How Much Does an EMT Make in Bristol, VA 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 Virginia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Kingsport · Bristol metro area
A typical EMT in Bristol, Virginia 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 19% below the Virginia figure of $45,420 and 18% below the national figure of $44,470. Bristol ranks 8th of 8 metro areas in Virginia for EMT pay. About 220 EMTs work in the Kingsport · Bristol area.
EMT pay in Bristol at a glance
- Typical pay is $17.64 an hour, or $36,680 a year.
- That is 19% below the Virginia figure, ranking 8th of 8 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 Virginia and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in Bristol
| Career stage | Bristol | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $28,050$13.49 an hour | $36,540$17.57 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $31,370$15.08 an hour | $38,620$18.57 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $36,680$17.64 an hour | $45,420$21.84 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $44,320$21.31 an hour | $50,390$24.23 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $49,000$23.56 an hour | $59,180$28.45 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Kingsport · Bristol area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Bristol
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Kingsport · Bristol area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in Bristol was $29,060 a year. By 2025 it had reached $36,680.
How Bristol compares with other Virginia cities
Arlington pays EMTs the most in Virginia at $49,250 a year, $12,570 more than Bristol. The lowest-paying area in the state is Bristol at $36,680.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Bristol | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arlington | $49,250 | $23.68 | +34% | 1,730 |
| 2 | Blacksburg metro incl. Christiansburg · Radford | $48,320 | $23.23 | +32% | 100 |
| 3 | Richmond | $47,290 | $22.74 | +29% | — |
| 4 | Virginia Beach | $45,900 | $22.07 | +25% | 690 |
| 5 | Staunton metro incl. Stuarts Draft | $42,990 | $20.67 | +17% | 130 |
| 6 | Roanoke | $41,690 | $20.04 | +14% | 170 |
| 7 | Charlottesville | $39,760 | $19.12 | +8% | 130 |
| 8 | Bristol | $36,680 | $17.64 | this city | 220 |
Every metro area in Virginia with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Virginia typical pay $45,420
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, VA?
- 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 Virginia?
- Bristol pay is 19% below the Virginia figure of $45,420 a year, ranking 8th of 8 metro areas in the state. Arlington pays the most in Virginia at $49,250.