Emergency Medical Technician Salary in Des Moines, IA: $44,942 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time emergency medical technician in Des Moines, IA earns a median $44,942/year (≈ $21.61/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2042). Once you factor in Des Moines's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.7), that paycheck buys what $49,009 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.9% above the Iowa state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Emergency medical technicians in Des Moines, Iowa, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $44,942 in 2026, reflecting a competitive earning potential compared to other markets. The salary range for these professionals spans from $37,270 at the 10th percentile to $77,026 at the 90th percentile, highlighting significant income variations based on factors like experience, training, and employer. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, illustrates a pronounced pay gap between fire department EMTs, who often enjoy union-negotiated salaries, and their counterparts in private ambulance services, where compensation is generally lower. In this regional market, the strength of the fire department's union contracts plays a substantial role, impacting the overall emergency medical technician pay in Des Moines, IA.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $37,270 | $17.92 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $39,132 | $18.81 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $44,942 | $21.61 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $61,280 | $29.46 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $77,026 | $37.03 |
Median Salary Position
4.5% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Des Moines
In Des Moines, IA, the emergency medical technician salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $39,756 (2026 est.). At $44,942, the local median is 4.5% below the national median of $47,058.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Des Moines: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Des Moines Emergency Medical Technician Pay Compares
Des Moines median: $44,942/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Des Moines Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa Average | $44,541 | +0.90% more |
| National Average | $47,058 | -4.50% less |
Emergency Medical Technicians in Des Moines, IA earn a median of $44,942 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.50% lower than the national median of $47,058 and 0.90% above the Iowa state average of $44,541.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Des Moines has a cost of living 8.30% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Des Moines, IA has a cost-of-living index of 91.701 (below the national average of 100). A emergency medical technician earning $44,942 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $49,009 in an average-cost city — an effective 9.05% boost.
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2021 BLS Actual
$30,000
2025 BLS Actual
$42,470
2026 Current Est.
$44,942
2021–2027 Growth
+58.5%
Salary Trajectory for Emergency Medical Technicians in Des Moines (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.82% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $30,000 | Actual |
| 2022 | $37,310 | Actual |
| 2023 | $35,750 | Actual |
| 2024 | $43,180 | Actual |
| 2025 | $42,470 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $44,942 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $47,557 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Des Moines metropolitan area, the median emergency medical technician salary grew 41.6% from $30,000 (2021) to $42,470 (2025). At a 5.82% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $47,557 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,557 (58.52%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Des Moines 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) | $37,270 – $39,132 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $39,132 – $44,942 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $44,942 – $61,280 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $61,280 – $77,026 |
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 Des Moines
The job market for emergency medical technicians in Des Moines consists of approximately 280 professionals, allowing for a competitive yet accessible environment for those entering the field. Given the area's cost of living index at 91.701, EMTs can find their take-home pay stretches further than in many other locations. Employers such as municipal fire departments typically offer the highest wages, often enhanced by overtime and shift differentials, while private ambulance companies like AMR and GMR lag due to industry-wide wage stagnation. Additionally, avenues such as industrial and oil-field medical roles present lucrative opportunities, with pay rates that can exceed those in traditional ambulance services. For those looking to maximize their earning potential, pursuing the EMT-to-paramedic bridge pathway may lead to increased qualifications and higher compensation, particularly in Des Moines' varied EMS job landscape.
More salary data for Des Moines, IA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do emergency medical technicians make in Des Moines, IA in 2026?
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Can emergency medical technicians make $100K in Des Moines?
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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 $42,470 for emergency medical techniciansin the Des Moines 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