Emergency Medical Technicians pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,120 a year or less, while the top 10% make $87,690 or more. The middle half of emergency medical technicians in San Francisco earn between $46,380 and $71,810.
- $46K10th
- $46K25th
- $51KMedian
- $72K75th
- $88K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $59,630 | $4,969 | $28.67 |
| Median | $51,480 | $4,290 | $24.75 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,380 | $3,865 | $22.30 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $71,810 | $5,984 | $34.52 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Emergency Medical Technicians pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Emergency medical technicians in San Francisco earn 13% more than the California average ($52,900) and 27% more than the U.S. average ($46,830). At the median the gap is +16% against the U.S. median of $44,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $59,630 | $51,480 | $46,120 | $87,690 | 3,580 |
| California | $52,900 | $46,380 | $38,740 | $78,150 | 21,880 |
| 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 San Francisco
On the average salary of $59,630, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $48,322 a year, or $4,027 a month and $1,859 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for emergency medical technicians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $59,630 buys what about $51,577 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 19.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Emergency Medical Technicians salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 3rd of 21 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($72,700).
- San Jose$72,700
- Santa Cruz$59,910
- San Francisco$59,630
- Sacramento$58,190
- Santa Rosa$55,510
- Salinas$54,630
- Redding$54,560
- Modesto$52,560
- Napa$52,360
- Bakersfield$50,710
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 San Francisco: questions
How much do emergency medical technicians make an hour in San Francisco?
$28.67 an hour on average, and $24.75 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level emergency medical technicians salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,120 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,380, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the emergency medical technicians take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $48,322 a year ($4,027 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $59,630. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do emergency medical technicians earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 27% 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
- 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). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.30, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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