Emergency Medical Technician Hourly Pay in Lexington, KY: $22.21 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a emergency medical technician working in Lexington, KY runs $22.21 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $46,201 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2042). Weighted against Lexington's regional price level (BEA RPP 92.9, 7% below national), each hour of work buys what $23.91 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $27,720 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Lexington, Kentucky, the projected emergency medical technician hourly pay for 2026 stands at $22.21, just slightly below the national median of $22.62. This competitive hourly rate provides a solid foundation for both part-time and per-diem emergency medical technicians, who often work in diverse environments such as ambulance patient compartments, fire engine medical bays, and hospital emergency departments. For those in entry-level positions, hourly wages start at approximately $15.17, while experienced practitioners can earn as much as $33.02 an hour according to official Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This variability reflects the different settings and responsibilities that EMTs might encounter while performing their essential duties.
Emergency Medical Technician Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $15.17 | $121.40 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $18.60 | $148.83 |
| Median (P50) | $22.21 | $177.69 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $33.02 | $264.13 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $33.02 | $264.13 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Lexington
Based on $22.21/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $22.21/hr, a emergency medical technician working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Lexington, KY can expect to earn approximately $46,200 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $26,654. With a cost-of-living index of 92.89 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Lexington.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Lexington
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $888.46 | $3,850 | $46,200 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $533.08 | $2,310 | $27,720 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $355.39 | $1,540 | $18,480 |
Compare EMT Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Emergency Medical Technician (Lexington) | $22.21 |
| Paramedic (National Avg) | $27.18 |
| Nursing Assistant (National Avg) | $18.62 |
| Firefighter (National Avg) | $26.89 |
| Medical Assistant (National Avg) | $20.25 |
Emergency Medical Technicians in Lexington, KY earn a median of $46,201 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.82% lower than the national median of $47,058 and 9.90% above the Kentucky state average of $42,039.
Emergency Medical Technician Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $22.21/hr = $27,720/year (purchasing power: $29,842).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $46,200/year (purchasing power: $49,737).
CoL index: 92.889 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2021 BLS Actual
$14.27/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$20.99/hr
2026 Current Est.
$22.21/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+64.7%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Emergency Medical Technicians in Lexington (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.82% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $14.27/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $15.45/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $24.44/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $20.02/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $20.99/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $22.21/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $23.50/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for emergency medical technicians in Lexington grew 47.1% from $14.27/hr (2021) to $20.99/hr (2025). At a 5.82% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $23.50/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem emergency medical technicians can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Lexington metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.82% CAGR derived from 5-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Emergency Medical Technician in Lexington
Considering the part-time earning potential in Lexington, an emergency medical technician working three days a week for 24 hours might bring home significantly less annually compared to their full-time counterparts, which can be a compelling factor when choosing between work arrangements. Per-diem EMTs, who work on an as-needed basis, often see hourly rates ranging from $20 to $32 with private companies. For more specialized roles, such as oil-field medics, pay can escalate to between $40 and $70 per hour depending on the demands of remote work. The type of employer significantly impacts EMT hourly rates; private ambulance services may offer lower wages compared to municipal fire departments, where cross-trained firefighter-EMTs benefit from union contracts. This dynamic can influence an EMT's decision-making about benefits versus pay—while higher hourly rates may seem attractive, they often come with trade-offs in terms of health insurance and job stability. For those in Lexington, effectively communicating their unique qualifications and understanding local industry pay standards can enhance their negotiating position.
More salary data for Lexington, KY:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 5.82% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for emergency medical technicians in Lexington. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 5-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.82%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for emergency medical technicians (SOC 29-2042).
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