Rung 1 of 3 · this guide
EMT
EMT · $44,470
EMTs typically earn $44,470 a year, and about 180,510 are employed nationally. Employment is projected to grow 5.8% from 2025 to 2035 (BLS).
EMT Career Paths: Paramedic, RN, and What Each Step Pays
Typical pay at each step, from federal wage data (May 2025): EMT $44,470, Paramedic $60,600, Registered Nurse $97,550.
Pay at each rung
BLS OES May 2025+$36,950
+$16,130
Typical annual pay · bar length is pay · click a rung
Rung 2 of 3+$16,130 a year
Paramedic
Paramedic · $60,600
Paramedics typically earn $60,600 a year, and about 100,610 are employed nationally. Employment is projected to grow 5.7% from 2025 to 2035 (BLS).
Rung 3 of 3+$36,950 a year
Registered Nurse
Registered Nurse · $97,550
Registered Nurses typically earn $97,550 a year, and about 3,379,720 are employed nationally. Employment is projected to grow 5.6% from 2025 to 2035 (BLS).
What each step pays
EMT → Paramedic+$16,130$44,470 to $60,600 a year
Paramedic → Registered Nurse+$36,950$60,600 to $97,550 a year
BLS OES May 2025 · typical annual pay