How Much Does an EMT Make in Wisconsin in 2026?

A typical EMT in Wisconsin earns about $20.70 per hour, or $43,060 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $3,588 a month, or $828 a week, based on the annual figure. Pay varies by employer and location, but this is the starting point for what to expect statewide.

That is 3% below the national figures of $21.38 an hour and $44,470 a year, which usually reflects a lower cost of living rather than the job itself. Wisconsin ranks 24th out of 51 states and Washington, D.C., for EMT pay. About 3,930 EMTs work in the state, giving a sense of scale for how many people this figure represents.

Entry-level positions in Wisconsin typically offer around $16.13 an hour, or about $33,550 a year, according to May 2025 data. Pay in the next tier up moves to roughly $18.24 an hour, or $37,940 a year. Most EMTs reach the statewide typical figure of $20.70 an hour within a few years of steady work.

Experienced EMTs often earn upwards of $24.02 an hour, or about $49,960 a year, and the top 10% of earners make over $29.28 an hour, or $60,910 a year. That puts about $27,360 between the entry-level and top-earning figures. Setting, years of experience, and the city an EMT works in all factor into where someone lands within that range.

Wisconsin's typical EMT pay went from $29,340 a year in 2021 to $43,060 in 2025, a rise of $13,720, or about 47%, over that span. The climb was not perfectly steady: pay rose each year from 2021 through 2024, then slipped slightly to land at the 2025 figure. Even so, the overall direction over that stretch is clearly upward.

Nationally, EMT pay rose 25% over that same stretch, while Wisconsin's gain came in well ahead of that national pace. That does not guarantee future increases, but it shows pay for this work has moved up substantially in recent years. Anyone beginning work as an EMT in Wisconsin today starts at a higher pay level than someone who began in 2021.

Pay runs highest in the St. Paul metro area, which extends into western Wisconsin. EMTs there typically earn $49,970 a year, or $24.03 an hour, about 16% above the statewide figure. Sheboygan and Fond du Lac follow closely, with typical pay of $49,490 and $49,160 a year. Milwaukee and Waukesha, part of the same metro area, come in next at $48,880 a year.

Beloit pays the least among the metro areas listed, at $38,320 a year, or $18.42 an hour, with 60 EMTs working there. That is a spread of $11,650 between the highest- and lowest-paying areas. The St. Paul metro area also has the largest EMT workforce covered here, at 1,490 workers, and these figures reflect entire metro areas rather than single cities.

Minnesota pays EMTs more than Wisconsin, at $48,090 a year, about 12% higher. Illinois, Iowa, and Michigan all pay somewhat less, at $42,260, $40,660, and $39,870 a year, which is 2%, 6%, and 7% below Wisconsin's figure. EMT licensure earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, which is worth checking before relocating for a nearby job.

Wisconsin's typical EMT pay stands at $43,060 a year as of May 2025, up from $29,340 in 2021, a gain of $13,720. Anyone considering this work in Wisconsin can check the state's EMS licensing or registry page for certification requirements, and look at city-level figures to compare pay across St. Paul, Milwaukee, Madison, and other metro areas.