How Much Does an EMT Make in Lakeland, FL in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Lakeland, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Florida.
BLS OES May 2025 · Lakeland · Winter Haven metro area
A typical EMT in Lakeland, Florida earns $23.32 per hour, or $48,510 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,043 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $34,870, and the top 10% of earners make over $80,600.
That pay is 22% above the Florida figure of $39,870 and 9% above the national figure of $44,470. Lakeland ranks 1st of 18 metro areas in Florida for EMT pay. About 150 EMTs work in the Lakeland · Winter Haven area. Lakeland is part of the Lakeland · Winter Haven metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Winter Haven share these figures.
EMT pay in Lakeland at a glance
- Typical pay is $23.32 an hour, or $48,510 a year.
- That is 22% above the Florida figure, ranking 1st of 18 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $34,870; the top 10% make over $80,600.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Lakeland?
Pay in Lakeland runs from entry-level positions at around $16.76 an hour to more than $38.75 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Florida and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in Lakeland
| Career stage | Lakeland | Florida | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $34,870$16.76 an hour | $34,120$16.41 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $35,910$17.27 an hour | $36,690$17.64 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $48,510$23.32 an hour | $39,870$19.17 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $67,210$32.31 an hour | $47,000$22.60 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $80,600$38.75 an hour | $59,000$28.37 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Lakeland · Winter Haven area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Lakeland
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Lakeland · Winter Haven area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in Lakeland was $35,580 a year. By 2025 it had reached $48,510.
How Lakeland compares with other Florida cities
Lakeland pays EMTs the most of any metro area in Florida. The lowest-paying area in the state is Homosassa Springs at $33,610.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Lakeland | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lakeland metro incl. Winter Haven | $48,510 | $23.32 | this city | 150 |
| 2 | Bradenton metro incl. North Port · Sarasota | $46,690 | $22.45 | -4% | 150 |
| 3 | Naples metro incl. Marco Island | $46,220 | $22.22 | -5% | 90 |
| 4 | Clearwater metro incl. Tampa · St. Petersburg | $43,540 | $20.93 | -10% | 1,040 |
| 5 | Brent metro incl. Ferry Pass · Pensacola | $42,990 | $20.67 | -11% | 200 |
| 6 | Destin metro incl. Fort Walton Beach · Crestview | $42,500 | $20.44 | -12% | 150 |
| 7 | Port St. Lucie | $40,310 | $19.38 | -17% | 110 |
| 8 | Miami metro incl. West Palm Beach · Fort Lauderdale | $40,100 | $19.28 | -17% | 1,110 |
| 9 | Gainesville | $39,560 | $19.02 | -18% | 110 |
| 10 | Fort Myers metro incl. Cape Coral | $39,220 | $18.85 | -19% | 350 |
| 11 | Jacksonville | $39,120 | $18.81 | -19% | 540 |
| 12 | Tallahassee | $39,020 | $18.76 | -20% | 250 |
| 13 | Sanford | $38,510 | $18.52 | -21% | — |
| 14 | Ocala | $38,480 | $18.50 | -21% | 90 |
| 15 | Panama City Beach metro incl. Panama City | $38,020 | $18.28 | -22% | 50 |
| 16 | Deltona metro incl. Daytona Beach · Ormond Beach | $38,000 | $18.27 | -22% | 160 |
| 17 | Melbourne metro incl. Palm Bay · Titusville | $34,680 | $16.68 | -29% | 100 |
| 18 | Homosassa Springs | $33,610 | $16.16 | -31% | 50 |
Every metro area in Florida with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Florida typical pay $39,870
Is Lakeland a good place to work as an EMT?
EMTs in Lakeland earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $48,510 a year, 9% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Lakeland · Winter Haven area, about 0.6 are EMT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.2. That makes EMTs a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an EMT make in Lakeland, FL?
- A typical EMT in Lakeland earns $48,510 a year, or $23.32 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $34,870 and the top 10% earn over $80,600.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Lakeland?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Lakeland is $23.32. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $16.76, and the top 10% earn over $38.75 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Lakeland?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Lakeland typically offer around $16.76 an hour, or $34,870 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Lakeland higher than in the rest of Florida?
- Lakeland pay is 22% above the Florida figure of $39,870 a year, ranking 1st of 18 metro areas in the state.