Paramedic salary in California
What paramedics earn in California and its metro areas, compared with the rest of the country.
Median pay$74,590$35.86 per hour
vs U.S.+23%U.S. median $60,600
Middle half earn$63,490 – $90,730Top 10%: $102,450+
Jobs5,1900.44× the U.S. concentration
Paramedic pay in California cities
Metro areas as BLS defines them. Click a column to sort.
| Metro area | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $74,900 | $36.01 | 1,200 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $83,090 | $39.95 | 780 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $72,520 | $34.87 | 580 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $70,630 | $33.96 | 430 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $81,430 | $39.15 | 390 |
| Modesto, CA | $72,170 | $34.70 | 130 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $69,050 | $33.20 | 120 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $84,480 | $40.61 | 110 |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $77,340 | $37.18 | 100 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $74,080 | $35.62 | 70 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $80,590 | $38.74 | 60 |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $51,970 | $24.99 | 60 |
| Salinas, CA | $80,710 | $38.81 | 50 |
| Visalia, CA | $63,840 | $30.69 | 50 |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $65,540 | $31.51 | 50 |
| Redding, CA | $88,740 | $42.66 | 40 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $73,930 | $35.54 | 40 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $71,390 | $34.32 | 40 |
| Merced, CA | $64,100 | $30.82 | 30 |
Hospitals and jobs in California
Paramedic pay in similar states
Hawaii · $81,280 Connecticut · $77,480 Minnesota · $76,300 Oregon · $74,840 New York · $73,200 Alaska · $71,860
Other healthcare salaries in California
Home Health and Personal Care Aides · $34,320 Registered Nurses · $140,270 Medical Assistants · $49,660 Nursing Assistants · $47,630 Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses · $79,750 Dental Assistants · $50,110 Pharmacy Technicians · $55,110 Pharmacists · $164,610 Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians · $76,010 Physical Therapists · $124,190 Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other · $60,390 Physicians, All Other · $281,590
Questions
How much does a paramedic make in California?
Paramedics in California earned a median of $74,590 a year ($35.86 an hour) in May 2025, 23% more than the national median of $60,600. The middle half earned $63,490 to $90,730.
Where in California do paramedics earn the most?
Among areas in California, pay was highest in Redding, CA at $88,740.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all industries. Pay doesn't reflect cost of living, overtime or shift differentials.