Emergency Medical Technicians pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $49,210 or more. The middle half of emergency medical technicians in Columbia earn between $38,020 and $46,800.
- $34K10th
- $38K25th
- $42KMedian
- $47K75th
- $49K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $42,180 | $3,515 | $20.28 |
| Median | $42,290 | $3,524 | $20.33 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,020 | $3,168 | $18.28 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,800 | $3,900 | $22.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Emergency Medical Technicians pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Emergency medical technicians in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($41,940) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($46,830). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $44,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $42,180 | $42,290 | $33,640 | $49,210 | 770 |
| South Carolina | $41,940 | $40,370 | $31,590 | $49,210 | 4,010 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $42,180, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $35,519 a year, or $2,960 a month and $1,366 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for emergency medical technicians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $42,180 buys what about $45,034 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 6.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Emergency Medical Technicians salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 4th of 8 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($45,250).
- Charleston$45,250
- Hilton Head Island$43,790
- Greenville$43,000
- Columbia$42,180
- Florence$40,510
- Myrtle Beach$40,140
- Spartanburg$37,900
- Sumter$36,170
All Emergency Medical Technicians salaries in South Carolina
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 Columbia: questions
How much do emergency medical technicians make an hour in Columbia?
$20.28 an hour on average, and $20.33 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level emergency medical technicians salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,020, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the emergency medical technicians take-home pay in Columbia?
About $35,519 a year ($2,960 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,180.
Do emergency medical technicians earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% less 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.8%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.68, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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