How Much Does an EMT Make in West Des Moines, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in West Des Moines, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Iowa.
BLS OES May 2025 · Des Moines · West Des Moines metro area
A typical EMT in West Des Moines, Iowa earns $20.42 per hour, or $42,470 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,539 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,220, and the top 10% of earners make over $72,790.
That pay is 4% above the Iowa figure of $40,660 and 4% below the national figure of $44,470. West Des Moines ranks 4th of 8 metro areas in Iowa for EMT pay. About 280 EMTs work in the Des Moines · West Des Moines area. West Des Moines is part of the Des Moines · West Des Moines metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Des Moines share these figures.
EMT pay in West Des Moines at a glance
- Typical pay is $20.42 an hour, or $42,470 a year.
- That is 4% above the Iowa figure, ranking 4th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,220; the top 10% make over $72,790.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in West Des Moines?
Pay in West Des Moines runs from entry-level positions at around $16.93 an hour to more than $34.99 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in West Des Moines
| Career stage | West Des Moines | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $35,220$16.93 an hour | $35,600$17.12 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $36,980$17.78 an hour | $37,030$17.80 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $42,470$20.42 an hour | $40,660$19.55 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $57,910$27.84 an hour | $47,870$23.02 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $72,790$34.99 an hour | $60,080$28.89 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Des Moines · West Des Moines area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in West Des Moines
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Des Moines · West Des Moines area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in West Des Moines was $30,000 a year. By 2025 it had reached $42,470.
How West Des Moines compares with other Iowa cities
Iowa City pays EMTs the most in Iowa at $52,210 a year, $9,740 more than West Des Moines. The lowest-paying area in the state is Davenport at $39,830.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs West Des Moines | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa City | $52,210 | $25.10 | +23% | 70 |
| 2 | Ames | $46,000 | $22.12 | +8% | 30 |
| 3 | Cedar Falls metro incl. Waterloo | $43,500 | $20.91 | +2% | 60 |
| 4 | West Des Moines metro incl. Des Moines | $42,470 | $20.42 | this city | 280 |
| 5 | Sioux City | $41,710 | $20.05 | -2% | 80 |
| 6 | Dubuque | $41,260 | $19.84 | -3% | 40 |
| 7 | Cedar Rapids | $40,160 | $19.31 | -5% | 150 |
| 8 | Davenport | $39,830 | $19.15 | -6% | 160 |
Every metro area in Iowa with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $40,660
Is West Des Moines a good place to work as an EMT?
EMT pay in West Des Moines sits close to the national figure: $42,470 a year, 4% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Des Moines · West Des Moines 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 West Des Moines, IA?
- A typical EMT in West Des Moines earns $42,470 a year, or $20.42 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $35,220 and the top 10% earn over $72,790.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in West Des Moines?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in West Des Moines is $20.42. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $16.93, and the top 10% earn over $34.99 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in West Des Moines?
- Entry-level EMT positions in West Des Moines typically offer around $16.93 an hour, or $35,220 a year.
- Is EMT pay in West Des Moines higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- West Des Moines pay is 4% above the Iowa figure of $40,660 a year, ranking 4th of 8 metro areas in the state. Iowa City pays the most in Iowa at $52,210.