How Much Does an EMT Make in Reading, PA in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Reading, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Pennsylvania.
BLS OES May 2025 · Reading metro area
A typical EMT in Reading, Pennsylvania earns $21.20 per hour, or $44,100 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,675 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,680, and the top 10% of earners make over $52,000.
That pay is 2% above the Pennsylvania figure of $43,310 and 1% below the national figure of $44,470. Reading ranks 3rd of 14 metro areas in Pennsylvania for EMT pay. About 330 EMTs work in the Reading area.
EMT pay in Reading at a glance
- Typical pay is $21.20 an hour, or $44,100 a year.
- That is 2% above the Pennsylvania figure, ranking 3rd of 14 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,680; the top 10% make over $52,000.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Reading?
Pay in Reading runs from entry-level positions at around $17.63 an hour to more than $25.00 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Pennsylvania and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in Reading
| Career stage | Reading | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $36,680$17.63 an hour | $34,480$16.58 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $37,060$17.82 an hour | $37,630$18.09 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $44,100$21.20 an hour | $43,310$20.82 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $47,570$22.87 an hour | $47,480$22.83 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $52,000$25.00 an hour | $54,370$26.14 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Reading area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Reading
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Reading area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in Reading was $29,890 a year. By 2025 it had reached $44,100.
How Reading compares with other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia pays EMTs the most in Pennsylvania at $47,790 a year, $3,690 more than Reading. The lowest-paying area in the state is Johnstown at $35,300.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Reading | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $47,790 | $22.97 | +8% | 4,970 |
| 2 | Lancaster | $44,200 | $21.25 | 0% | 320 |
| 3 | Reading | $44,100 | $21.20 | this city | 330 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh | $43,240 | $20.79 | -2% | 2,000 |
| 5 | Lebanon | $42,440 | $20.41 | -4% | 130 |
| 6 | Allentown | $41,000 | $19.71 | -7% | 670 |
| 7 | Hanover metro incl. York | $39,580 | $19.03 | -10% | 340 |
| 8 | Williamsport | $39,560 | $19.02 | -10% | 110 |
| 9 | Carlisle metro incl. Harrisburg | $39,150 | $18.82 | -11% | 590 |
| 10 | Wilkes | $37,940 | $18.24 | -14% | 480 |
| 11 | State College | $37,800 | $18.17 | -14% | 110 |
| 12 | Erie | $37,650 | $18.10 | -15% | 190 |
| 13 | Chambersburg | $35,800 | $17.21 | -19% | 90 |
| 14 | Johnstown | $35,300 | $16.97 | -20% | 170 |
Every metro area in Pennsylvania with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Pennsylvania typical pay $43,310
Is Reading a good place to work as an EMT?
EMT pay in Reading sits close to the national figure: $44,100 a year, 1% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Reading area, about 1.9 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 Reading, PA?
- A typical EMT in Reading earns $44,100 a year, or $21.20 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $36,680 and the top 10% earn over $52,000.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Reading?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Reading is $21.20. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.63, and the top 10% earn over $25.00 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Reading?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Reading typically offer around $17.63 an hour, or $36,680 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Reading higher than in the rest of Pennsylvania?
- Reading pay is 2% above the Pennsylvania figure of $43,310 a year, ranking 3rd of 14 metro areas in the state. Philadelphia pays the most in Pennsylvania at $47,790.