How Much Does an EMT Make in Nashville, TN in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Nashville, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Tennessee.
BLS OES May 2025 · Nashville · Davidson · · Murfreesboro · · Franklin metro area
A typical EMT in Nashville, Tennessee earns $23.07 per hour, or $47,990 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,999 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $32,030, and the top 10% of earners make over $76,380.
That pay is 19% above the Tennessee figure of $40,330 and 8% above the national figure of $44,470. Nashville ranks 3rd of 9 metro areas in Tennessee for EMT pay. About 930 EMTs work in the Nashville · Davidson · · Murfreesboro · · Franklin area. Nashville is part of the Nashville · Davidson · · Murfreesboro · · Franklin metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Franklin, Murfreesboro, Davidson share these figures.
EMT pay in Nashville at a glance
- Typical pay is $23.07 an hour, or $47,990 a year.
- That is 19% above the Tennessee figure, ranking 3rd of 9 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $32,030; the top 10% make over $76,380.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Nashville?
Pay in Nashville runs from entry-level positions at around $15.40 an hour to more than $36.72 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Tennessee and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in Nashville
| Career stage | Nashville | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $32,030$15.40 an hour | $29,720$14.29 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $37,790$18.17 an hour | $36,910$17.74 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $47,990$23.07 an hour | $40,330$19.39 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $59,370$28.54 an hour | $48,430$23.28 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $76,380$36.72 an hour | $59,370$28.54 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Nashville · Davidson · · Murfreesboro · · Franklin area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Nashville
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Nashville · Davidson · · Murfreesboro · · Franklin area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in Nashville was $36,360 a year. By 2025 it had reached $47,990.
How Nashville compares with other Tennessee cities
Morristown pays EMTs the most in Tennessee at $51,000 a year, $3,010 more than Nashville. The lowest-paying area in the state is Johnson City at $36,620.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Nashville | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morristown | $51,000 | $24.52 | +6% | 100 |
| 2 | Clarksville | $48,480 | $23.31 | +1% | 120 |
| 3 | Nashville | $47,990 | $23.07 | this city | 930 |
| 4 | Chattanooga | $41,390 | $19.90 | -14% | 270 |
| 5 | Jackson | $39,180 | $18.84 | -18% | 120 |
| 6 | Memphis | $38,620 | $18.57 | -20% | 860 |
| 7 | Knoxville | $38,330 | $18.43 | -20% | 560 |
| 8 | Bristol metro incl. Kingsport | $36,680 | $17.64 | -24% | 220 |
| 9 | Johnson City | $36,620 | $17.61 | -24% | 120 |
Every metro area in Tennessee with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Tennessee typical pay $40,330
Is Nashville a good place to work as an EMT?
EMTs in Nashville earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $47,990 a year, 8% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Nashville · Davidson · · Murfreesboro · · Franklin area, about 0.8 are EMT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.2. That makes EMTs a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an EMT make in Nashville, TN?
- A typical EMT in Nashville earns $47,990 a year, or $23.07 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $32,030 and the top 10% earn over $76,380.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Nashville?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Nashville is $23.07. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $15.40, and the top 10% earn over $36.72 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Nashville?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Nashville typically offer around $15.40 an hour, or $32,030 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Nashville higher than in the rest of Tennessee?
- Nashville pay is 19% above the Tennessee figure of $40,330 a year, ranking 3rd of 9 metro areas in the state. Morristown pays the most in Tennessee at $51,000.