How Much Does an EMT Make in Maryland in 2026?

A typical EMT in Maryland earns about $23.12 per hour, or $48,100 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from that annual figure, pay works out to roughly $4,008 a month or $925 a week. Those numbers cover EMTs working across ambulance services, fire departments, and hospital systems statewide.

That pay sits 8% above the national figure of $44,470 a year, and Maryland ranks 10th among all 51 states for EMT pay. About 3,400 EMTs work in the state, compared with 180,510 nationwide, so Maryland represents a modest slice of the national EMT workforce. Even with a smaller workforce, pay in Maryland compares well against much larger states.

Entry-level positions in Maryland typically offer around $19.21 an hour, or about $39,960 a year, based on the lowest 10% of reported wages. Pay in the next tier moves up to roughly $45,490 a year. Most EMTs reach the typical pay of $48,100 within a few years on the job, as they gain certifications and experience.

Experienced EMTs in Maryland often earn upwards of $61,460 a year, and the top 10% make over $85,290. That leaves a spread of $45,330 between entry-level and top pay. The gap usually comes down to setting, years on the job, and which city or county an EMT works in.

Maryland EMT pay has climbed steadily in recent years, from $37,200 in 2021 to $48,100 in 2025. That is a gain of $10,900, or a 29% rise, over four years. The increase has been consistent year over year, without any single year driving the whole gain.

Nationally, EMT pay has risen about 25% over the past decade, a slower pace than Maryland's climb since 2021. Wages in Maryland's local job markets have generally moved in the same upward direction, though not always at the same pace. For someone starting an EMT career in Maryland now, pay has moved up substantially in recent years, though nothing about that pattern guarantees future increases.

Pay runs highest in the Lexington Park metro area, where EMTs earn $68,160 a year, about 42% above the statewide figure. Alexandria's metro area also pays well above the state figure, at $49,250 a year. Both areas outpace most of the rest of Maryland by a wide margin.

Hagerstown posts the lowest pay in the state, at $37,840 a year, for a spread of $30,320 between the highest and lowest metro areas. Towson has the largest EMT workforce of any Maryland metro area, with 2,140 employed and typical pay of $48,330 a year. Pay differences across these areas often track differences in local living costs.

Maryland pays EMTs more than every neighboring jurisdiction. Delaware trails by 3% at $46,790 a year, and the District of Columbia sits close behind at $46,650. Virginia comes in 6% lower at $45,420, Pennsylvania 10% lower at $43,310, and West Virginia furthest behind at just $34,360, a 29% gap. EMT certification often transfers or can be endorsed across neighboring states, so relocating for pay does not usually mean starting over.

Maryland EMTs typically earn $48,100 a year, a figure that has climbed 29% since 2021 and sits above both the national pay and most neighboring states. Pay also varies noticeably by city, from lower figures in Hagerstown to much higher pay in Lexington Park. For specific requirements, the Maryland EMS licensing and registry pages outline certification steps, while city-level pages break down local pay in places like Towson, Baltimore, and Lexington Park for a closer look at pay in a specific area.