How Much Does a Paramedic Make in Wisconsin in 2026?

A typical Paramedic in Wisconsin earns about $28.71 per hour, which comes to $59,710 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Broken down further, that pay works out to roughly $4,976 a month and $1,148 a week. These figures represent typical pay across the state, before accounting for city, employer, or experience differences.

Wisconsin's typical pay sits about 1% below the national figure of $60,600 a year, ranking the state 29th out of 51 states and the District of Columbia for paramedic pay. Around 1,990 paramedics work across Wisconsin, compared with 100,610 nationwide. The state's pay lags the national typical rate slightly, a gap that mirrors Wisconsin's cost of living in many areas relative to higher-cost states.

Entry-level paramedic positions in Wisconsin typically offer around $22.37 an hour, or about $46,530 a year, for those just starting out. Slightly more experienced newcomers often see pay closer to $23.78 an hour, or $49,470 a year. Pay generally moves toward the state's typical rate of $59,710 within the first few years on the job. Rural and volunteer-heavy departments tend to sit at the lower end of this range.

Experienced Wisconsin paramedics often earn upwards of $34.15 an hour, or $71,030 a year, and the top 10% of earners make over $36.42 an hour, or $75,760 a year. That's a spread of $29,230 between entry-level and top pay across the state. The difference usually comes down to years of service, the type of employer (hospital-based systems and fire departments tend to pay more than rural third-service agencies), and location within the state.

Wisconsin's typical paramedic pay rose from $46,660 in 2021 to $59,710 in 2025, a gain of $13,050, or about 28%, over that five-year stretch. Pay climbed each year in that window, with the sharpest jump between 2022 and 2023, when typical pay moved from $47,300 to $55,180. By 2024 typical pay reached $56,010 before climbing further to its current level in 2025.

That 28% increase trails the national paramedic pay rise of 30% over the same stretch, though both moved in the same direction. For someone starting a paramedic career in Wisconsin now, recent years show pay has moved up steadily, though nothing about future increases is guaranteed. Local pay decisions still depend on individual employers and departments.

Pay runs highest in the St. Paul metro area, which stretches across the Wisconsin border and posts typical pay of $77,430 a year, about 30% above the statewide figure. Sheboygan follows at $68,810 a year, and Racine and Mount Pleasant come in at $65,710. These figures reflect pay across each area's full metro region, not just the city center.

At the lower end, Eau Claire posts typical pay of $59,220 a year, roughly $18,210 below the St. Paul metro. Milwaukee, with 670 paramedics, has the largest paramedic workforce located within Wisconsin, while the St. Paul metro's total of 820 includes workers on both sides of the state line. Higher pay around St. Paul tracks a higher cost of living compared with much of Wisconsin.

Minnesota pays paramedics noticeably more than Wisconsin, with typical pay of $76,300 a year, about 28% higher. Illinois and Iowa sit close to Wisconsin's figure, within 1-2%. Michigan trails furthest behind at $52,080 a year, about 13% below Wisconsin's typical pay. Paramedic licensure earned in Wisconsin can often be recognized or endorsed by a neighboring state's EMS agency, which can simplify a move across state lines.

Wisconsin paramedics typically earn $59,710 a year, up from $46,660 in 2021, a rise of about 28% that trails the national five-year climb of 30%. Pay varies by city and by experience, with entry-level positions starting well below that figure and top earners well above it. Readers weighing a move or a new position should check Wisconsin's EMS licensing and registry requirements directly, and look at city-level figures for places like Milwaukee, Madison, or Green Bay before deciding.