How Much Does an EMT Make in Grand Rapids, MI in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Grand Rapids, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Michigan.
BLS OES May 2025 · Grand Rapids · Wyoming · Kentwood metro area
A typical EMT in Grand Rapids, Michigan earns $18.81 per hour, or $39,120 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,260 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $33,330, and the top 10% of earners make over $45,400.
That pay is 2% below the Michigan figure of $39,870 and 12% below the national figure of $44,470. Grand Rapids ranks 5th of 9 metro areas in Michigan for EMT pay. About 530 EMTs work in the Grand Rapids · Wyoming · Kentwood area. Grand Rapids is part of the Grand Rapids · Wyoming · Kentwood metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Kentwood and Wyoming share these figures.
EMT pay in Grand Rapids at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.81 an hour, or $39,120 a year.
- That is 2% below the Michigan figure, ranking 5th of 9 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $33,330; the top 10% make over $45,400.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Grand Rapids?
Pay in Grand Rapids runs from entry-level positions at around $16.03 an hour to more than $21.83 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Michigan and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in Grand Rapids
| Career stage | Grand Rapids | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $33,330$16.03 an hour | $35,360$17.00 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $38,250$18.39 an hour | $37,600$18.08 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $39,120$18.81 an hour | $39,870$19.17 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $45,020$21.64 an hour | $45,130$21.70 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $45,400$21.83 an hour | $49,620$23.85 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Grand Rapids · Wyoming · Kentwood area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Grand Rapids
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Grand Rapids · Wyoming · Kentwood area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in Grand Rapids was $28,440 a year. By 2025 it had reached $39,120.
How Grand Rapids compares with other Michigan cities
Detroit pays EMTs the most in Michigan at $42,050 a year, $2,930 more than Grand Rapids. The lowest-paying area in the state is Niles at $34,640.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Grand Rapids | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit | $42,050 | $20.22 | +7% | 1,450 |
| 2 | Ann Arbor | $42,010 | $20.20 | +7% | 340 |
| 3 | Mishawaka | $41,170 | $19.79 | +5% | 90 |
| 4 | East Lansing metro incl. Lansing | $39,940 | $19.20 | +2% | 190 |
| 5 | Grand Rapids | $39,120 | $18.81 | this city | 530 |
| 6 | Traverse City | $38,950 | $18.72 | 0% | 70 |
| 7 | Flint | $38,380 | $18.45 | -2% | 140 |
| 8 | Portage metro incl. Kalamazoo | $37,720 | $18.13 | -4% | — |
| 9 | Niles | $34,640 | $16.65 | -11% | 30 |
Every metro area in Michigan with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Michigan typical pay $39,870
Is Grand Rapids a good place to work as an EMT?
EMTs in Grand Rapids earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $39,120 a year, 12% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Grand Rapids · Wyoming · Kentwood area, about 0.9 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 Grand Rapids, MI?
- A typical EMT in Grand Rapids earns $39,120 a year, or $18.81 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $33,330 and the top 10% earn over $45,400.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Grand Rapids?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Grand Rapids is $18.81. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $16.03, and the top 10% earn over $21.83 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Grand Rapids?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Grand Rapids typically offer around $16.03 an hour, or $33,330 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Grand Rapids higher than in the rest of Michigan?
- Grand Rapids pay is 2% below the Michigan figure of $39,870 a year, ranking 5th of 9 metro areas in the state. Detroit pays the most in Michigan at $42,050.