Emergency Medical Technician Salary in Upland, CA: $46,778 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time emergency medical technician in Upland, CA earns a median $46,778/year (≈ $22.49/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2042). Once you factor in Upland's price level (13% above national, BEA RPP 113.1), that paycheck buys what $41,360 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.3% below the California state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Upland, California, the projected median annual salary for emergency medical technicians is estimated at $46,778 for 2026, which indicates a slight drop compared to the national median of $47,058. Emergency medical technician pay in Upland CA reflects a salary range from $36,018 at the 10th percentile to $66,533 at the 90th percentile, revealing a broad disparity in compensation based largely on job type. The factors contributing to salary variations include whether the EMT is employed by a municipal fire department, which generally pays significantly more due to union contracts, or a private ambulance service, where wages have historically lagged behind inflation. The data used here derives from 2025 BLS OEWS figures, adjusted for regional price disparities, highlighting both local developments and national trends in EMT salaries.
About the Upland Market
Salary estimated from California average ($56,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $36,018 | $17.31 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $39,811 | $19.14 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $46,778 | $22.49 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $53,380 | $25.66 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $66,533 | $31.99 |
Median Salary Position
0.6% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Upland
In Upland, CA, the emergency medical technician salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $30,515 (2026 est.). At $46,778, the local median is 0.6% below the national median of $47,058.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Upland: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Upland Emergency Medical Technician Pay Compares
Upland median: $46,778/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Upland Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $48,374 | -3.30% less |
| National Average | $47,058 | -0.60% less |
Emergency Medical Technicians in Upland, CA earn a median of $46,778 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.60% lower than the national median of $47,058 and 3.30% below the California state average of $48,374.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Upland has a cost of living 13.10% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Upland, CA has a cost-of-living index of 113.1 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $46,778 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $41,360 — a 11.58% reduction.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2021 BLS Actual
$35,259
2025 BLS Actual
$44,205
2026 Current Est.
$46,778
2021–2027 Growth
+40.4%
Salary Trajectory for Emergency Medical Technicians in Upland (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.82% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $35,259 | Actual |
| 2022 | $36,461 | Actual |
| 2023 | $38,698 | Actual |
| 2024 | $61,250 | Actual |
| 2025 | $44,205 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $46,778 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $49,500 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Upland metropolitan area, the median emergency medical technician salary grew 25.4% from $35,259 (2021) to $44,205 (2025). At a 5.82% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $49,500 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,241 (40.39%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Upland 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) | $36,018 – $39,811 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $39,811 – $46,778 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $46,778 – $53,380 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $53,380 – $66,533 |
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 Upland
The Upland job market currently employs 18 emergency medical technicians, suggesting a localized workforce that may face unique financial pressures due to a cost-of-living index of 113.1. This figure indicates that the cost of living in Upland is higher than the national average, potentially diminishing the purchasing power of local EMT salaries. Ambulance companies like AMR and GMR typically present lower wages compared to municipal fire departments, which offer both base pay and benefits that can substantially widen the earning potential. Additional factors influencing salary include shift differentials, overtime opportunities, and the potential to advance through EMT-to-paramedic bridge programs. Workers looking to maximize their earnings in this competitive market should consider exploring employment in higher-paying sectors like industrial and oil-field medical services while also becoming engaged with union activities or seeking additional certifications to boost their qualifications.
More salary data for Upland, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do emergency medical technicians make in Upland, CA in 2026?
Is Upland, CA a good place to work as a emergency medical technician?
Can emergency medical technicians make $100K in Upland?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted emergency medical technician salary in Upland?
How much does a emergency medical technician make per hour in Upland?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in California
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 $44,205 for emergency medical techniciansin the Upland 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
Salary data for Upland 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