Emergency Medical Technician Salary in Little Rock, AR: $39,714 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time emergency medical technician in Little Rock, AR earns a median $39,714/year (≈ $19.09/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2042). Once you factor in Little Rock's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 89.4), that paycheck buys what $44,441 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.9% below the Arkansas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the projected median annual emergency medical technician salary in Little Rock, Arkansas, stands at $39,714, reflecting a notable gap when compared to the national median of $47,058. This figure encompasses a salary range between $33,704 at the 10th percentile and $50,265 at the 90th percentile, highlighting diverse compensation based on experience and employer type. Data derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys indicates that the local market wages remain approximately 15.61% below the national average. In Little Rock, cross-trained firefighter-EMTs in municipal fire departments typically command significantly higher pay than their counterparts in private ambulance services, further emphasizing the importance of employer selection in achieving optimal compensation within the region.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $33,704 | $16.20 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $33,704 | $16.20 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $39,714 | $19.09 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $39,714 | $19.09 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $50,265 | $24.17 |
Median Salary Position
15.61% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Little Rock
In Little Rock, AR, the emergency medical technician salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $16,561 (2026 est.). At $39,714, the local median is 15.61% below the national median of $47,058.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Little Rock: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Little Rock Emergency Medical Technician Pay Compares
Little Rock median: $39,714/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Little Rock Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Average | $40,900 | -2.90% less |
| National Average | $47,058 | -15.61% less |
Emergency Medical Technicians in Little Rock, AR earn a median of $39,714 per year (2026 est.), which is 15.61% lower than the national median of $47,058 and 2.90% below the Arkansas state average of $40,900.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Little Rock has a cost of living 10.64% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Little Rock, AR has a cost-of-living index of 89.364 (below the national average of 100). A emergency medical technician earning $39,714 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $44,441 in an average-cost city — an effective 11.9% boost.
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2021 BLS Actual
$35,190
2025 BLS Actual
$37,530
2026 Current Est.
$39,714
2021–2027 Growth
+19.4%
Salary Trajectory for Emergency Medical Technicians in Little Rock (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.82% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $35,190 | Actual |
| 2022 | $36,490 | Actual |
| 2023 | $38,780 | Actual |
| 2024 | $40,310 | Actual |
| 2025 | $37,530 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $39,714 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $42,026 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Little Rock metropolitan area, the median emergency medical technician salary grew 6.6% from $35,190 (2021) to $37,530 (2025). At a 5.82% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $42,026 by 2027 — a total increase of $6,836 (19.43%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Little Rock 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $33,704 – $33,704 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $33,704 – $39,714 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $39,714 – $39,714 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $39,714 – $50,265 |
EMT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual emergency medical technician compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Emergency Medical Technician Job Market in Little Rock
The local job market for emergency medical technicians in Little Rock is relatively stable, with about 240 EMTs employed in the area. With a cost of living index at 89.364—below the national average—local salaries are boosted slightly by the affordability. Among employers, private ambulance services often lag behind, while municipal fire departments, which benefit from union contracts, provide the most competitive salaries. The variance in pay is driven by factors such as employer type, overtime availability, and the pathway from EMT to paramedic, which can enhance earning potential. Tactics for increasing pay in Little Rock include seeking positions in fire departments or roles in specialized fields, such as industrial or oil-field medical, where pay can exceed standard ambulance company rates. Exploring contract work or additional certifications may also yield further financial opportunities in this evolving market.
More salary data for Little Rock, AR:
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
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $37,530 for emergency medical techniciansin the Little Rock metropolitan area. A 5.82% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
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