How Much Does an EMT Make in Louisville, KY in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Louisville, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Kentucky.
BLS OES May 2025 · Louisville/Jefferson County metro area
A typical EMT in Louisville, Kentucky earns $21.74 per hour, or $45,210 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,768 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,120, and the top 10% of earners make over $57,840.
That pay is 23% above the Kentucky figure of $36,800 and 2% above the national figure of $44,470. Louisville ranks 1st of 5 metro areas in Kentucky for EMT pay. About 800 EMTs work in the Louisville/Jefferson County area. Louisville is part of the Louisville/Jefferson County metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Jefferson County share these figures.
EMT pay in Louisville at a glance
- Typical pay is $21.74 an hour, or $45,210 a year.
- That is 23% above the Kentucky figure, ranking 1st of 5 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,120; the top 10% make over $57,840.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Louisville?
Pay in Louisville runs from entry-level positions at around $16.88 an hour to more than $27.81 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Kentucky and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in Louisville
| Career stage | Louisville | Kentucky | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $35,120$16.88 an hour | $29,800$14.33 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $38,650$18.58 an hour | $31,200$15.00 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $45,210$21.74 an hour | $36,800$17.69 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $49,900$23.99 an hour | $44,380$21.34 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $57,840$27.81 an hour | $49,950$24.01 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Louisville/Jefferson County area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Louisville
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Louisville/Jefferson County area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in Louisville was $30,050 a year. By 2025 it had reached $45,210.
How Louisville compares with other Kentucky cities
Louisville pays EMTs the most of any metro area in Kentucky. The lowest-paying area in the state is Ashland at $35,630.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Louisville | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville metro incl. Jefferson County | $45,210 | $21.74 | this city | 800 |
| 2 | Fayette metro incl. Lexington | $43,660 | $20.99 | -3% | 240 |
| 3 | Bowling Green | $37,600 | $18.08 | -17% | 90 |
| 4 | Paducah | $37,140 | $17.86 | -18% | 80 |
| 5 | Ashland | $35,630 | $17.13 | -21% | 160 |
Every metro area in Kentucky with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Kentucky typical pay $36,800
Is Louisville a good place to work as an EMT?
EMT pay in Louisville sits close to the national figure: $45,210 a year, 2% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Louisville/Jefferson County 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 Louisville, KY?
- A typical EMT in Louisville earns $45,210 a year, or $21.74 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $35,120 and the top 10% earn over $57,840.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Louisville?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Louisville is $21.74. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $16.88, and the top 10% earn over $27.81 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Louisville?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Louisville typically offer around $16.88 an hour, or $35,120 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Louisville higher than in the rest of Kentucky?
- Louisville pay is 23% above the Kentucky figure of $36,800 a year, ranking 1st of 5 metro areas in the state.