Occupation is in demand.
Pay varies by who EMTs work for. Those who work for local governments earn more than those at hospitals or private ambulance firms. Pay also varies by the area of the country. Those who work in larger cities or communities where the cost of living is higher tend to earn higher wages. In addition, the more training and experience EMTs have, the higher starting salaries they earn.
Whether EMTs receive benefits depends on the employer. Usually, EMTs who receive benefits are those who work full time. Some of the benefits they receive include medical, dental, and retirement plans. They may also receive paid sick and vacation leave.
Emergency medical technicians (SOC 29-2042)
Paramedics (SOC 29-2043)
| Location |
Pay Period | |
||
| 25% |
Median |
75% |
||
| Illinois | Hourly | $18.61 | $20.14 | $24.88 |
| Yearly | $38,704 | $41,888 | $51,749 | |
| Champaign Area | Hourly | $17.78 | $18.19 | $21.58 |
| Yearly | $36,986 | $37,833 | $44,895 | |
| Charleston-Effingham-Centralia Area | Hourly | $17.39 | $18.53 | $19.52 |
| Yearly | $36,178 | $38,542 | $40,588 | |
| Cook County | Hourly | $21.72 | $27.52 | $64.62 |
| Yearly | $45,188 | $57,235 | $134,417 | |
| Decatur Area | Hourly | $17.25 | $18.79 | $19.10 |
| Yearly | $35,862 | $39,069 | $39,716 | |
| Dekalb-Elgin-Aurora Area | Hourly | $19.03 | $20.45 | $23.54 |
| Yearly | $39,583 | $42,528 | $48,972 | |
| Du Page County | Hourly | $19.78 | $19.78 | $21.48 |
| Yearly | $41,159 | $41,159 | $44,681 | |
| Edwardsville Area | Hourly | $14.38 | $17.98 | $19.99 |
| Yearly | $29,912 | $37,394 | $41,573 | |
| Jacksonville-Carlinville-Litchfield Area | Hourly | $15.76 | $17.08 | $21.13 |
| Yearly | $32,781 | $35,532 | $43,949 | |
| Kankakee-Morris-Pontiac Area | Hourly | $17.65 | $18.43 | $23.02 |
| Yearly | $36,709 | $38,329 | $47,869 | |
| Lake County | Hourly | $20.55 | $23.66 | $32.16 |
| Yearly | $42,745 | $49,214 | $66,894 | |
| McHenry County | Hourly | $20.13 | $20.13 | $21.97 |
| Yearly | $41,867 | $41,867 | $45,700 | |
| Northwest Illinois Area | Hourly | $16.08 | $17.47 | $18.61 |
| Yearly | $33,437 | $36,340 | $38,706 | |
| Peoria-Bloomington Area | Hourly | $17.37 | $18.10 | $19.51 |
| Yearly | $36,120 | $37,654 | $40,577 | |
| Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area | Hourly | $17.39 | $17.64 | $22.61 |
| Yearly | $36,172 | $36,683 | $47,034 | |
| Rock Island-Moline Area | Hourly | $17.03 | $18.21 | $23.40 |
| Yearly | $35,428 | $37,875 | $48,660 | |
| Rockford Area | Hourly | $17.00 | $19.93 | $25.33 |
| Yearly | $35,370 | $41,458 | $52,693 | |
| Shawnee National Forest Area | Hourly | $16.43 | $17.21 | $19.63 |
| Yearly | $34,184 | $35,791 | $40,834 | |
| Springfield Area | Hourly | $16.43 | $18.22 | $20.06 |
| Yearly | $34,184 | $37,898 | $41,736 | |
| Will County | Hourly | $20.14 | $20.14 | $20.14 |
| Yearly | $41,888 | $41,888 | $41,888 | |
| United States | Hourly | $17.66 | $19.88 | $23.16 |
| Yearly | $36,730 | $41,340 | $48,160 | |
| Location |
Pay Period | |
||
| 25% |
Median |
75% |
||
| Illinois | Hourly | $23.46 | $29.19 | $48.79 |
| Yearly | $48,801 | $60,716 | $101,485 | |
| Champaign Area | Hourly | $21.87 | $23.51 | $29.63 |
| Yearly | $45,480 | $48,903 | $61,643 | |
| Charleston-Effingham-Centralia Area | Hourly | $20.54 | $23.67 | $26.77 |
| Yearly | $42,731 | $49,220 | $55,686 | |
| Cook County | Hourly | $39.90 | $50.94 | $50.94 |
| Yearly | $82,975 | $105,958 | $105,958 | |
| Dekalb-Elgin-Aurora Area | Hourly | $22.73 | $25.03 | $39.94 |
| Yearly | $47,282 | $52,066 | $83,073 | |
| Du Page County | Hourly | $25.21 | $29.54 | $29.54 |
| Yearly | $52,430 | $61,454 | $61,454 | |
| Edwardsville Area | Hourly | $23.58 | $25.75 | $37.07 |
| Yearly | $49,050 | $53,559 | $77,110 | |
| Jacksonville-Carlinville-Litchfield Area | Hourly | $19.88 | $23.10 | $27.84 |
| Yearly | $41,347 | $48,047 | $57,900 | |
| Kankakee-Morris-Pontiac Area | Hourly | $21.38 | $26.47 | $29.01 |
| Yearly | $44,453 | $55,069 | $60,329 | |
| Lake County | Hourly | $27.60 | $38.84 | $47.70 |
| Yearly | $57,412 | $80,785 | $99,225 | |
| McHenry County | Hourly | $26.05 | $30.39 | $36.99 |
| Yearly | $54,175 | $63,220 | $76,941 | |
| Northwest Illinois Area | Hourly | $14.38 | $20.54 | $21.40 |
| Yearly | $29,911 | $42,731 | $44,503 | |
| Peoria-Bloomington Area | Hourly | $23.46 | $24.21 | $31.97 |
| Yearly | $48,800 | $50,367 | $66,497 | |
| Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area | Hourly | $21.40 | $23.51 | $28.41 |
| Yearly | $44,503 | $48,901 | $59,096 | |
| Rock Island-Moline Area | Hourly | $20.79 | $24.52 | $24.54 |
| Yearly | $43,250 | $50,990 | $51,045 | |
| Rockford Area | Hourly | $20.54 | $22.44 | $24.51 |
| Yearly | $42,730 | $46,675 | $50,983 | |
| Shawnee National Forest Area | Hourly | $17.32 | $20.54 | $23.44 |
| Yearly | $36,017 | $42,731 | $48,748 | |
| Springfield Area | Hourly | $20.54 | $24.14 | $28.74 |
| Yearly | $42,731 | $50,208 | $59,780 | |
| Will County | Hourly | $26.99 | $30.23 | $48.80 |
| Yearly | $56,138 | $62,882 | $101,498 | |
| United States | Hourly | $23.04 | $28.08 | $32.90 |
| Yearly | $47,920 | $58,410 | $68,420 | |