How Much Does an EMT Make in Georgia in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Georgia, from federal wage data (May 2025), with pay by city, the ten-year trend, and how the state compares.
BLS OES May 2025 · Georgia · typical annual pay from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth
A typical EMT in Georgia earns about $21.90 per hour ($45,550 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from that annual figure, the pay comes to roughly $3,796 a month, or about $876 a week. Those numbers describe full-time work across the state.
Georgia pay sits about 2 percent above the national figure for EMTs, which is $21.38 an hour, or $44,470 a year. That places Georgia 20th among the 51 states ranked for this work. The state employs about 6,260 EMTs, out of roughly 180,510 working nationwide.
EMT pay in Georgia at a glance
- EMTs in Georgia typically earn $21.90 per hour, or about $45,550 a year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025).
- That runs about 2 percent above the national figure of $44,470 a year, and ranks Georgia 20th among the 51 states ranked.
- Gainesville pays the most of any Georgia metro area, with typical pay of $47,710 a year, or $22.94 an hour.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $33,910 a year, while the top 10% of earners make over $52,600.
- Georgia pay has risen $16,570 since 2021, more than half again the 2021 figure, against a national rise of 25 percent.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Georgia?
EMT pay by career stage in Georgia
| Career stage | Georgia | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $33,910$16.30 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $37,820$18.18 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $45,550$21.90 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $48,400$23.27 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $52,600$25.29 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · starting out is the 10th percentile, first years the 25th, typical the median, experienced the 75th, top 10% the 90th
EMT pay by experience level in Georgia
Entry-level positions in Georgia typically offer around $16.30 an hour, or about $33,910 a year. Pay tends to move up early in a career rather than staying flat. Within a few years, many EMTs are closer to $18.18 an hour, or $37,820 a year, and then on toward the state's typical $45,550.
Experienced EMTs often earn upwards of $23.27 an hour, or about $48,400 a year. The top 10% of earners make over $25.29 an hour, which works out to more than $52,600 a year. The gap between entry-level pay and the top of the range comes to $18,690. Employer setting, years on the job, and the metro area worked in account for most of that difference.
EMT pay growth in Georgia
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in Georgia · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
Georgia EMT pay has climbed steadily since 2021, when the typical figure was $28,980 a year. It reached $34,770 in 2022, $37,270 in 2023, and $39,250 in 2024, before landing at $45,550 in 2025. The gain across those years comes to $16,570, more than half again the 2021 figure.
Nationally, EMT pay rose 25 percent over the same stretch, so the increase in Georgia ran ahead of the national one. That record describes what has already happened, not what any future paycheck will do. For someone starting now, the practical point is that the numbers on offer in Georgia are higher than they were a few years back.
EMT salary by city in Georgia
Pay runs highest in Gainesville, where EMTs typically earn $47,710 a year, or $22.94 an hour. That is about 5 percent above the state figure. The Atlanta, Sandy Springs, and Roswell area follows at $47,500 a year, or $22.84 an hour, with Macon and Bibb County next at $45,780. City figures here cover each city's full metro area.
The lowest of Georgia's 16 reported metro areas is Columbus, at $38,400 a year, or $18.46 an hour. Athens and Clarke County sit just above it at $38,440, leaving a spread of $9,310 between the highest and lowest paying areas. The largest EMT workforce is in the Atlanta, Sandy Springs, and Roswell area, with about 3,090 EMTs. Higher city pay usually tracks higher local living costs.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Georgia | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gainesville | $47,710 | $22.94 | +5% | 150 |
| 2 | Atlanta metro incl. Sandy Springs · Roswell | $47,500 | $22.84 | +4% | 3,090 |
| 3 | Macon metro incl. Bibb County | $45,780 | $22.01 | +1% | 250 |
| 4 | Albany | $45,070 | $21.67 | -1% | 130 |
| 5 | Augusta metro incl. Richmond County | $45,060 | $21.66 | -1% | 350 |
| 6 | Savannah | $41,320 | $19.86 | -9% | 210 |
| 7 | Brunswick metro incl. St. Simons | $40,770 | $19.60 | -10% | 80 |
| 8 | Warner Robins | $39,490 | $18.98 | -13% | 130 |
| 9 | Athens metro incl. Clarke County | $38,440 | $18.48 | -16% | 170 |
| 10 | Columbus | $38,400 | $18.46 | -16% | 210 |
Each row is one BLS metro area; cities that share a metro share its figures · BLS OES May 2025 · Georgia typical pay $45,550
How Georgia compares with nearby states
Georgia pays more than each of its neighbors. North Carolina is the closest, at $44,250 a year, about 3 percent below Georgia. South Carolina ($40,370) and Tennessee ($40,330) each run about 11 percent lower, Florida ($39,870) about 12 percent lower, and Alabama ($37,810) about 17 percent lower. Certification earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a nearby one, though the requirements vary by state.
| State | Typical pay | Vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | $45,550 | baseline |
| North Carolina | $44,250 | -3% |
| South Carolina | $40,370 | -11% |
| Tennessee | $40,330 | -11% |
| Florida | $39,870 | -12% |
| Alabama | $37,810 | -17% |
Bordering states, ranked by typical EMT pay · BLS OES May 2025
Is Georgia a good state for EMTs?
EMTs in Georgia earn a competitive wage: typical pay is $45,550 a year, 2% above the national figure, ranking 20th of 51. For every 1,000 jobs in Georgia, about 1.3 are EMT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.2. EMT jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country. Overall, Georgia is a middle-of-the-table state for EMT pay, close to the national figure.
Summary
EMTs in Georgia typically earn $45,550 a year, or $21.90 an hour, up $16,570 from the 2021 figure. Anyone weighing the work can check the state licensing or registry page for current certification requirements, then read the city pages for local figures. Pay in Gainesville and metro Atlanta runs well ahead of Columbus and Athens, so where you work shapes the paycheck.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an EMT make in Georgia?
- EMTs in Georgia typically earn $21.90 an hour, or $45,550 a year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,796 a month. Entry-level positions start near $33,910, and the top 10% of earners make over $52,600.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Georgia?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Georgia is $21.90. Entry-level work starts closer to $16.30 an hour, experienced EMTs often earn $23.27 or more, and the top 10% of earners make over $25.29 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Georgia?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Georgia typically offer around $16.30 an hour, or about $33,910 a year. Pay tends to move toward $18.18 an hour, roughly $37,820 a year, within the first few years, and then on toward the state's typical $45,550.
- Which city in Georgia pays EMTs the most?
- Gainesville pays the most, at $47,710 a year, or $22.94 an hour, about 5 percent above the state figure. The Atlanta, Sandy Springs, and Roswell area is close behind at $47,500 a year. Columbus is the lowest, at $38,400.
- Is EMT pay in Georgia higher than the national rate?
- Yes, by a small margin. The typical Georgia figure of $45,550 a year sits about 2 percent above the national figure of $44,470, or $21.38 an hour. That places Georgia 20th among the 51 states ranked for EMT pay.