How Much Does a Paramedic Make in Illinois in 2026?

A typical Paramedic in Illinois earns about $29.16 per hour ($60,660 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $5,055 a month and $1,167 a week, figures calculated from the annual pay. Actual pay varies by employer, shift differentials, and years on the job.

That figure lines up almost exactly with the national figure of $60,600 a year, placing Illinois 22nd among 51 states and D.C. for paramedic pay. The state employs 3,890 paramedics, a modest share of the 100,610 counted nationwide. For someone weighing where to work, Illinois offers pay in line with the rest of the country rather than a clear edge either way.

Entry-level positions in Illinois typically offer around $22.70 an hour, or about $47,210 a year, for paramedics just starting out. Pay tends to climb from there, reaching roughly $23.87 an hour, or $49,650 a year, within the first few years on the job. From that point, most paramedics move toward the state's typical pay of $60,660 a year as they gain experience and certifications.

Experienced Paramedics in Illinois often earn upwards of $51.35 an hour, and the top 10% of earners make over $106,810 a year. That leaves a spread of $59,600 between entry-level and top pay in the state. The gap usually comes down to setting, such as hospital-based critical care roles versus municipal EMS, along with years of service and the city where someone works.

Illinois paramedic pay has moved from $46,910 a year in 2021 to $60,660 in 2025, a gain of $13,750. That's a rise of about 29% over the period, according to government wage records. The increase came in steps, with the largest single-year jump landing between 2022 and 2023.

Nationally, paramedic pay rose about 30% over the same kind of stretch, putting Illinois's 29% increase almost in step with the rest of the country. Pay has moved up steadily for Illinois paramedics in recent years, though past gains don't guarantee future ones. Someone starting the field now enters at a higher starting point than paramedics did just a few years ago.

Chicago pays Paramedics the most in Illinois, with typical pay of $77,670 a year, about 28% above the state figure. That's for the full Chicago metro area, not just the city itself. Moline and Rock Island follow at $51,660 a year, with Champaign and Urbana close behind at $50,100.

Peoria pays the least among the metro areas Illinois tracks, at $49,440 a year, putting the spread between the highest- and lowest-paying cities at $28,230. Chicago also has by far the largest paramedic workforce in the state, with 2,560 employed there. Higher pay in Chicago generally tracks its higher cost of living, so take-home value doesn't stretch as far as the raw number suggests.

Among neighboring states, Iowa pays almost the same as Illinois at $60,590 a year, followed by Indiana at $60,320, Wisconsin at $59,710, and Missouri at $59,180. Kentucky pays noticeably less, at just $49,890 a year, an 18% gap from Illinois. Paramedic licensure earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, which can simplify a move across the border.

Illinois paramedics typically earn $60,660 a year, or $29.16 an hour, and that figure has climbed 29% since 2021. Pay is close to the national figure and varies most by city, with Chicago paying well above places like Peoria. For specific requirements, check Illinois's EMS licensing and registry pages; for local figures, see the pay pages for individual Illinois cities.