How Much Does an EMT Make in Arlington, VA in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Arlington, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Virginia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Washington · Arlington · Alexandria metro area
A typical EMT in Arlington, Virginia earns $23.68 per hour, or $49,250 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,104 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $39,310, and the top 10% of earners make over $68,590.
That pay is 8% above the Virginia figure of $45,420 and 11% above the national figure of $44,470. Arlington ranks 1st of 8 metro areas in Virginia for EMT pay. About 1,730 EMTs work in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area.
EMT pay in Arlington at a glance
- Typical pay is $23.68 an hour, or $49,250 a year.
- That is 8% above the Virginia figure, ranking 1st of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $39,310; the top 10% make over $68,590.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Arlington?
Pay in Arlington runs from entry-level positions at around $18.90 an hour to more than $32.98 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Virginia and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in Arlington
| Career stage | Arlington | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $39,310$18.90 an hour | $36,540$17.57 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $44,680$21.48 an hour | $38,620$18.57 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $49,250$23.68 an hour | $45,420$21.84 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $60,360$29.02 an hour | $50,390$24.23 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $68,590$32.98 an hour | $59,180$28.45 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Arlington
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in Arlington was $46,880 a year. By 2025 it had reached $49,250.
How Arlington compares with other Virginia cities
Arlington pays EMTs the most of any metro area in Virginia. The lowest-paying area in the state is Bristol at $36,680.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Arlington | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arlington | $49,250 | $23.68 | this city | 1,730 |
| 2 | Blacksburg metro incl. Christiansburg · Radford | $48,320 | $23.23 | -2% | 100 |
| 3 | Richmond | $47,290 | $22.74 | -4% | — |
| 4 | Virginia Beach | $45,900 | $22.07 | -7% | 690 |
| 5 | Staunton metro incl. Stuarts Draft | $42,990 | $20.67 | -13% | 130 |
| 6 | Roanoke | $41,690 | $20.04 | -15% | 170 |
| 7 | Charlottesville | $39,760 | $19.12 | -19% | 130 |
| 8 | Bristol | $36,680 | $17.64 | -26% | 220 |
Every metro area in Virginia with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Virginia typical pay $45,420
Is Arlington a good place to work as an EMT?
EMTs in Arlington earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $49,250 a year, 11% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area, about 0.6 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 Arlington, VA?
- A typical EMT in Arlington earns $49,250 a year, or $23.68 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $39,310 and the top 10% earn over $68,590.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Arlington?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Arlington is $23.68. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.90, and the top 10% earn over $32.98 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Arlington?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Arlington typically offer around $18.90 an hour, or $39,310 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Arlington higher than in the rest of Virginia?
- Arlington pay is 8% above the Virginia figure of $45,420 a year, ranking 1st of 8 metro areas in the state.