How Much Does an EMT Make in Columbus, OH in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Columbus, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Ohio.
BLS OES May 2025 · Columbus metro area
A typical EMT in Columbus, Ohio earns $19.96 per hour, or $41,520 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,460 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,910, and the top 10% of earners make over $55,470.
That pay is 3% above the Ohio figure of $40,220 and 7% below the national figure of $44,470. Columbus ranks 4th of 11 metro areas in Ohio for EMT pay. About 760 EMTs work in the Columbus area.
EMT pay in Columbus at a glance
- Typical pay is $19.96 an hour, or $41,520 a year.
- That is 3% above the Ohio figure, ranking 4th of 11 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,910; the top 10% make over $55,470.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Columbus?
Pay in Columbus runs from entry-level positions at around $17.75 an hour to more than $26.67 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Ohio and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in Columbus
| Career stage | Columbus | Ohio | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $36,910$17.75 an hour | $34,940$16.80 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $39,010$18.75 an hour | $37,580$18.07 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $41,520$19.96 an hour | $40,220$19.34 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $46,960$22.58 an hour | $47,490$22.83 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $55,470$26.67 an hour | $53,960$25.94 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Columbus area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Columbus
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Columbus area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in Columbus was $30,210 a year. By 2025 it had reached $41,520.
How Columbus compares with other Ohio cities
Cleveland pays EMTs the most in Ohio at $44,480 a year, $2,960 more than Columbus. The lowest-paying area in the state is Steubenville at $35,250.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbus | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland | $44,480 | $21.39 | +7% | 970 |
| 2 | Massillon metro incl. Canton | $43,270 | $20.80 | +4% | 160 |
| 3 | Akron | $42,440 | $20.40 | +2% | 240 |
| 4 | Columbus | $41,520 | $19.96 | this city | 760 |
| 5 | Cincinnati | $39,910 | $19.19 | -4% | 750 |
| 6 | Toledo | $39,850 | $19.16 | -4% | 250 |
| 7 | Kettering metro incl. Dayton · Beavercreek | $38,830 | $18.67 | -6% | 360 |
| 8 | Sandusky | $37,880 | $18.21 | -9% | 80 |
| 9 | Youngstown metro incl. Warren | $37,590 | $18.07 | -9% | 180 |
| 10 | Springfield | $35,740 | $17.19 | -14% | 120 |
| 11 | Steubenville | $35,250 | $16.95 | -15% | 70 |
Every metro area in Ohio with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Ohio typical pay $40,220
Is Columbus a good place to work as an EMT?
EMTs in Columbus earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $41,520 a year, 7% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Columbus area, about 0.7 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 Columbus, OH?
- A typical EMT in Columbus earns $41,520 a year, or $19.96 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $36,910 and the top 10% earn over $55,470.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Columbus?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Columbus is $19.96. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.75, and the top 10% earn over $26.67 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Columbus?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Columbus typically offer around $17.75 an hour, or $36,910 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Columbus higher than in the rest of Ohio?
- Columbus pay is 3% above the Ohio figure of $40,220 a year, ranking 4th of 11 metro areas in the state. Cleveland pays the most in Ohio at $44,480.