How Much Does an EMT Make in Massachusetts in 2026?

A typical EMT in Massachusetts earns about $24.15 per hour ($50,230 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That breaks down to roughly $4,186 a month and $966 a week, both calculated from the annual figure. These numbers describe typical pay across the state, before accounting for city, employer, or years on the job.

That figure runs about 13% above the national typical pay of $44,470 a year, and $21.38 an hour nationally. Massachusetts ranks 7th among all 50 states and Washington, D.C. for EMT pay. Around 4,550 people work as EMTs across the state, giving a sense of scale for how many workers this pay level applies to.

Entry-level positions in Massachusetts typically offer around $19.30 an hour, or about $40,140 a year, for EMTs just starting out. Some new hires land slightly higher, closer to $22.54 an hour ($46,880 a year), depending on the employer and region. Pay tends to climb toward the state's typical figure of $50,230 a year within the first few years on the job.

Experienced EMTs in Massachusetts often earn upwards of $25.96 an hour, and the top 10% of earners make over $33.57 an hour, or $69,830 a year. That leaves a spread of $29,690 between entry-level and top pay. Setting, years of experience, and city all factor into where an individual EMT lands within that range.

Massachusetts EMT pay climbed from $37,590 a year in 2021 to $50,230 in 2025, a gain of $12,640. That's a rise of about 34% over four years. Pay dipped slightly in 2023, down to $45,920 from $46,850 the year before, then recovered and climbed through 2024 and 2025.

Nationally, EMT pay rose about 25% over the same stretch, so Massachusetts pay grew faster than the country as a whole. Pay has moved up in recent years, though nothing about future increases is guaranteed. Someone starting as an EMT in Massachusetts today enters a field where earnings have trended upward, not down.

Boston pays EMTs the most in Massachusetts, with typical earnings around $50,560 a year ($24.31 an hour), about 1% above the statewide figure of $50,230. Worcester matches Boston almost exactly, also reporting $50,560 a year. Warwick follows at $47,310 a year, still well above several other parts of the state. These figures reflect the full metro area surrounding each city, not just the city itself.

Northampton pays the least among the state's reported cities, with EMTs earning around $39,580 a year ($19.03 an hour), a spread of $10,980 between the highest and lowest metro areas. Boston also has the largest EMT workforce in the state, with about 3,410 workers. Lower pay in places like Northampton usually tracks a lower cost of living, so the gap doesn't necessarily mean a worse-paying job in practical terms.

Massachusetts EMT pay sits close to its neighbors. Rhode Island pays slightly more, around $51,290 a year, about 2% above Massachusetts, and Connecticut runs close behind at $50,640, about 1% higher. New Hampshire and Vermont both pay less, at $46,790 and $45,600 a year, roughly 7% and 9% below Massachusetts. EMT licensure earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, which matters for anyone weighing a move.

Massachusetts EMTs typically earn $50,230 a year, or $24.15 an hour, with pay up about 34% since 2021. That growth has outpaced the national trend and puts Massachusetts among the higher-paying states for this work. Anyone considering the field should check the Massachusetts EMT licensing and registry requirements for current certification steps, and review city-level pages for local pay figures before choosing where to work.