Emergency Medical Technician Salary in Charlottesville, VA: $42,074 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time emergency medical technician in Charlottesville, VA earns a median $42,074/year (≈ $20.23/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2042). Once you factor in Charlottesville's price level (1% below national, BEA RPP 99.1), that paycheck buys what $42,436 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 10.5% below the Virginia state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Emergency medical technicians in Charlottesville, Virginia can anticipate a median annual salary of $42,074 in 2026, according to projections derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data. This compensation is notably lower than the national average of $47,058, indicating a regional pay gap that reflects local market dynamics. Salaries for EMTs in the area range from $36,836 at the lower tenth percentile to $60,455 at the ninetieth percentile, highlighting the variability in earnings based on experience, employer type, and specific job responsibilities. As the job market adapts, understanding the nuances of compensation is critical, especially when comparing salaries between municipal fire departments and private ambulance services, the latter of which continue to lag behind.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $36,836 | $17.70 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $42,074 | $20.23 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $42,074 | $20.23 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $54,878 | $26.38 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $60,455 | $29.07 |
Median Salary Position
10.59% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Charlottesville
In Charlottesville, VA, the emergency medical technician salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $23,619 (2026 est.). At $42,074, the local median is 10.59% below the national median of $47,058.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Charlottesville: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Charlottesville Emergency Medical Technician Pay Compares
Charlottesville median: $42,074/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Charlottesville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Average | $47,010 | -10.50% less |
| National Average | $47,058 | -10.59% less |
Emergency Medical Technicians in Charlottesville, VA earn a median of $42,074 per year (2026 est.), which is 10.59% lower than the national median of $47,058 and 10.50% below the Virginia state average of $47,010.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Charlottesville has a cost of living 0.85% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Charlottesville, VA has a cost-of-living index of 99.146 (below the national average of 100). A emergency medical technician earning $42,074 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $42,436 in an average-cost city — an effective 0.86% boost.
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2021 BLS Actual
$38,120
2025 BLS Actual
$39,760
2026 Current Est.
$42,074
2021–2027 Growth
+16.8%
Salary Trajectory for Emergency Medical Technicians in Charlottesville (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.82% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $38,120 | Actual |
| 2022 | $44,290 | Actual |
| 2023 | $36,940 | Actual |
| 2024 | $41,710 | Actual |
| 2025 | $39,760 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $42,074 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $44,523 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Charlottesville metropolitan area, the median emergency medical technician salary grew 4.3% from $38,120 (2021) to $39,760 (2025). At a 5.82% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $44,523 by 2027 — a total increase of $6,403 (16.80%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Charlottesville 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) | $36,836 – $42,074 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $42,074 – $42,074 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $42,074 – $54,878 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $54,878 – $60,455 |
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 Charlottesville
With approximately 130 emergency medical technicians currently employed in Charlottesville, the local job market for this profession shows consistent growth potential, projected at an annual rate of 5.82%. However, the cost of living index at 99.146, slightly below the national average, indicates that EMTs may find their take-home pay impacted in terms of purchasing power. Among employers, municipal fire departments—particularly those employing cross-trained firefighter-EMTs—tend to offer higher salaries than private ambulance companies such as AMR and GMR. The disparity in pay largely arises from factors like shift differentials, overtime opportunities, and union contracts that favor fire department roles. For those looking to enhance their earnings, pursuing the EMT-to-paramedic bridge pathway can be a beneficial strategy, while seeking out positions within county EMS systems or industrial healthcare setups may also provide competitive compensation options.
More salary data for Charlottesville, VA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do emergency medical technicians make in Charlottesville, VA in 2026?
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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 $39,760 for emergency medical techniciansin the Charlottesville 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