How Much Does an EMT Make in Iowa City, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Iowa City, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Iowa.
BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa City metro area
A typical EMT in Iowa City, Iowa earns $25.10 per hour, or $52,210 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,351 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,440, and the top 10% of earners make over $79,440.
That pay is 28% above the Iowa figure of $40,660 and 17% above the national figure of $44,470. Iowa City ranks 1st of 8 metro areas in Iowa for EMT pay. About 70 EMTs work in the Iowa City area.
EMT pay in Iowa City at a glance
- Typical pay is $25.10 an hour, or $52,210 a year.
- That is 28% above the Iowa figure, ranking 1st of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,440; the top 10% make over $79,440.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Iowa City?
Pay in Iowa City runs from entry-level positions at around $18.00 an hour to more than $38.19 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in Iowa City
| Career stage | Iowa City | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $37,440$18.00 an hour | $35,600$17.12 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $37,440$18.00 an hour | $37,030$17.80 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $52,210$25.10 an hour | $40,660$19.55 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $58,740$28.24 an hour | $47,870$23.02 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $79,440$38.19 an hour | $60,080$28.89 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Iowa City area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Iowa City
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Iowa City area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in Iowa City was $30,560 a year. By 2025 it had reached $52,210.
How Iowa City compares with other Iowa cities
Iowa City pays EMTs the most of any metro area in Iowa. The lowest-paying area in the state is Davenport at $39,830.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Iowa City | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa City | $52,210 | $25.10 | this city | 70 |
| 2 | Ames | $46,000 | $22.12 | -12% | 30 |
| 3 | Cedar Falls metro incl. Waterloo | $43,500 | $20.91 | -17% | 60 |
| 4 | West Des Moines metro incl. Des Moines | $42,470 | $20.42 | -19% | 280 |
| 5 | Sioux City | $41,710 | $20.05 | -20% | 80 |
| 6 | Dubuque | $41,260 | $19.84 | -21% | 40 |
| 7 | Cedar Rapids | $40,160 | $19.31 | -23% | 150 |
| 8 | Davenport | $39,830 | $19.15 | -24% | 160 |
Every metro area in Iowa with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $40,660
Is Iowa City a good place to work as an EMT?
EMTs in Iowa City earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $52,210 a year, 17% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Iowa City area, about 0.7 are EMT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.1. 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 Iowa City, IA?
- A typical EMT in Iowa City earns $52,210 a year, or $25.10 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $37,440 and the top 10% earn over $79,440.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Iowa City?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Iowa City is $25.10. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.00, and the top 10% earn over $38.19 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Iowa City?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Iowa City typically offer around $18.00 an hour, or $37,440 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Iowa City higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- Iowa City pay is 28% above the Iowa figure of $40,660 a year, ranking 1st of 8 metro areas in the state.