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

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Salary in Iowa

Median Annual in Iowa
$40,660/yr
Median Hourly Wage
$19.55/hr
▼ 9% below U.S. median

Salary Distribution in Iowa

groups Employed in IA
1,510
public U.S. Median
$44,470
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$46,330 #17 of 51

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) pay in Iowa, explained

Emts in Iowa earn a median of $40,660 per year ($19.55 per hour), which is 9% below the national median of $44,470. Entry-level workers earn around $35,600, while the most experienced EMTs reach about $60,080. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within Iowa.

Is $40,660 good pay in Iowa?

Adjusted for Iowa's cost of living (which runs 88% of the U.S. average), that $40,660 is worth about $46,330 in national buying power — ranking Iowa #17 for real pay (vs #29 on the sticker number).

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

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) pay by experience in Iowa

Entry level (10th pct)
$35,600
$17.12/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$40,660
$19.55/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$60,080
$28.88/hr

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs IA
Iowa (here) $40,660 $46,330 —
Minnesota $48,090 $48,762 −$7,430
Wisconsin $43,060 $45,762 −$2,400
Illinois $42,260 $42,278 −$1,600
Missouri $42,160 $46,423 −$1,500
Nebraska $41,710 $46,291 −$1,050
South Dakota $36,800 $41,542 +$3,860

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in Iowa: FAQ

How much do EMTs make in Iowa?

Emts in Iowa earn a median of $40,660 per year ($19.55 per hour), compared with $44,470 nationally.

Does Iowa pay EMTs well?

At $40,660, Iowa pays 9% below the national median for EMTs. An estimated 1,510 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 Iowa

Firefighter $55,810/yr median Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) $39,350/yr median Respiratory Therapist $74,760/yr median