EMT Salary

Los Angeles vs Napa: Emergency Medical Technician Salary (2026)

Compare emergency medical technician salaries between Los Angeles, CA and Napa, CA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Los Angeles, CA
$47,714
$22.94/hr
Napa, CA
$52,212
$25.10/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricLos Angeles, CANapa, CA
Median Salary$47,714$52,212
Hourly Rate$22.94$25.10
Entry Level (P10)$41,111$44,021
25th Percentile$42,212$50,656
75th Percentile$54,053$54,624
Top Earner (P90)$72,593$78,116
Total Employed6,610120
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Los Angeles ($47,714) and Napa ($52,212) emergency medical technician salaries.Los AngelesNapaMedian Salary$47,714$52,212Entry Level (P10)$41,111$44,021Top Earner (P90)$72,593$78,116US Median $47,058

Verdict

Napa, CA offers better overall compensation for emergency medical technicians, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Los Angeles.

The salary gap between Los Angeles and Napa is $4,498 (9.43%). Napa's median is +10.95% compared to the US national median of $47,058.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Los Angeles spans $31,482,Napa spans $34,095. Napa has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced emergency medical technicians.

Los Angeles
P10 (Entry)$41,111
P25$42,212
Median$47,714
P75$54,053
P90 (Top)$72,593
Napa
P10 (Entry)$44,021
P25$50,656
Median$52,212
P75$54,624
P90 (Top)$78,116

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Napa ($46,388 effective) pays 10.41% more than Los Angeles ($42,014 effective).

Los Angeles
Nominal: $47,714
CoL Index: 113.566
Adjusted: $42,014
Napa
Nominal: $52,212
CoL Index: 112.554
Adjusted: $46,388

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Los Angeles if…

  • Larger job market (6,610 employed)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Choose Napa if…

  • Higher median salary ($52,212/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($78,116)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $46,388)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, emergency medical technician salaries in Los Angeles grew 23.2% from 2021 to 2025, compared to -21.0% growth in Napa over the same period.

Los Angeles, CA

+23.2%

$36,590 (2021) → $45,090 (2025)

Napa, CA

+-21.0%

$62,439 (2024) → $49,340 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays emergency medical technicians more: Los Angeles or Napa?

Napa has a higher median emergency medical technician salary at $52,212/year, compared to Los Angeles at $47,714/year — a difference of $4,498 (9.43%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Los Angeles and Napa?

Los Angeles emergency medical technicians earn $22.94/hr while Napa hygienists earn $25.10/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Los Angeles to Napa as a emergency medical technician?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Los Angeles and Napa. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Los Angeles = $42,014, Napa = $46,388), job availability (6,610 vs 120 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level emergency medical technicians earn in Los Angeles vs Napa?

Entry-level (10th percentile) emergency medical technicians earn $41,111 in Los Angeles and $44,021 in Napa. The Napa area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

AP

Written by Aisha Patel, EMT-P

Career Analyst

Aisha has 10 years of experience as an emergency medical technician. She specializes in pre-hospital care and triage. Aisha works primarily in urban emergency services.

Clinically reviewed by Carlos Mendoza, EMT-BData verified by Fatima Ali, EMT-I

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 5.82% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Aisha Patel, EMT-P, a licensed emergency medical technician with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov