How Much Does an EMT Make in Tennessee in 2026?

A typical EMT in Tennessee earns about $19.39 per hour ($40,330 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Based on that annual figure, pay works out to roughly $3,361 a month or $776 a week. Those numbers describe the person right in the middle of the pay range, not the top or bottom earner. They offer a starting point before breaking down experience level and city figures.

That pay sits 9% below the national figure of $44,470 a year, and Tennessee ranks 31st among the 51 states and D.C. for EMT pay. About 3,860 EMTs work in Tennessee, compared with 180,510 nationwide. The gap tracks the state's lower cost of living in many areas, which tends to bring wages down along with everyday expenses.

Entry-level positions in Tennessee typically offer around $14.29 an hour, or about $29,720 a year, for EMTs just starting out. That figure sits well below the state's typical pay of $40,330 a year. Pay tends to move upward as EMTs gain a few years of experience and additional certifications. Where someone works, in a busy metro service or a rural county, also shapes how fast that increase shows up in a paycheck.

Experienced EMTs in Tennessee often earn upwards of $48,430 a year, and the top 10% of earners make over $59,370 a year. That puts the spread between entry-level and top pay at $29,650 a year, a wide range for one occupation. Hospital-based and metro EMS services tend to pay more than smaller rural squads. Years on the job and training such as paramedic certification help explain the difference.

Tennessee's typical EMT pay rose from $36,160 in 2021 to $40,330 in 2025, a gain of $4,170, or 12%, over that five-year stretch. The increase was gradual, moving up in each of the five years rather than jumping all at once. That period covers years when many EMS employers across the country raised pay to keep crews staffed.

Nationally, EMT pay rose 25% over that period, faster than Tennessee's 12% gain. That difference means Tennessee's pay has grown, but it hasn't closed the gap with the national figure. For someone starting an EMT career in Tennessee now, the trend shows pay moving upward over time, though nothing about future raises is guaranteed.

Pay runs highest in Morristown, where EMTs typically earn $51,000 a year ($24.52 an hour), about 26% above the statewide figure of $40,330. Clarksville and the Nashville metro area, which includes Franklin, Murfreesboro, and Davidson, follow close behind at $47,990 to $48,480 a year. Those higher-paying markets tend to cluster around the state's larger population centers.

Johnson City sits at the other end, with typical pay of $36,620 a year, putting the spread between the state's highest- and lowest-paying cities at $14,380 a year. Franklin, part of the Nashville metro area, employs the largest number of EMTs in the state at 930, with typical pay of $47,990 a year. These figures reflect each city's full metro area, and cities with lower pay generally have a lower cost of living to match.

Among neighboring states, Georgia and Virginia pay EMTs the most, with typical annual pay of $45,550 and $45,420, both about 13% higher than Tennessee's figure. Arkansas pays the least among neighbors, at $36,230, about 10% below Tennessee. Kentucky and Mississippi sit close behind Arkansas, each around 9% below. EMT licensure earned in Tennessee can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, though requirements vary by state.

Tennessee EMTs typically earn $40,330 a year ($19.39 an hour), a figure that has climbed 12% over the past five years even as it remains below the national rate. Pay varies by city and experience, from entry-level starting points near $29,720 to top earners above $59,370. Readers weighing a move or a new EMS job in Tennessee can check the state's EMT licensing and registry requirements, and compare local pay using the Tennessee city pages.