How Much Does an EMT Make in Nebraska in 2026?

A typical EMT in Nebraska earns about $20.05 per hour, or $41,710 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from that annual figure, pay works out to roughly $3,476 a month and about $802 a week. These numbers cover EMTs working across hospitals, ambulance services, and fire departments statewide.

Nationally, EMTs earn a typical $44,470 a year ($21.38 an hour), which puts Nebraska about 6% below the national figure. Nebraska ranks 28th out of 51 states for EMT pay. About 540 EMTs work in Nebraska, compared with 180,510 nationwide, giving a sense of the scale of the local workforce.

Entry-level EMT positions in Nebraska typically offer around $16.86 an hour, or about $35,060 a year, according to the same May 2025 data. That's the starting range for EMTs new to the field or just off certification. Within a few years, pay tends to move up toward the statewide typical figure of $20.05 an hour.

Experienced EMTs in Nebraska often earn upwards of $52,070 a year, and the top 10% make over $68,670 a year ($33.01 an hour). That leaves a spread of $33,610 between entry-level and top-tier pay. Setting, years on the job, and which city an EMT works in all factor into where someone lands within that range.

Nebraska EMT pay has risen every year on record, moving from $30,730 in 2021 to $41,710 in 2025. That's a gain of $10,980, a 36% increase over five years. The rise has been steady, with pay climbing in each of the last five years without a decline.

Over the same long-term stretch, EMT pay nationwide rose about 25%. That means Nebraska's five-year gain has run ahead of the national pace in percentage terms. For someone starting as an EMT in Nebraska now, pay has clearly moved up over time. Past gains, though, are no guarantee of future increases.

EMT pay in Nebraska is fairly uniform across the state, since only two metro areas report enough data to publish separately. Omaha, covering its full metro area, reports a typical $41,350 a year ($19.88 an hour), essentially matching the statewide figure of $41,710. Omaha is also home to the largest EMT workforce in the state, with about 250 EMTs working there.

Lincoln, also covering its full metro area, reports a lower typical figure of $35,820 a year ($17.22 an hour), with about 40 EMTs working there. That's a spread of $5,530 between Nebraska's two reporting cities. Differences like this usually track local living costs, with pay tending to run higher where housing and everyday expenses cost more.

Nebraska's EMT pay lags most of its neighbors. Wyoming pays the most nearby at $47,070 a year, about 13% higher, and Colorado follows at $45,750, about 10% higher. Kansas and South Dakota pay less, at $35,780 and $36,800, roughly 12-14% below Nebraska's figure. Missouri is nearly even, just 1% higher. EMT licensure earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, which can simplify a move across the region.

Nebraska EMTs typically earn $41,710 a year ($20.05 an hour), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025), and that figure has climbed 36% over the past five years. Anyone weighing a move into the field should check Nebraska's EMS licensing and registry requirements directly with the state board, and look at the Omaha and Lincoln city pages for local pay figures.