Emergency Medical Technician Hourly Pay in Great Falls, MT: $21.70 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a emergency medical technician working in Great Falls, MT runs $21.70 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $45,149 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2042). Weighted against Great Falls's regional price level (BEA RPP 96.2, 4% below national), each hour of work buys what $22.56 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $27,086 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Emergency medical technicians in Great Falls, MT, earn a median hourly rate of $21.70 as projected for 2026. This figure is slightly lower than the national median hourly rate of $22.62, indicating that while local pay is competitive, it still lags marginally behind the national average. For EMTs working part-time, such as a three-day workweek, this hourly wage translates to significant earnings, especially in diverse settings such as ambulance services, fire department medical bays, and various event medical tents. The hourly pay ranges from $16.04 at the entry-level to $31.41 for top earners, illustrating the potential for newly certified individuals to grow in their careers. Given the estimated nature of these figures based on underlying annual salary data, hopeful candidates can find opportunities across a variety of employer types, allowing for flexible work arrangements tailored to individual schedules.
About the Great Falls Market
Salary estimated from Montana average ($38,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Emergency Medical Technician Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $16.04 | $128.34 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $17.97 | $143.75 |
| Median (P50) | $21.70 | $173.63 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $25.09 | $200.72 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $31.41 | $251.26 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Great Falls
Based on $21.70/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $21.70/hr, a emergency medical technician working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Great Falls, MT can expect to earn approximately $45,144 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $26,044. With a cost-of-living index of 96.20 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Great Falls.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Great Falls
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $868.15 | $3,762 | $45,144 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $520.89 | $2,257 | $27,086 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $347.26 | $1,505 | $18,057 |
Compare EMT Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Emergency Medical Technician (Great Falls) | $21.70 |
| 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 Great Falls, MT earn a median of $45,149 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.06% lower than the national median of $47,058 and 0.30% below the Montana state average of $45,285.
Emergency Medical Technician Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $21.70/hr = $27,086/year (purchasing power: $28,156).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $45,144/year (purchasing power: $46,927).
CoL index: 96.2 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2021 BLS Actual
$16.36/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$20.51/hr
2026 Current Est.
$21.70/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+40.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Emergency Medical Technicians in Great Falls (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.82% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $16.36/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $16.92/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $17.95/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $17.53/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $20.51/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $21.70/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $22.97/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for emergency medical technicians in Great Falls grew 25.4% from $16.36/hr (2021) to $20.51/hr (2025). At a 5.82% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $22.97/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 Great Falls 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 Great Falls
A three-day workweek at the $21.70 hourly rate yields approximately $33,984 annually for emergency medical technicians, markedly lower than what full-time professionals could achieve. For those considering per-diem work, the landscape shifts; per diem emergency medical technician pay in Great Falls generally falls between $20 to $32 per hour with specialized roles, such as oil-field medics, earning even higher rates of $40 to $70 per hour based on location and demand. This variance highlights the importance of choosing the right employer type, as private ambulance services, municipal fire departments, and industrial contacts each offer distinct compensation packages. While some may choose lower hourly rates in exchange for benefits like health insurance, others may prefer the higher pay of per-diem work without the added security. Understanding how to negotiate effectively within this context can yield significant benefits, especially for those familiar with the local market and various employer expectations.
More salary data for Great Falls, MT:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for emergency medical technicians in Great Falls in 2026?
How much do part-time emergency medical technicians make in Great Falls?
Are emergency medical technicians in Great Falls paid hourly or salary?
How much does a full-time emergency medical technician make per year in Great Falls?
Do emergency medical technicians earn more per hour working part-time in Great Falls?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Montana
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 Great Falls. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Great Falls is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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