How Much Does an EMT Make in New Orleans, LA in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in New Orleans, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Louisiana.
BLS OES May 2025 · New Orleans · Metairie metro area
A typical EMT in New Orleans, Louisiana earns $16.91 per hour, or $35,180 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $2,932 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $27,710, and the top 10% of earners make over $49,110.
That pay is 2% below the Louisiana figure of $35,870 and 21% below the national figure of $44,470. New Orleans ranks 6th of 8 metro areas in Louisiana for EMT pay. About 420 EMTs work in the New Orleans · Metairie area. New Orleans is part of the New Orleans · Metairie metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Metairie share these figures.
EMT pay in New Orleans at a glance
- Typical pay is $16.91 an hour, or $35,180 a year.
- That is 2% below the Louisiana figure, ranking 6th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $27,710; the top 10% make over $49,110.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in New Orleans?
Pay in New Orleans runs from entry-level positions at around $13.32 an hour to more than $23.61 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Louisiana and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in New Orleans
| Career stage | New Orleans | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $27,710$13.32 an hour | $27,390$13.17 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $27,980$13.45 an hour | $29,240$14.06 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $35,180$16.91 an hour | $35,870$17.25 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $38,070$18.30 an hour | $38,110$18.32 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $49,110$23.61 an hour | $46,460$22.34 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the New Orleans · Metairie area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in New Orleans
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the New Orleans · Metairie area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in New Orleans was $29,260 a year. By 2025 it had reached $35,180.
How New Orleans compares with other Louisiana cities
Slidell pays EMTs the most in Louisiana at $37,680 a year, $2,500 more than New Orleans. The lowest-paying area in the state is Bossier City at $31,610.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs New Orleans | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Slidell metro incl. Covington · Mandeville | $37,680 | $18.11 | +7% | 70 |
| 2 | Bayou Cane | $36,290 | $17.45 | +3% | 70 |
| 3 | Lake Charles | $36,260 | $17.44 | +3% | 80 |
| 4 | Baton Rouge | $36,050 | $17.33 | +2% | 430 |
| 5 | Alexandria | $35,680 | $17.16 | +1% | 100 |
| 6 | New Orleans metro incl. Metairie | $35,180 | $16.91 | this city | 420 |
| 7 | Monroe | $34,230 | $16.46 | -3% | 120 |
| 8 | Shreveport metro incl. Bossier City | $31,610 | $15.20 | -10% | 230 |
Every metro area in Louisiana with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Louisiana typical pay $35,870
Is New Orleans a good place to work as an EMT?
EMTs in New Orleans earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $35,180 a year, 21% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the New Orleans · Metairie area, about 0.9 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 New Orleans, LA?
- A typical EMT in New Orleans earns $35,180 a year, or $16.91 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $27,710 and the top 10% earn over $49,110.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in New Orleans?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in New Orleans is $16.91. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $13.32, and the top 10% earn over $23.61 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in New Orleans?
- Entry-level EMT positions in New Orleans typically offer around $13.32 an hour, or $27,710 a year.
- Is EMT pay in New Orleans higher than in the rest of Louisiana?
- New Orleans pay is 2% below the Louisiana figure of $35,870 a year, ranking 6th of 8 metro areas in the state. Slidell pays the most in Louisiana at $37,680.