How Much Does a Paramedic Make in District of Columbia in 2026?

A typical Paramedic in the District of Columbia earns about $37.77 per hour, which comes to $78,550 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $6,546 a month and $1,511 a week, calculated from the annual figure. These figures cover paramedics across all experience levels and work settings in the district.

This is 30% higher than the national typical pay of $60,600 a year for paramedics, and it ranks the District of Columbia 4th among all 51 states and jurisdictions measured. About 90 paramedics work in the district, a small workforce compared with the 100,610 counted nationally. Even with fewer paramedics on the job, those working in DC are paid well above the national figure.

Entry-level positions in the District of Columbia typically offer around $30.28 an hour, or about $62,980 a year, for paramedics just starting out. Pay tends to rise toward the district's typical figure of $78,550 a year within the first few years on the job. Experience, certification level, and the agency or hospital system doing the hiring all shape how quickly that increase happens.

Experienced Paramedics in the district often earn upwards of $46.46 an hour, and the top 10% of earners make over $96,640 a year. That leaves a spread of $33,660 between entry-level and top pay. Setting, years on the job, and which part of the district a paramedic works in typically account for most of that difference.

District of Columbia paramedic pay went from $72,330 a year in 2021 to $78,550 a year in 2025, a gain of $6,220. That works out to a rise of about 9% over that span, even though pay dipped in 2022 before recovering and peaking in 2024. The overall trend across the tracked years has moved upward for paramedics in the district.

Nationally, paramedic pay rose about 30% over the same kind of tracked period, a faster climb than the district saw. Pay in DC has still moved higher over time, and someone starting as a paramedic in the district today is stepping into wages that sit well above where they were a few years back. Future gains are not guaranteed, but the recent direction has been positive.

The District of Columbia reports pay data for a single metro area, Washington, so pay for paramedics is fairly uniform across the district. Washington's typical pay sits at $75,190 a year ($36.15 an hour), about 4% below the district's overall typical figure of $78,550. That gap likely reflects how the district-wide figure blends different work settings and shifts within the same metro area.

Washington is also the city with the largest paramedic workforce reported for the district, employing about 840 paramedics, and it stands as both the highest- and lowest-figure city simply because it is the only one tracked. There is no meaningful city-to-city spread to report. The district's high cost of living compared with much of the country is one reason pay for paramedics in DC runs above the national figure.

District of Columbia paramedics are paid more than in either neighboring jurisdiction. Maryland's typical pay runs $66,660 a year, about 15% below DC, and Virginia's sits at $60,480 a year, about 23% below. Someone weighing a move across the Potomac would see a real pay difference. Paramedic licensure earned in one jurisdiction can often be transferred or endorsed into a nearby one, though requirements vary and should be confirmed directly.

Paramedics in the District of Columbia typically earn $78,550 a year, well above the national figure, and pay has risen about 9% since 2021. For details on becoming licensed, check the DC Department of Health's EMS certification requirements or the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. Readers weighing a move within the region can also compare city-level figures for Washington and nearby metro areas in Maryland and Virginia.