How Much Does an EMT Make in Chicago, IL in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Chicago, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Illinois.
BLS OES May 2025 · Chicago · Naperville · Elgin metro area
A typical EMT in Chicago, Illinois earns $21.16 per hour, or $44,020 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,668 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $39,750, and the top 10% of earners make over $135,490.
That pay is 4% above the Illinois figure of $42,260 and 1% below the national figure of $44,470. Chicago ranks 2nd of 6 metro areas in Illinois for EMT pay. About 5,610 EMTs work in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area.
EMT pay in Chicago at a glance
- Typical pay is $21.16 an hour, or $44,020 a year.
- That is 4% above the Illinois figure, ranking 2nd of 6 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $39,750; the top 10% make over $135,490.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Chicago?
Pay in Chicago runs from entry-level positions at around $19.11 an hour to more than $65.14 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Illinois and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in Chicago
| Career stage | Chicago | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $39,750$19.11 an hour | $36,420$17.51 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $42,140$20.26 an hour | $39,430$18.96 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $44,020$21.16 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $57,140$27.47 an hour | $49,640$23.87 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $135,490$65.14 an hour | $135,490$65.14 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Chicago
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in Chicago was $36,590 a year. By 2025 it had reached $44,020.
How Chicago compares with other Illinois cities
Rockford pays EMTs the most in Illinois at $45,760 a year, $1,740 more than Chicago. The lowest-paying area in the state is Peoria at $37,870.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Chicago | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rockford | $45,760 | $22.00 | +4% | 70 |
| 2 | Chicago | $44,020 | $21.16 | this city | 5,610 |
| 3 | Bloomington | $41,070 | $19.74 | -7% | 80 |
| 4 | Moline metro incl. Rock Island | $39,830 | $19.15 | -10% | 160 |
| 5 | Springfield | $38,650 | $18.58 | -12% | 110 |
| 6 | Peoria | $37,870 | $18.21 | -14% | 450 |
Every metro area in Illinois with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Illinois typical pay $42,260
Is Chicago a good place to work as an EMT?
EMT pay in Chicago sits close to the national figure: $44,020 a year, 1% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area, about 1.2 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 Chicago, IL?
- A typical EMT in Chicago earns $44,020 a year, or $21.16 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $39,750 and the top 10% earn over $135,490.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Chicago?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Chicago is $21.16. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $19.11, and the top 10% earn over $65.14 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Chicago?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Chicago typically offer around $19.11 an hour, or $39,750 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Chicago higher than in the rest of Illinois?
- Chicago pay is 4% above the Illinois figure of $42,260 a year, ranking 2nd of 6 metro areas in the state. Rockford pays the most in Illinois at $45,760.