Emergency Medical Technician Salary in Urban Honolulu, HI: $70,952 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time emergency medical technician in Urban Honolulu, HI earns a median $70,952/year (≈ $34.12/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2042). Once you factor in Urban Honolulu's price level (11% above national, BEA RPP 111.0), that paycheck buys what $63,943 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 26.4% above the Hawaii state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, emergency medical technicians in Urban Honolulu, Hawaii, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $70,952, a figure that highlights the considerable pay gap between work in fire departments and private ambulance services. While the salary range for EMTs in this area is substantial, from $54,931 to $89,545, the competitive landscape reveals that those employed by municipal fire departments typically enjoy higher compensation in comparison to their private ambulance counterparts. This disparity is largely attributed to collective bargaining agreements and union contracts, which often secure favorable conditions for firefighters who also work as EMTs. As a result, Urban Honolulu's emergency medical technician pay is notably higher than the national average of $47,058, reflecting both the local demand for skilled EMTs and the value placed on their services by various employers.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $54,931 | $26.41 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $64,011 | $30.77 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $70,952 | $34.12 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $89,545 | $43.05 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $89,545 | $43.05 |
Median Salary Position
50.78% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Urban Honolulu
In Urban Honolulu, HI, the emergency medical technician salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $34,614 (2026 est.). At $70,952, the local median is 50.78% above the national median of $47,058.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Urban Honolulu: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Urban Honolulu Emergency Medical Technician Pay Compares
Urban Honolulu median: $70,952/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Urban Honolulu Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii Average | $56,133 | +26.40% more |
| National Average | $47,058 | +50.78% more |
Emergency Medical Technicians in Urban Honolulu, HI earn a median of $70,952 per year (2026 est.), which is 50.78% higher than the national median of $47,058 and 26.40% above the Hawaii state average of $56,133.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Urban Honolulu has a cost of living 10.96% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Urban Honolulu, HI has a cost-of-living index of 110.961 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $70,952 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $63,943 — a 9.88% reduction.
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2021 BLS Actual
$58,640
2025 BLS Actual
$67,050
2026 Current Est.
$70,952
2021–2027 Growth
+28.0%
Salary Trajectory for Emergency Medical Technicians in Urban Honolulu (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.82% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $58,640 | Actual |
| 2022 | $55,880 | Actual |
| 2023 | $64,030 | Actual |
| 2024 | $63,880 | Actual |
| 2025 | $67,050 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $70,952 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $75,082 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Urban Honolulu metropolitan area, the median emergency medical technician salary grew 14.3% from $58,640 (2021) to $67,050 (2025). At a 5.82% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $75,082 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,442 (28.04%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Urban Honolulu 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) | $54,931 – $64,011 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $64,011 – $70,952 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $70,952 – $89,545 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $89,545 – $89,545 |
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 Urban Honolulu
Examining the job market, Urban Honolulu employs around 460 emergency medical technicians, with diverse opportunities available across different sectors. The cost of living in the area, represented by a location index of 110.961, complicates the financial landscape for EMTs as it necessitates higher salaries to maintain purchasing power. Within the local market, municipal fire departments typically offer the highest pay rates, followed by inter-facility transport companies and industrial medical services. Factors influencing salary ranges include employer type, shift differentials, and the potential for overtime, alongside the pay progression that can come from advancing from an EMT to a paramedic. For those seeking to maximize their emergency medical technician salary in Urban Honolulu HI, pursuing opportunities in unionized settings, aiming for specialization, and considering shifts that commonly offer overtime can be effective strategies for increasing overall earnings.
More salary data for Urban Honolulu, HI:
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 $67,050 for emergency medical techniciansin the Urban Honolulu 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