How Much Does an EMT Make in Detroit, MI in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Detroit, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Michigan.
BLS OES May 2025 · Detroit · Warren · Dearborn metro area
A typical EMT in Detroit, Michigan earns $20.22 per hour, or $42,050 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,504 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,380, and the top 10% of earners make over $52,100.
That pay is 5% above the Michigan figure of $39,870 and 5% below the national figure of $44,470. Detroit ranks 1st of 9 metro areas in Michigan for EMT pay. About 1,450 EMTs work in the Detroit · Warren · Dearborn area. Detroit is part of the Detroit · Warren · Dearborn metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Warren and Dearborn share these figures.
EMT pay in Detroit at a glance
- Typical pay is $20.22 an hour, or $42,050 a year.
- That is 5% above the Michigan figure, ranking 1st of 9 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,380; the top 10% make over $52,100.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Detroit?
Pay in Detroit runs from entry-level positions at around $18.45 an hour to more than $25.05 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Michigan and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in Detroit
| Career stage | Detroit | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $38,380$18.45 an hour | $35,360$17.00 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $38,810$18.66 an hour | $37,600$18.08 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $42,050$20.22 an hour | $39,870$19.17 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $46,010$22.12 an hour | $45,130$21.70 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $52,100$25.05 an hour | $49,620$23.85 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Detroit · Warren · Dearborn area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Detroit
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Detroit · Warren · Dearborn area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in Detroit was $29,750 a year. By 2025 it had reached $42,050.
How Detroit compares with other Michigan cities
Detroit pays EMTs the most of any metro area in Michigan. The lowest-paying area in the state is Niles at $34,640.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Detroit | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit | $42,050 | $20.22 | this city | 1,450 |
| 2 | Ann Arbor | $42,010 | $20.20 | 0% | 340 |
| 3 | Mishawaka | $41,170 | $19.79 | -2% | 90 |
| 4 | East Lansing metro incl. Lansing | $39,940 | $19.20 | -5% | 190 |
| 5 | Kentwood metro incl. Grand Rapids · Wyoming | $39,120 | $18.81 | -7% | 530 |
| 6 | Traverse City | $38,950 | $18.72 | -7% | 70 |
| 7 | Flint | $38,380 | $18.45 | -9% | 140 |
| 8 | Portage metro incl. Kalamazoo | $37,720 | $18.13 | -10% | — |
| 9 | Niles | $34,640 | $16.65 | -18% | 30 |
Every metro area in Michigan with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Michigan typical pay $39,870
Is Detroit a good place to work as an EMT?
EMTs in Detroit earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $42,050 a year, 5% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Detroit · Warren · Dearborn area, about 0.8 are EMT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.2. 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 Detroit, MI?
- A typical EMT in Detroit earns $42,050 a year, or $20.22 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $38,380 and the top 10% earn over $52,100.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Detroit?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Detroit is $20.22. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.45, and the top 10% earn over $25.05 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Detroit?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Detroit typically offer around $18.45 an hour, or $38,380 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Detroit higher than in the rest of Michigan?
- Detroit pay is 5% above the Michigan figure of $39,870 a year, ranking 1st of 9 metro areas in the state.