How Much Does an EMT Make in Philadelphia, PA in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Philadelphia, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Pennsylvania.
BLS OES May 2025 · Philadelphia · Camden · Wilmington metro area
A typical EMT in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania earns $22.97 per hour, or $47,790 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,983 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,490, and the top 10% of earners make over $60,960.
That pay is 10% above the Pennsylvania figure of $43,310 and 7% above the national figure of $44,470. Philadelphia ranks 1st of 14 metro areas in Pennsylvania for EMT pay. About 4,970 EMTs work in the Philadelphia · Camden · Wilmington area.
EMT pay in Philadelphia at a glance
- Typical pay is $22.97 an hour, or $47,790 a year.
- That is 10% above the Pennsylvania figure, ranking 1st of 14 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,490; the top 10% make over $60,960.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Philadelphia?
Pay in Philadelphia runs from entry-level positions at around $18.51 an hour to more than $29.31 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Pennsylvania and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in Philadelphia
| Career stage | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $38,490$18.51 an hour | $34,480$16.58 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $44,910$21.59 an hour | $37,630$18.09 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $47,790$22.97 an hour | $43,310$20.82 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $54,280$26.09 an hour | $47,480$22.83 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $60,960$29.31 an hour | $54,370$26.14 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Philadelphia · Camden · Wilmington area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Philadelphia
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Philadelphia · Camden · Wilmington area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in Philadelphia was $36,570 a year. By 2025 it had reached $47,790.
How Philadelphia compares with other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia pays EMTs the most of any metro area in Pennsylvania. The lowest-paying area in the state is Johnstown at $35,300.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Philadelphia | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $47,790 | $22.97 | this city | 4,970 |
| 2 | Lancaster | $44,200 | $21.25 | -8% | 320 |
| 3 | Reading | $44,100 | $21.20 | -8% | 330 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh | $43,240 | $20.79 | -10% | 2,000 |
| 5 | Lebanon | $42,440 | $20.41 | -11% | 130 |
| 6 | Allentown | $41,000 | $19.71 | -14% | 670 |
| 7 | Hanover metro incl. York | $39,580 | $19.03 | -17% | 340 |
| 8 | Williamsport | $39,560 | $19.02 | -17% | 110 |
| 9 | Carlisle metro incl. Harrisburg | $39,150 | $18.82 | -18% | 590 |
| 10 | Wilkes | $37,940 | $18.24 | -21% | 480 |
| 11 | State College | $37,800 | $18.17 | -21% | 110 |
| 12 | Erie | $37,650 | $18.10 | -21% | 190 |
| 13 | Chambersburg | $35,800 | $17.21 | -25% | 90 |
| 14 | Johnstown | $35,300 | $16.97 | -26% | 170 |
Every metro area in Pennsylvania with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Pennsylvania typical pay $43,310
Is Philadelphia a good place to work as an EMT?
EMTs in Philadelphia earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $47,790 a year, 7% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Philadelphia · Camden · Wilmington area, about 1.7 are EMT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.2. That makes the local economy more reliant on EMTs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an EMT make in Philadelphia, PA?
- A typical EMT in Philadelphia earns $47,790 a year, or $22.97 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $38,490 and the top 10% earn over $60,960.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Philadelphia?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Philadelphia is $22.97. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.51, and the top 10% earn over $29.31 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Philadelphia?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Philadelphia typically offer around $18.51 an hour, or $38,490 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Philadelphia higher than in the rest of Pennsylvania?
- Philadelphia pay is 10% above the Pennsylvania figure of $43,310 a year, ranking 1st of 14 metro areas in the state.