How Much Does an EMT Make in Athens, GA in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Athens, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Georgia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Athens · Clarke County metro area
A typical EMT in Athens, Georgia earns $18.48 per hour, or $38,440 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,203 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $34,710, and the top 10% of earners make over $47,890.
That pay is 16% below the Georgia figure of $45,550 and 14% below the national figure of $44,470. Athens ranks 9th of 10 metro areas in Georgia for EMT pay. About 170 EMTs work in the Athens · Clarke County area. Athens is part of the Athens · Clarke County metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Clarke County share these figures.
EMT pay in Athens at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.48 an hour, or $38,440 a year.
- That is 16% below the Georgia figure, ranking 9th of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $34,710; the top 10% make over $47,890.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Athens?
Pay in Athens runs from entry-level positions at around $16.69 an hour to more than $23.02 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Georgia and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in Athens
| Career stage | Athens | Georgia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $34,710$16.69 an hour | $33,910$16.30 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $36,920$17.75 an hour | $37,820$18.18 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $38,440$18.48 an hour | $45,550$21.90 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $45,760$22.00 an hour | $48,400$23.27 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $47,890$23.02 an hour | $52,600$25.29 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Athens · Clarke County area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Athens
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Athens · Clarke County area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in Athens was $29,210 a year. By 2025 it had reached $38,440.
How Athens compares with other Georgia cities
Gainesville pays EMTs the most in Georgia at $47,710 a year, $9,270 more than Athens. The lowest-paying area in the state is Columbus at $38,400.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Athens | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gainesville | $47,710 | $22.94 | +24% | 150 |
| 2 | Sandy Springs | $47,500 | $22.84 | +24% | 3,090 |
| 3 | Macon metro incl. Bibb County | $45,780 | $22.01 | +19% | 250 |
| 4 | Albany | $45,070 | $21.67 | +17% | 130 |
| 5 | Augusta metro incl. Richmond County | $45,060 | $21.66 | +17% | 350 |
| 6 | Savannah | $41,320 | $19.86 | +7% | 210 |
| 7 | Brunswick metro incl. St. Simons | $40,770 | $19.60 | +6% | 80 |
| 8 | Warner Robins | $39,490 | $18.98 | +3% | 130 |
| 9 | Athens metro incl. Clarke County | $38,440 | $18.48 | this city | 170 |
| 10 | Columbus | $38,400 | $18.46 | 0% | 210 |
Every metro area in Georgia with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Georgia typical pay $45,550
Is Athens a good place to work as an EMT?
EMTs in Athens earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $38,440 a year, 14% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Athens · Clarke County area, about 1.8 are EMT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.2. That makes the local economy more reliant on EMTs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an EMT make in Athens, GA?
- A typical EMT in Athens earns $38,440 a year, or $18.48 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $34,710 and the top 10% earn over $47,890.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Athens?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Athens is $18.48. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $16.69, and the top 10% earn over $23.02 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Athens?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Athens typically offer around $16.69 an hour, or $34,710 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Athens higher than in the rest of Georgia?
- Athens pay is 16% below the Georgia figure of $45,550 a year, ranking 9th of 10 metro areas in the state. Gainesville pays the most in Georgia at $47,710.