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Paramedic salary in California

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$74,590median pay per year in California, or $35.86 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $53,370lowest 10% earn less
  2. $63,49025th percentile
  3. $74,590median
  4. $90,73075th percentile
  5. $102,450top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $60,600[3]

Paramedics in California had a median pay of $74,590 a year in May 2025[1]. That was 23.1% higher than the US median[6].

Jobs in CA
5,190[4]
Rank by median pay
8 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
+23.1%[6]

How much do paramedics make in California?

The median wage for paramedics in California was $74,590 a year, or $35.86 an hour[1]. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. The average was a bit higher, at $77,740 a year[7].

Across the US, the median for paramedics was $60,600 a year[3]. California's median was $13,990 (23.1%) higher[6]. It was also $16,350 higher than the median for all jobs in the state, which was $58,240[8][9]. California had the 8th highest median for paramedics among the 50 states and DC with a published median[5].

The lowest-paid 10% of paramedics in California earned less than $53,370, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $102,450[2]. By metro area, Redding had the highest median, at $88,740[10]. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara was at $84,480 and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont at $83,090[11].

These figures cover paid wage and salary workers, part time and full time. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].

California vs US pay

Pay for paramedics in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$74,590[1]$60,600[3]
Median per hour$35.86[1]$29.13[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$53,370[2]$44,230[13]
Top 10% earn more than$102,450[2]$84,850[13]
Jobs5,190[4]100,610[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for paramedics, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$74,9001,200
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$83,090780
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$72,520580
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$70,630430
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$81,430390
Modesto, CA$72,170130
Bakersfield-Delano, CA$69,050120
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$84,480110

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for paramedics in the states that border California, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[14]$74,8401,210
Nevada$59,280950
Arizona$58,6002,200

Median pay for paramedics in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for paramedics are projected to grow 5.7% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: postsecondary nondegree award[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a paramedic make in California?
The median wage for paramedics in California was $74,590 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $77,740 a year[7].
How much does a paramedic make an hour in California?
The median hourly wage for paramedics in California was $35.86[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $25.66 an hour, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $49.26[17][2].
Which city in California pays paramedics the most?
Of the 16 metro areas with a published median, Redding had the highest median annual wage for paramedics, at $88,740[10].
Is California a good state for paramedics?
California had the 8th highest median annual wage for paramedics among the 50 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median of $74,590 was 23.1% above the US median[1][6].
What do you need to become a paramedic in California?
BLS gives only a US figure here. Across the US, the typical entry education is a postsecondary nondegree award, with less than 5 years of related work experience and no typical on-the-job training[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Paramedics in California was $74,590 per year and $35.86 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Paramedics in California: 10th percentile $53,370, 25th percentile $63,490, 75th percentile $90,730, 90th percentile $102,450. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Paramedics in the US as a whole was $60,600 per year and $29.13 per hour, with about 100,610 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 5,190 people worked as Paramedics in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 8th highest median annual wage for Paramedics out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Paramedics in California ($74,590) was $13,990 (23.1%) higher than the US median ($60,600). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Paramedics in California was $77,740 per year and $37.37 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Paramedics in California was $16,350 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 16 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Paramedics, Redding, CA had the highest median annual wage, $88,740. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Paramedics in the US: 10th percentile $44,230, 25th percentile $49,660, 75th percentile $73,470, 90th percentile $84,850. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Paramedics in states that border California (highest first): Oregon $74,840; Nevada $59,280; Arizona $58,600. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Paramedics is projected to grow 5.7% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 4,300 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Paramedics: education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Paramedics in California: 10th percentile $25.66, 25th percentile $30.52, 75th percentile $43.62, 90th percentile $49.26. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.