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verified BLS-Verified Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2025 release

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Salary in Illinois

Median Annual in Illinois
$42,260/yr
Median Hourly Wage
$20.32/hr
▼ 5% below U.S. median

Salary Distribution in Illinois

groups Employed in IL
7,840
public U.S. Median
$44,470
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$42,278 #33 of 51

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) pay in Illinois, explained

Emts in Illinois earn a median of $42,260 per year ($20.32 per hour), which is 5% below the national median of $44,470. Entry-level workers earn around $36,420, while the most experienced EMTs reach about $135,490. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within Illinois.

Is $42,260 good pay in Illinois?

Adjusted for Illinois's cost of living (which runs 100% of the U.S. average), that $42,260 is worth about $42,278 in national buying power — ranking Illinois #33 for real pay (vs #26 on the sticker number).

See the full Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Real Pay Index arrow_forward

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) pay by experience in Illinois

Entry level (10th pct)
$36,420
$17.51/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$42,260
$20.32/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$135,490
$65.14/hr

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs IL
Illinois (here) $42,260 $42,278 —
Wisconsin $43,060 $45,762 −$800
Indiana $42,740 $45,795 −$480
Missouri $42,160 $46,423 +$100
Iowa $40,660 $46,330 +$1,600
Kentucky $36,800 $40,817 +$5,460

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in Illinois: FAQ

How much do EMTs make in Illinois?

Emts in Illinois earn a median of $42,260 per year ($20.32 per hour), compared with $44,470 nationally.

Does Illinois pay EMTs well?

At $42,260, Illinois pays 5% below the national median for EMTs. An estimated 7,840 work in the state.

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) salary in other states

Hawaii · $66,410 Alaska · $57,440 New Jersey · $53,610 Washington · $52,690 Rhode Island · $51,290 Connecticut · $50,640 Massachusetts · $50,230 Oregon · $49,270 New York · $48,400 Maryland · $48,100 Minnesota · $48,090 Wyoming · $47,070

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

Related careers in Illinois

Firefighter $78,380/yr median Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) $45,960/yr median Respiratory Therapist $84,090/yr median