Emergency Medical Technician salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Emergency Medical Technicians in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $51,970 a year ($24.98 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,160 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $44,470. Pay here is 12% higher than the California statewide median of $46,380. There are 0.74 emergency medical technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.64). The average (mean) salary is $59,910, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for emergency medical technicians in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,000 | $19.23 |
| 25th percentile | $45,660 | $21.95 |
| Median | $51,970 | $24.98 |
| 75th percentile | $63,630 | $30.59 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,160 | $48.63 |
| Average (mean) | $59,910 | $28.80 |
Half of emergency medical technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,330.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,165.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,998.85 |
| Weekly | $999.42 |
| Hourly | $24.98 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $51,970 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Emergency Medical Technician salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Redding, CA | $60,120 | 80 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $54,650 | 830 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $51,480 | 3,580 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $49,550 | 1,250 |
| Napa, CA | $49,340 | 120 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $47,660 | 270 |
| Salinas, CA | $47,370 | 130 |
| Modesto, CA | $47,160 | 440 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $45,750 | 350 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $45,710 | 340 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $45,190 | 120 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $45,090 | 6,610 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $43,620 | 1,750 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $43,500 | 2,340 |
| Yuba City, CA | $43,470 | 90 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $43,450 | 390 |
| El Centro, CA | $39,840 | 50 |
| Visalia, CA | $39,530 | 170 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $39,310 | n/a |
| Fresno, CA | $38,740 | 710 |
Highest-paying states for emergency medical technicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $66,410 |
| Alaska | $57,440 |
| New Jersey | $53,610 |
| Washington | $52,690 |
| Rhode Island | $51,290 |
| Connecticut | $50,640 |
| Massachusetts | $50,230 |
| Oregon | $49,270 |
| New York | $48,400 |
| Maryland | $48,100 |
See Emergency Medical Technician pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $81,000 | $38.94 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $50,100 | $24.09 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $62,810 | $30.20 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $60,510 | $29.09 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $129,920 | $62.46 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $60,580 | $29.12 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $83,100 | $39.95 |
| Surgical Technologist | $100,130 | $48.14 |
| Opticians, Dispensing | $55,950 | $26.90 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $142,150 | $68.34 |
| Paramedic | $71,390 | $34.32 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $43,710 | $21.01 |
| Registered Nurse | $170,960 | $82.19 |
| Dental Hygienist | $130,600 | $62.79 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-2042. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a emergency medical technician make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for emergency medical technicians in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $51,970 a year, or $24.98 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,160 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid emergency medical technicians make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of emergency medical technicians in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $101,160 a year. The top 25% earn $63,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for emergency medical technicians in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,000 a year, and a quarter of emergency medical technicians earn $45,660 or less.
How many emergency medical technicians work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 70 emergency medical technicians are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.