How Much Does an EMT Make in Bristol, TN in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Bristol, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Tennessee.
BLS OES May 2025 · Kingsport · Bristol metro area
A typical EMT in Bristol, Tennessee earns $17.64 per hour, or $36,680 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,057 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $28,050, and the top 10% of earners make over $49,000.
That pay is 9% below the Tennessee figure of $40,330 and 18% below the national figure of $44,470. Bristol ranks 8th of 9 metro areas in Tennessee for EMT pay. About 220 EMTs work in the Kingsport · Bristol area. Bristol is part of the Kingsport · Bristol metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Kingsport share these figures.
EMT pay in Bristol at a glance
- Typical pay is $17.64 an hour, or $36,680 a year.
- That is 9% below the Tennessee figure, ranking 8th of 9 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $28,050; the top 10% make over $49,000.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Bristol?
Pay in Bristol runs from entry-level positions at around $13.49 an hour to more than $23.56 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Tennessee and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in Bristol
| Career stage | Bristol | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $28,050$13.49 an hour | $29,720$14.29 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $31,370$15.08 an hour | $36,910$17.74 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $36,680$17.64 an hour | $40,330$19.39 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $44,320$21.31 an hour | $48,430$23.28 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $49,000$23.56 an hour | $59,370$28.54 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Kingsport · Bristol area as BLS defines it
How Bristol compares with other Tennessee cities
Morristown pays EMTs the most in Tennessee at $51,000 a year, $14,320 more than Bristol. The lowest-paying area in the state is Johnson City at $36,620.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Bristol | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morristown | $51,000 | $24.52 | +39% | 100 |
| 2 | Clarksville | $48,480 | $23.31 | +32% | 120 |
| 3 | Franklin | $47,990 | $23.07 | +31% | 930 |
| 4 | Chattanooga | $41,390 | $19.90 | +13% | 270 |
| 5 | Jackson | $39,180 | $18.84 | +7% | 120 |
| 6 | Memphis | $38,620 | $18.57 | +5% | 860 |
| 7 | Knoxville | $38,330 | $18.43 | +4% | 560 |
| 8 | Bristol metro incl. Kingsport | $36,680 | $17.64 | this city | 220 |
| 9 | Johnson City | $36,620 | $17.61 | 0% | 120 |
Every metro area in Tennessee with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Tennessee typical pay $40,330
Is Bristol a good place to work as an EMT?
EMTs in Bristol earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $36,680 a year, 18% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Kingsport · Bristol area, about 1.8 are EMT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.1. 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 Bristol, TN?
- A typical EMT in Bristol earns $36,680 a year, or $17.64 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $28,050 and the top 10% earn over $49,000.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Bristol?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Bristol is $17.64. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $13.49, and the top 10% earn over $23.56 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Bristol?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Bristol typically offer around $13.49 an hour, or $28,050 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Bristol higher than in the rest of Tennessee?
- Bristol pay is 9% below the Tennessee figure of $40,330 a year, ranking 8th of 9 metro areas in the state. Morristown pays the most in Tennessee at $51,000.