How Much Does an EMT Make in Memphis, TN in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Memphis, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Tennessee.
BLS OES May 2025 · Memphis metro area
A typical EMT in Memphis, Tennessee earns $18.57 per hour, or $38,620 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,218 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $29,310, and the top 10% of earners make over $53,200.
That pay is 4% below the Tennessee figure of $40,330 and 13% below the national figure of $44,470. Memphis ranks 6th of 9 metro areas in Tennessee for EMT pay. About 860 EMTs work in the Memphis area.
EMT pay in Memphis at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.57 an hour, or $38,620 a year.
- That is 4% below the Tennessee figure, ranking 6th of 9 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $29,310; the top 10% make over $53,200.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Memphis?
Pay in Memphis runs from entry-level positions at around $14.09 an hour to more than $25.58 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Tennessee and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in Memphis
| Career stage | Memphis | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $29,310$14.09 an hour | $29,720$14.29 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $36,690$17.64 an hour | $36,910$17.74 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $38,620$18.57 an hour | $40,330$19.39 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $47,670$22.92 an hour | $48,430$23.28 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $53,200$25.58 an hour | $59,370$28.54 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Memphis area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Memphis
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Memphis area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in Memphis was $37,290 a year. By 2025 it had reached $38,620.
How Memphis compares with other Tennessee cities
Morristown pays EMTs the most in Tennessee at $51,000 a year, $12,380 more than Memphis. The lowest-paying area in the state is Johnson City at $36,620.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Memphis | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morristown | $51,000 | $24.52 | +32% | 100 |
| 2 | Clarksville | $48,480 | $23.31 | +26% | 120 |
| 3 | Franklin | $47,990 | $23.07 | +24% | 930 |
| 4 | Chattanooga | $41,390 | $19.90 | +7% | 270 |
| 5 | Jackson | $39,180 | $18.84 | +1% | 120 |
| 6 | Memphis | $38,620 | $18.57 | this city | 860 |
| 7 | Knoxville | $38,330 | $18.43 | -1% | 560 |
| 8 | Bristol metro incl. Kingsport | $36,680 | $17.64 | -5% | 220 |
| 9 | Johnson City | $36,620 | $17.61 | -5% | 120 |
Every metro area in Tennessee with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Tennessee typical pay $40,330
Is Memphis a good place to work as an EMT?
EMTs in Memphis earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $38,620 a year, 13% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Memphis area, about 1.4 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 Memphis, TN?
- A typical EMT in Memphis earns $38,620 a year, or $18.57 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $29,310 and the top 10% earn over $53,200.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Memphis?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Memphis is $18.57. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $14.09, and the top 10% earn over $25.58 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Memphis?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Memphis typically offer around $14.09 an hour, or $29,310 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Memphis higher than in the rest of Tennessee?
- Memphis pay is 4% below the Tennessee figure of $40,330 a year, ranking 6th of 9 metro areas in the state. Morristown pays the most in Tennessee at $51,000.