How Much Does an EMT Make in Cedar Rapids, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Cedar Rapids, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Iowa.
BLS OES May 2025 · Cedar Rapids metro area
A typical EMT in Cedar Rapids, Iowa earns $19.31 per hour, or $40,160 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,347 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $34,820, and the top 10% of earners make over $47,700.
That pay is 1% below the Iowa figure of $40,660 and 10% below the national figure of $44,470. Cedar Rapids ranks 7th of 8 metro areas in Iowa for EMT pay. About 150 EMTs work in the Cedar Rapids area.
EMT pay in Cedar Rapids at a glance
- Typical pay is $19.31 an hour, or $40,160 a year.
- That is 1% below the Iowa figure, ranking 7th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $34,820; the top 10% make over $47,700.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Cedar Rapids?
Pay in Cedar Rapids runs from entry-level positions at around $16.74 an hour to more than $22.93 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in Cedar Rapids
| Career stage | Cedar Rapids | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $34,820$16.74 an hour | $35,600$17.12 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $36,410$17.51 an hour | $37,030$17.80 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $40,160$19.31 an hour | $40,660$19.55 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $41,190$19.80 an hour | $47,870$23.02 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $47,700$22.93 an hour | $60,080$28.89 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Cedar Rapids area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Cedar Rapids
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Cedar Rapids area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in Cedar Rapids was $28,990 a year. By 2025 it had reached $40,160.
How Cedar Rapids compares with other Iowa cities
Iowa City pays EMTs the most in Iowa at $52,210 a year, $12,050 more than Cedar Rapids. The lowest-paying area in the state is Davenport at $39,830.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Cedar Rapids | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa City | $52,210 | $25.10 | +30% | 70 |
| 2 | Ames | $46,000 | $22.12 | +15% | 30 |
| 3 | Cedar Falls metro incl. Waterloo | $43,500 | $20.91 | +8% | 60 |
| 4 | West Des Moines metro incl. Des Moines | $42,470 | $20.42 | +6% | 280 |
| 5 | Sioux City | $41,710 | $20.05 | +4% | 80 |
| 6 | Dubuque | $41,260 | $19.84 | +3% | 40 |
| 7 | Cedar Rapids | $40,160 | $19.31 | this city | 150 |
| 8 | Davenport | $39,830 | $19.15 | -1% | 160 |
Every metro area in Iowa with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $40,660
Is Cedar Rapids a good place to work as an EMT?
EMTs in Cedar Rapids earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $40,160 a year, 10% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Cedar Rapids area, about 1.1 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.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an EMT make in Cedar Rapids, IA?
- A typical EMT in Cedar Rapids earns $40,160 a year, or $19.31 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $34,820 and the top 10% earn over $47,700.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Cedar Rapids?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Cedar Rapids is $19.31. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $16.74, and the top 10% earn over $22.93 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Cedar Rapids?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Cedar Rapids typically offer around $16.74 an hour, or $34,820 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Cedar Rapids higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- Cedar Rapids pay is 1% below the Iowa figure of $40,660 a year, ranking 7th of 8 metro areas in the state. Iowa City pays the most in Iowa at $52,210.