How Much Does an EMT Make in Tacoma, WA in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Tacoma, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Washington.
BLS OES May 2025 · Seattle · Tacoma · Bellevue metro area
A typical EMT in Tacoma, Washington earns $26.78 per hour, or $55,700 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,642 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $49,520, and the top 10% of earners make over $61,120.
That pay is 6% above the Washington figure of $52,690 and 25% above the national figure of $44,470. Tacoma ranks 1st of 6 metro areas in Washington for EMT pay. About 1,290 EMTs work in the Seattle · Tacoma · Bellevue area. Tacoma is part of the Seattle · Tacoma · Bellevue metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Seattle and Bellevue share these figures.
EMT pay in Tacoma at a glance
- Typical pay is $26.78 an hour, or $55,700 a year.
- That is 6% above the Washington figure, ranking 1st of 6 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $49,520; the top 10% make over $61,120.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Tacoma?
Pay in Tacoma runs from entry-level positions at around $23.81 an hour to more than $29.39 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Washington and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in Tacoma
| Career stage | Tacoma | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $49,520$23.81 an hour | $37,290$17.93 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $52,400$25.19 an hour | $47,560$22.87 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $55,700$26.78 an hour | $52,690$25.33 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $58,270$28.02 an hour | $56,580$27.20 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $61,120$29.39 an hour | $60,960$29.31 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Seattle · Tacoma · Bellevue area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Tacoma
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Seattle · Tacoma · Bellevue area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in Tacoma was $35,590 a year. By 2025 it had reached $55,700.
How Tacoma compares with other Washington cities
Tacoma pays EMTs the most of any metro area in Washington. The lowest-paying area in the state is Richland at $46,480.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Tacoma | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tacoma | $55,700 | $26.78 | this city | 1,290 |
| 2 | Vancouver metro incl. Hillsboro | $52,010 | $25.01 | -7% | 1,040 |
| 3 | Lacey | $51,760 | $24.88 | -7% | 140 |
| 4 | Wenatchee metro incl. East Wenatchee | $49,870 | $23.97 | -10% | 100 |
| 5 | Spokane metro incl. Spokane Valley | $47,560 | $22.87 | -15% | 300 |
| 6 | Kennewick metro incl. Richland | $46,480 | $22.34 | -17% | 110 |
Every metro area in Washington with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Washington typical pay $52,690
Is Tacoma a good place to work as an EMT?
EMTs in Tacoma earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $55,700 a year, 25% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Seattle · Tacoma · Bellevue 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 Tacoma, WA?
- A typical EMT in Tacoma earns $55,700 a year, or $26.78 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $49,520 and the top 10% earn over $61,120.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Tacoma?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Tacoma is $26.78. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $23.81, and the top 10% earn over $29.39 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Tacoma?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Tacoma typically offer around $23.81 an hour, or $49,520 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Tacoma higher than in the rest of Washington?
- Tacoma pay is 6% above the Washington figure of $52,690 a year, ranking 1st of 6 metro areas in the state.