How Much Does an EMT Make in New Jersey in 2026?

A typical EMT in New Jersey earns about $25.78 per hour, or $53,610 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from that annual figure, pay works out to roughly $4,468 a month and $1,031 a week. Those numbers describe typical pay across the state, not a minimum or a guarantee for any specific job.

That pay sits 21% above the national figure of $44,470 a year, and New Jersey ranks 3rd out of 51 states for EMT pay. About 6,120 EMTs work in the state, a large enough workforce to make these figures a reliable read on local pay. Only a couple of states pay EMTs more than New Jersey does.

Entry-level EMT positions in New Jersey typically offer around $21.90 to $23.08 an hour, or roughly $45,550 to $48,010 a year, according to the same May 2025 data. Pay in these entry roles tends to climb toward the state's typical $53,610 a year within the first few years on the job. New EMTs should expect early paychecks to sit well below the numbers most job postings advertise as typical.

Experienced EMTs in New Jersey often earn upwards of $29.28 an hour ($60,900 a year), and the top 10% make over $31.13 an hour, or $64,740 a year. That leaves an entry-to-top spread of $19,190 across the field. Setting, years on the job, and which city an EMT works in tend to separate the two ends of that range.

New Jersey's typical EMT pay has climbed from $36,940 a year in 2021 to $53,610 in 2025, a gain of $16,670 over that span. That's a rise of about 45%, according to the same government wage data. The increase has been steady each year rather than a single jump, based on the yearly figures on record.

Nationally, EMT pay rose about 25% over the same period, so New Jersey's increase has outpaced the national trend. Pay for New Jersey EMTs has moved up in recent years, though nothing about that pattern guarantees future gains. Someone starting now is entering the field at a higher starting point than an EMT did in 2021.

Trenton pays EMTs the most in New Jersey, with typical pay of $56,430 a year ($27.13 an hour), about 5% above the statewide figure. Princeton reports the same figures, reflecting how the two share a metro area for wage-reporting purposes. Jersey City and Newark follow close behind, both reporting $53,820 a year, in line with the state's overall typical pay.

Bethlehem reports the lowest typical pay among these cities, at $41,000 a year ($19.71 an hour), shared with Easton in the same metro area. That leaves a city-to-city spread of $15,430 across New Jersey's metro areas. Jersey City has the largest EMT workforce in the state, with 13,780 people in the role. These figures cover each city's full metro area, and lower pay in Bethlehem and Easton likely tracks a lower cost of living.

New Jersey pays EMTs more than each of its neighbors. Pennsylvania's typical EMT pay is $43,310 a year, 19% lower than New Jersey's, the widest gap among nearby states. New York comes closest at $48,400 a year, still 10% lower, and Delaware sits at $46,790 a year, 13% lower. EMT licensure earned in one of these states can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring one, which can simplify a move across state lines.

Typical EMT pay in New Jersey now stands at $53,610 a year, up 45% since 2021 and running ahead of the national figure. That trend reflects broad wage data rather than a guarantee for any specific job or employer. Readers weighing a move into the field should check New Jersey's EMT licensing and registry requirements for the specific steps involved, and look at city-level pages for local pay figures in the area where they plan to work.