Emergency Medical Technicians pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,750 a year or less, while the top 10% make $135,490 or more. The middle half of emergency medical technicians in Chicago earn between $42,140 and $57,140.
- $40K10th
- $42K25th
- $44KMedian
- $57K75th
- $135K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $63,090 | $5,258 | $30.33 |
| Median | $44,020 | $3,668 | $21.16 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $42,140 | $3,512 | $20.26 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $57,140 | $4,762 | $27.47 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Emergency Medical Technicians pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Emergency medical technicians in Chicago earn 12% more than the Illinois average ($56,080) and 35% more than the U.S. average ($46,830). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $44,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $63,090 | $44,020 | $39,750 | $135,490 | 5,610 |
| Illinois | $56,080 | $42,260 | $36,420 | $135,490 | 7,840 |
| United States | $46,830 | $44,470 | $34,130 | $62,500 | 180,510 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Emergency Medical Technicians salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $63,090, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $49,891 a year, or $4,158 a month and $1,919 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $51,010 | $4,251 |
| Working in IL | $49,891 | $4,158 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for emergency medical technicians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $63,090 buys what about $60,901 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Emergency Medical Technicians salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 5 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$63,090
- Bloomington$44,380
- Rockford$43,100
- Springfield$42,380
- Peoria$39,960
Highest-paying cities for emergency medical technicians
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($72,700).
- San Jose, CA$72,700
- Honolulu, HI$70,060
- Chicago, IL$63,090
- Santa Cruz, CA$59,910
- San Francisco, CA$59,630
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Emergency Medical Technicians salary in Chicago: questions
How much do emergency medical technicians make an hour in Chicago?
$30.33 an hour on average, and $21.16 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level emergency medical technicians salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,750 a year and the 25th percentile is $42,140, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the emergency medical technicians take-home pay in Chicago?
About $49,891 a year ($4,158 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $63,090.
Do emergency medical technicians earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 35% more than the U.S. average for this job ($46,830).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-2042; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.07, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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