 |
| Santa Monica | 17 | $249,548 |
| Fairfield | 22 | $244,339 |
| Chino Valley Independent Fire District | 54 | $242,813 |
| South San Francisco | 39 | $240,483 |
| Napa | 32 | $226,118 |
| Oakland | 90 | $225,881 |
| Monrovia | 11 | $223,715 |
| Huntington Beach | 45 | $222,013 |
The 10 departments with the highest average, of 82 with 5 or more full-year firefighter-paramedics. Every fire department is on the California firefighter page.
Which California jobs count as paramedics and EMTs here, and which don't?
The State Controller's files list every public job by title. We decided each title by hand, from its name and department.
Counted as paramedics and EMTs
- Single-role paramedics. Paramedic, Single Role Paramedic, Non-Safety Paramedic and ambulance operator titles that name paramedic duties, at fire departments, ambulance and health care districts and counties.
- EMTs and ambulance operators. Emergency Medical Technician, EMT and Ambulance Operator titles, the crews of city and district ambulance services.
- Part-time, hourly and per diem titles. In every headcount; never in pay figures.
Shown separately or left out
- Firefighter-paramedics. Firefighters whose title names paramedic duties: in the tables above and on the firefighter pages, never in the paramedic and EMT figures.
- Fire engineers, captains and battalion chiefs with paramedic duties. Fire ranks.
- EMS coordinators, specialists, supervisors and instructors, lifeguards and paid-call or reserve EMTs.
- Hospital emergency room technicians and the University of California's EMT titles. Titles such as EMT/ER Tech at hospital districts.
- Private ambulance companies. They don't report their pay to the State Controller.
Every California employer with a paramedic and EMT pay page, by county
69 employers with at least 5 paramedics and EMTs. Open a county to see its employers. Employers without an average had fewer than 5 full-year paramedics and EMTs, or their records don't show who worked the full year.
Contra Costa County
2 employers- Moraga/Orinda Fire Protection DistrictFewer than 5
- San Ramon Valley Fire ProtectionFewer than 5
El Dorado County
3 employers, $107,733Fresno County
3 employers, $113,196Lake County
1 employer, $73,027- Lake County Fire Protection DistrictFewer than 5
Los Angeles County
11 employers, $80,908- ArcadiaFewer than 5
- Culver CityFewer than 5
- Downey$69,597
- Glendale$87,871
- La Habra HeightsFewer than 5
- La Verne$74,824
- Long BeachFewer than 5
- Los AngelesNot reported
- Los Angeles County$75,762
- Santa MonicaFewer than 5
- Torrance$98,311
Marin County
2 employers- Marin CountyFewer than 5
- San RafaelFewer than 5
Mendocino County
4 employers, $85,350- Coast Life Support District$83,214
- Covelo Fire Protection DistrictLeft out
- Long Valley Fire Protection District (Mendocino)Not reported
- Ukiah$86,631
Mono County
2 employers, $97,992- Mono County$109,726
- Southern Mono Health Care DistrictFewer than 5
Orange County
6 employers, $63,220- Anaheim$64,473
- Brea$61,079
- FullertonFewer than 5
- Huntington Beach$59,190
- Laguna BeachFewer than 5
- Orange$67,053
Sacramento County
1 employer, $89,775San Bernardino County
3 employers, $112,118- Big Bear Fire AuthorityFewer than 5
- Morongo Valley Community Services DistrictNot reported
- San Bernardino County$113,714
San Diego County
9 employers, $93,366- Carlsbad$80,004
- Chula Vista$119,819
- CoronadoFewer than 5
- Escondido$81,060
- Lakeside Fire Protection DistrictFewer than 5
- North County Fire Protection District (San Diego)$106,282
- Oceanside$73,521
- San MarcosFewer than 5
- SanteeFewer than 5
San Joaquin County
1 employer- South San Joaquin County Fire AuthorityFewer than 5
San Luis Obispo County
1 employer- Cambria Community Healthcare DistrictFewer than 5
San Mateo County
2 employers- Colma Fire Protection DistrictNot reported
- South San FranciscoFewer than 5
Shasta County
1 employer- Mayers Memorial Hospital DistrictNot reported
Sonoma County
4 employers, $97,205- Cloverdale Health Care District$95,349
- PetalumaFewer than 5
- Santa RosaFewer than 5
- Sonoma CountyNot reported
Stanislaus County
3 employers, $91,078- Del Puerto Health Care DistrictFewer than 5
- Oak Valley Hospital District$91,078
- West Side Community Healthcare DistrictNot reported
Trinity County
1 employer- Mountain Communities Healthcare DistrictFewer than 5
Tulare County
2 employers, $84,132- Dinuba$84,684
- Exeter District AmbulanceLeft out
Questions about paramedic and EMT pay in California
How much do paramedics and EMTs make in California?
Full-year paramedics and EMTs at California's public employers earned an average of $92,008 in 2025, including $33,901 in overtime. The middle one earned $85,956: half earned more, half less. Private ambulance companies aren't included.
How much do paramedics make in California?
Full-year paramedics in single-role (ambulance) titles at California public employers averaged $111,337 in 2025, overtime included. Firefighters whose title names paramedic duties averaged $188,869.
How much do EMTs make in California?
Full-year EMTs and ambulance operators at California public employers averaged $80,008 in 2025, overtime included. Many EMT positions are part time: 269 of 1,593 worked the full year.
What is the starting salary for an EMT in California?
It depends on the employer. Across the 50 public employers that report a range for a full-time EMT or paramedic title, the middle starting salary is $50,425 a year: the bottom of the lowest range.
Which California public employer pays paramedics and EMTs the most?
Among employers with at least 10 full-year paramedics and EMTs, Selma has the highest average total pay, $120,478, followed by San Bernardino County ($113,714) and El Dorado County Fire Protection District ($110,491).
Which California employers have the most paramedics and EMTs?
Chula Vista (138), Anaheim (133) and Long Beach (127), counting single-role paramedic and EMT positions held in 2025.
Sources for the California paramedic and EMT figures
Every person who held a paramedic and EMT position at any point in 2025 counts toward the headcount. Pay figures use only people who worked roughly the full year: those whose regular pay reached at least 90% of the bottom of their official range. Total pay is gross wages before tax, including overtime, lump sums and other pay. Every figure covers at least 5 people.
- State Controller's Office, Government Compensation in California, 2025: positions, official pay ranges, wages, pension formulas and employer contributions as reported by each city, county and special district.