How Much Does an EMT Make in Colorado in 2026?

A typical EMT in Colorado earns about $22.00 per hour ($45,750 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Based on that annual figure, pay works out to roughly $3,812 a month and about $880 a week. Those are the typical figures for the profession statewide, before accounting for experience, city, or employer.

That typical pay sits 3% above the national figure of $44,470 a year ($21.38 an hour). Colorado ranks 18th out of 51 states and D.C. for EMT pay, placing it in the upper half nationally. About 3,060 EMTs work across Colorado, compared with 180,510 nationwide, giving a sense of the field's scale in the state.

Entry-level EMTs in Colorado typically start around $18.45 an hour ($38,370 a year), according to the same wage data. Pay for newer EMTs tends to sit in this range during the first stretch of the job, then move toward the $22.00-an-hour typical figure as experience builds and certifications accumulate. That entry-level range applies statewide, before accounting for city or employer differences.

Experienced EMTs in Colorado often earn upwards of $28.04 an hour ($58,320 a year), the figure that marks the top 10% of earners. That leaves a spread of $19,950 between entry-level and top pay, a gap that tends to track years on the job, the city an EMT works in, and whether the employer is a hospital, private ambulance service, or fire department. Both figures come from the same statewide wage data.

Colorado's typical EMT pay has climbed steadily since 2021, when it stood at $36,100 a year. By 2025, that figure reached $45,750, a gain of $9,650 over the period, according to the same government wage data. The increase came in steps, reaching $37,090 in 2022, $41,700 in 2023, and $43,950 in 2024 before last year's figure.

Nationally, EMT pay rose 25% over the past decade, according to the same wage data. Colorado's pay has followed a similar upward path, with typical pay rising by $9,650 since 2021. That trend means pay for EMTs in Colorado has moved up in recent years, though past gains do not guarantee future increases for anyone entering the field now.

Pay runs highest in Fort Collins, where EMTs typically earn $48,220 a year ($23.18 an hour), about 5% above the statewide figure. Loveland matches that same figure exactly, and Colorado Springs follows close behind at $46,180 a year ($22.20 an hour). These figures cover each city's full metro area, not just the city limits.

Pay runs lowest in Pueblo, where EMTs typically earn $40,460 a year ($19.45 an hour), a spread of $7,760 between Colorado's highest- and lowest-paying cities. Aurora holds the state's largest EMT workforce, with 1,510 workers earning a typical $45,750 a year. Higher pay in cities like Fort Collins usually tracks a higher cost of living, not just differences in the work itself.

Among Colorado's neighbors, Wyoming pays EMTs the most, at $47,070 a year, about 3% above Colorado's figure. Every other bordering state pays less: Nebraska sits 9% lower at $41,710, and Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Kansas, and Oklahoma all fall further behind, with Oklahoma the lowest at $34,170 a year, 25% below Colorado. EMT licensure earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, easing a move across the border.

Colorado's EMTs typically earn $22.00 an hour ($45,750 a year) as of May 2025, up $9,650 since 2021. For details on becoming licensed, check Colorado's EMS licensing or registry page. For pay in a specific city, see the local EMT pages for Fort Collins, Denver, Aurora, and other Colorado cities.