Emergency Medical Technician Hourly Pay in Nashville, TN: $24.41 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a emergency medical technician working in Nashville, TN runs $24.41 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $50,783 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2042). Weighted against Nashville's regional price level (BEA RPP 96.3, 4% below national), each hour of work buys what $25.34 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $30,467 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
Emergency medical technicians in Nashville, TN, earn a median hourly rate of $24.41, which surpasses the national median of $22.62. This competitive figure reflects not only the demand for skilled emergency medical personnel in the city but also the various workplace settings they operate in, from ambulances and fire departments to event medical tents and industrial sites. Given the hourly pay range, entry-level technicians can expect to earn around $16.30, while those in more advanced positions, or working for high-paying employers, may reach up to $38.86 per hour. With 930 emergency medical technicians employed in Nashville, according to estimates based on 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026, this profession offers viable opportunities for both full-time and part-time workers looking to contribute to public health and safety.
Emergency Medical Technician Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $16.30 | $130.37 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $19.23 | $153.82 |
| Median (P50) | $24.41 | $195.30 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $30.20 | $241.61 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $38.86 | $310.86 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Nashville
Based on $24.41/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $24.41/hr, a emergency medical technician working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Nashville, TN can expect to earn approximately $50,778 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $29,295. With a cost-of-living index of 96.34 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Nashville.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Nashville
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $976.51 | $4,232 | $50,778 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $585.90 | $2,539 | $30,467 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $390.60 | $1,693 | $20,311 |
Compare EMT Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Emergency Medical Technician (Nashville) | $24.41 |
| 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 Nashville, TN earn a median of $50,783 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.92% higher than the national median of $47,058 and 22.50% above the Tennessee state average of $41,456.
Emergency Medical Technician Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $24.41/hr = $30,467/year (purchasing power: $31,625).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $50,778/year (purchasing power: $52,709).
CoL index: 96.338 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2021 BLS Actual
$17.48/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$23.07/hr
2026 Current Est.
$24.41/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+47.8%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Emergency Medical Technicians in Nashville (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.82% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $17.48/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $18.89/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $20.32/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $20.61/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $23.07/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $24.41/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $25.83/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for emergency medical technicians in Nashville grew 32.0% from $17.48/hr (2021) to $23.07/hr (2025). At a 5.82% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $25.83/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 Nashville 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 Nashville
Examining part-time work as an emergency medical technician reveals distinct earning potential. A technician working three days a week, clocking 24 hours, could generate approximately $30,500 annually at the median hourly pay. This contrasts sharply with full-time technicians, emphasizing the trade-offs in hours worked. Per diem opportunities further complicate this landscape; those in per diem, agency, or locum roles often charge between $20 and $32 per hour with additional pay available for oil-field medics earning $40–$70 per hour on remote rotations. The variances in hourly rates across different employer types in Nashville, including private ambulance services, municipal fire departments, and industrial medical services, present a spectrum of choices for EMTs. While some may accept lower hourly pay for benefits such as health insurance, others may prioritize higher hourly rates without the added perks. Negotiating effectively for hourly rates in Nashville can lead to better compensation; highlighting relevant experiences with NREMT certification or specialized training in the NHTSA scope can bolster an applicant's standing when pursuing desired positions.
More salary data for Nashville, TN:
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 Nashville. 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