How Much Does a Paramedic Make in Modesto, CA in 2026?
Typical pay for Paramedics in Modesto, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across California.
BLS OES May 2025 · Modesto metro area
A typical Paramedic in Modesto, California earns $34.70 per hour, or $72,170 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,014 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $61,310, and the top 10% of earners make over $97,710.
That pay is 3% below the California figure of $74,590 and 19% above the national figure of $60,600. Modesto ranks 11th of 16 metro areas in California for Paramedic pay. About 130 Paramedics work in the Modesto area.
Paramedic pay in Modesto at a glance
- Typical pay is $34.70 an hour, or $72,170 a year.
- That is 3% below the California figure, ranking 11th of 16 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $61,310; the top 10% make over $97,710.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Paramedic make in Modesto?
Pay in Modesto runs from entry-level positions at around $29.48 an hour to more than $46.98 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the California and national figures.
Paramedic pay by career stage in Modesto
| Career stage | Modesto | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $61,310$29.48 an hour | $53,370$25.66 an hour | $44,230$21.27 an hour |
| First years | $66,140$31.80 an hour | $63,490$30.52 an hour | $49,660$23.88 an hour |
| Typical Paramedic | $72,170$34.70 an hour | $74,590$35.86 an hour | $60,600$29.13 an hour |
| Experienced | $79,600$38.27 an hour | $90,730$43.62 an hour | $73,470$35.32 an hour |
| Top 10% | $97,710$46.98 an hour | $102,450$49.26 an hour | $84,850$40.80 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Modesto area as BLS defines it
Paramedic pay growth in Modesto
Typical (median) annual wage for Paramedics in the Modesto area · BLS OES May estimates, 2022 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2022, typical Paramedic pay in Modesto was $59,790 a year. By 2025 it had reached $72,170.
How Modesto compares with other California cities
Redding pays Paramedics the most in California at $88,740 a year, $16,570 more than Modesto. The lowest-paying area in the state is Visalia at $63,840.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Modesto | Paramedics employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Redding | $88,740 | $42.66 | +23% | 40 |
| 2 | Sunnyvale metro incl. Santa Clara · San Jose | $84,480 | $40.61 | +17% | 110 |
| 3 | Fremont metro incl. Oakland · San Francisco | $83,090 | $39.95 | +15% | 780 |
| 4 | Sacramento | $81,430 | $39.15 | +13% | 390 |
| 5 | Salinas | $80,710 | $38.81 | +12% | 50 |
| 6 | Oxnard metro incl. Thousand Oaks · Ventura | $80,590 | $38.74 | +12% | 60 |
| 7 | Long Beach metro incl. Los Angeles · Anaheim | $74,900 | $36.01 | +4% | 1,200 |
| 8 | Petaluma metro incl. Santa Rosa | $74,080 | $35.62 | +3% | 70 |
| 9 | Paso Robles metro incl. San Luis Obispo | $73,930 | $35.54 | +2% | 40 |
| 10 | Riverside metro incl. San Bernardino · Ontario | $72,520 | $34.87 | 0% | 580 |
| 11 | Modesto | $72,170 | $34.70 | this city | 130 |
| 12 | Santa Cruz metro incl. Watsonville | $71,390 | $34.32 | -1% | 40 |
| 13 | Chula Vista | $70,630 | $33.96 | -2% | 430 |
| 14 | Bakersfield metro incl. Delano | $69,050 | $33.20 | -4% | 120 |
| 15 | Merced | $64,100 | $30.82 | -11% | 30 |
| 16 | Visalia | $63,840 | $30.69 | -12% | 50 |
Every metro area in California with Paramedic wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · California typical pay $74,590
Is Modesto a good place to work as a Paramedic?
Paramedics in Modesto earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $72,170 a year, 19% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Modesto area, about 0.7 are Paramedic positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 0.6. Paramedic jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Paramedic make in Modesto, CA?
- A typical Paramedic in Modesto earns $72,170 a year, or $34.70 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $61,310 and the top 10% earn over $97,710.
- How much does a Paramedic make an hour in Modesto?
- Typical hourly pay for Paramedics in Modesto is $34.70. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $29.48, and the top 10% earn over $46.98 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Paramedic in Modesto?
- Entry-level Paramedic positions in Modesto typically offer around $29.48 an hour, or $61,310 a year.
- Is Paramedic pay in Modesto higher than in the rest of California?
- Modesto pay is 3% below the California figure of $74,590 a year, ranking 11th of 16 metro areas in the state. Redding pays the most in California at $88,740.