How Much Does an EMT Make in Lexington, KY in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Lexington, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Kentucky.
BLS OES May 2025 · Lexington · Fayette metro area
A typical EMT in Lexington, Kentucky earns $20.99 per hour, or $43,660 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,638 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $29,820, and the top 10% of earners make over $64,890.
That pay is 19% above the Kentucky figure of $36,800 and 2% below the national figure of $44,470. Lexington ranks 2nd of 5 metro areas in Kentucky for EMT pay. About 240 EMTs work in the Lexington · Fayette area. Lexington is part of the Lexington · Fayette metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Fayette share these figures.
EMT pay in Lexington at a glance
- Typical pay is $20.99 an hour, or $43,660 a year.
- That is 19% above the Kentucky figure, ranking 2nd of 5 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $29,820; the top 10% make over $64,890.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Lexington?
Pay in Lexington runs from entry-level positions at around $14.34 an hour to more than $31.20 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Kentucky and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in Lexington
| Career stage | Lexington | Kentucky | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $29,820$14.34 an hour | $29,800$14.33 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $36,560$17.58 an hour | $31,200$15.00 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $43,660$20.99 an hour | $36,800$17.69 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $64,890$31.20 an hour | $44,380$21.34 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $64,890$31.20 an hour | $49,950$24.01 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Lexington · Fayette area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Lexington
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Lexington · Fayette area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in Lexington was $29,690 a year. By 2025 it had reached $43,660.
How Lexington compares with other Kentucky cities
Louisville pays EMTs the most in Kentucky at $45,210 a year, $1,550 more than Lexington. The lowest-paying area in the state is Ashland at $35,630.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Lexington | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville metro incl. Jefferson County | $45,210 | $21.74 | +4% | 800 |
| 2 | Lexington metro incl. Fayette | $43,660 | $20.99 | this city | 240 |
| 3 | Bowling Green | $37,600 | $18.08 | -14% | 90 |
| 4 | Paducah | $37,140 | $17.86 | -15% | 80 |
| 5 | Ashland | $35,630 | $17.13 | -18% | 160 |
Every metro area in Kentucky with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Kentucky typical pay $36,800
Is Lexington a good place to work as an EMT?
EMT pay in Lexington sits close to the national figure: $43,660 a year, 2% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Lexington · Fayette area, about 0.8 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 Lexington, KY?
- A typical EMT in Lexington earns $43,660 a year, or $20.99 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $29,820 and the top 10% earn over $64,890.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Lexington?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Lexington is $20.99. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $14.34, and the top 10% earn over $31.20 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Lexington?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Lexington typically offer around $14.34 an hour, or $29,820 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Lexington higher than in the rest of Kentucky?
- Lexington pay is 19% above the Kentucky figure of $36,800 a year, ranking 2nd of 5 metro areas in the state. Louisville pays the most in Kentucky at $45,210.