How Much Does a Paramedic Make in Columbia, MD in 2026?
Typical pay for Paramedics in Columbia, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Maryland.
BLS OES May 2025 · Baltimore · Columbia · Towson metro area
A typical Paramedic in Columbia, Maryland earns $31.89 per hour, or $66,330 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $5,528 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $51,020, and the top 10% of earners make over $101,860.
That pay is right at the Maryland figure of $66,660 and 9% above the national figure of $60,600. Columbia ranks 4th of 5 metro areas in Maryland for Paramedic pay. About 1,000 Paramedics work in the Baltimore · Columbia · Towson area. Columbia is part of the Baltimore · Columbia · Towson metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Baltimore and Towson share these figures.
Paramedic pay in Columbia at a glance
- Typical pay is $31.89 an hour, or $66,330 a year.
- That is right at the Maryland figure, ranking 4th of 5 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $51,020; the top 10% make over $101,860.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Paramedic make in Columbia?
Pay in Columbia runs from entry-level positions at around $24.53 an hour to more than $48.97 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Maryland and national figures.
Paramedic pay by career stage in Columbia
| Career stage | Columbia | Maryland | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $51,020$24.53 an hour | $51,020$24.53 an hour | $44,230$21.27 an hour |
| First years | $59,490$28.60 an hour | $55,880$26.87 an hour | $49,660$23.88 an hour |
| Typical Paramedic | $66,330$31.89 an hour | $66,660$32.05 an hour | $60,600$29.13 an hour |
| Experienced | $79,170$38.06 an hour | $84,430$40.59 an hour | $73,470$35.32 an hour |
| Top 10% | $101,860$48.97 an hour | $101,860$48.97 an hour | $84,850$40.80 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Baltimore · Columbia · Towson area as BLS defines it
Paramedic pay growth in Columbia
Typical (median) annual wage for Paramedics in the Baltimore · Columbia · Towson area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical Paramedic pay in Columbia was $59,770 a year. By 2025 it had reached $66,330.
How Columbia compares with other Maryland cities
Alexandria pays Paramedics the most in Maryland at $75,190 a year, $8,860 more than Columbia. The lowest-paying area in the state is Hagerstown at $51,650.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbia | Paramedics employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexandria | $75,190 | $36.15 | +13% | 840 |
| 2 | Lexington Park | $74,900 | $36.01 | +13% | 50 |
| 3 | Salisbury | $68,150 | $32.77 | +3% | 40 |
| 4 | Columbia | $66,330 | $31.89 | this city | 1,000 |
| 5 | Martinsburg metro incl. Hagerstown | $51,650 | $24.83 | -22% | 130 |
Every metro area in Maryland with Paramedic wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Maryland typical pay $66,660
Is Columbia a good place to work as a Paramedic?
Paramedics in Columbia earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $66,330 a year, 9% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Baltimore · Columbia · Towson 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 Columbia, MD?
- A typical Paramedic in Columbia earns $66,330 a year, or $31.89 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $51,020 and the top 10% earn over $101,860.
- How much does a Paramedic make an hour in Columbia?
- Typical hourly pay for Paramedics in Columbia is $31.89. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $24.53, and the top 10% earn over $48.97 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Paramedic in Columbia?
- Entry-level Paramedic positions in Columbia typically offer around $24.53 an hour, or $51,020 a year.
- Is Paramedic pay in Columbia higher than in the rest of Maryland?
- Columbia pay is right at the Maryland figure of $66,660 a year, ranking 4th of 5 metro areas in the state. Alexandria pays the most in Maryland at $75,190.