EMT/Paramedic Salary in Oklahoma City, OK: 2026
EMT/Paramedic salary data for Oklahoma City, OK, adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.
The median EMT/Paramedic salary in Oklahoma City, OK is $35,630 per year ($2,969/month, $17.13/hr). That is the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Emergency Medical Technicians (the closest BLS occupation to EMT/Paramedic) in the Oklahoma City, OK metropolitan area, which covers Oklahoma City. Salario's cost-of-living model (index 87) would have estimated $38,689; the entry, senior and top tiers below are Salario estimates rescaled to the BLS median.
Median: BLS OEWS May 2025, Emergency Medical Technicians (SOC 29-2042), Oklahoma City, OK MSA, $17.13/hr median. Entry, senior and top earner are Salario estimates rescaled to the BLS median.
EMT/Paramedic Take-Home Pay in Oklahoma City
Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)
| Gross Annual | $35,630 |
| Federal Tax | -$2,096 |
| State Tax (3.1% eff.) | -$1,103 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | -$2,726 |
| Annual Take-Home | $29,706 |
| Monthly Take-Home | $2,475 |
Living Cost Comparison
EMT/Paramedic Requirements
Key Skills
Oklahoma City Job Market Overview
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma has a population of 681,054 and an unemployment rate of 3.0%. The top industries are Energy, Healthcare, Government. The local job growth rate is 1.5%, and the average commute time is 22minutes. These local figures come from Salario's city dataset; verify current values with BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Census QuickFacts.
Related Healthcare Salaries in Oklahoma City
EMT/Paramedic Salary in Nearby Oklahoma Cities
Salary Percentile Breakdown: EMT/Paramedic in Oklahoma City
Based on Salario's cost-of-living-adjusted salary tiers for EMT/Paramedic in Oklahoma City, OK, here is an estimated percentile breakdown:
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Hourly Equivalent | Career Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (lowest) | $26,300 | $13/hr | Entry-level, < 1 yr exp. |
| 25th | $30,965 | $15/hr | Junior, 1-3 yrs exp. |
| 50th (median) | $35,630 | $17/hr | Mid-career, EMT training |
| 75th | $47,800 | $23/hr | Senior, 5-10 yrs exp. |
| 90th (top) | $61,000 | $29/hr | Lead/Principal, 10+ yrs |
P50 is the measured BLS OEWS May 2025 metro median; P10, P25, P75 and P90 are approximations, not measured local percentiles: they map to Salario's entry, senior and top tiers rescaled to the BLS median, with P25 interpolated halfway between entry and median. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Oklahoma City's Energy sector.
5-Year Salary Trajectory
Salario's national dataset models approximately 11.0% salary growth for EMT/Paramedics over the past 5 years. That national assumption is applied to the Oklahoma City estimate below; it is not a measured local trend, and it should be compared with cumulative CPI inflation before treating it as a real-terms gain:
Year-over-year, an average EMT/Paramedic can expect a 6.9% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 9 years in Oklahoma City. Negotiation, certifications (NREMT, State EMT License), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.
Oklahoma City vs National Average
The national median EMT/Paramedic salary is $44,470 (BLS OEWS May 2025, Emergency Medical Technicians). In the Oklahoma City, OK metro, the BLS median of $35,630 is 19.9% below the national figure. Oklahoma City's cost of living index is 87 (lower than the national average of 100), so the wage premium and the cost premium do not necessarily cancel out.
For EMT/Paramedics, this means: rent typically consumes 40.4% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered rent-burdened), and a median home in Oklahoma City costs about 6.7× annual take-home. Homeownership in Oklahoma City on this salary is challenging, most experts recommend keeping home costs to 3-4× income.
Industry Context: Energy in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City's economy is anchored by Energy, Healthcare, Government, with 681,054 residents and an unemployment rate of 3.0% in Salario's city dataset. Pay for EMT/Paramedics can differ by sector, so compare Energy employers with other local employers. The local job growth rate in Salario's city dataset is 1.5%, and Salario's job dataset lists a 7.0% growth outlook for EMT/Paramedic roles; check the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for the official 2024-2034 projection for the closest matching occupation.
Methodology & Data Sources
How we calculate EMT/Paramedic salaries in Oklahoma City, OK:
- Local median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Emergency Medical Technicians (SOC 29-2042) in the Oklahoma City, OK metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS reports by metro area, so this is a regional figure, not a Oklahoma City-only wage.
- Cost-of-living adjustment is shown only for comparison ($38,689 modeled) using the Oklahoma City index of 87 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs stored separately in Salario's city dataset.
- Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rescaled to the BLS metro median rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
- Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), OK 2026 state income tax brackets after the standard deduction (top rate 4.5%), and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
- Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.
Authoritative data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, national and metro-area salary data
- O*NET OnLine, occupation tasks, alternate job titles, skills, and SOC crosswalks
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, occupation outlook where a matching profile is available
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation data (CPI measures price changes, not city-to-city price levels)
- U.S. Census Bureau, Oklahoma City QuickFacts, population and demographic data
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary, 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, official local unemployment rates to verify the Oklahoma City figure above
Last reviewed: 2026. Salario's salary dataset is refreshed periodically, not automatically; check the linked BLS releases for the latest official data. EMT/Paramedic salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Energy vs others in Oklahoma City), specific skill set (Emergency Medical Care, CPR/AED, IV Therapy), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average EMT/Paramedic salary in Oklahoma City, OK?
How much does a EMT/Paramedic take home in Oklahoma City after taxes?
Is Oklahoma City a good city for EMT/Paramedics?
What skills are needed for a EMT/Paramedic in Oklahoma City?
How does EMT/Paramedic salary in Oklahoma City compare to the national average?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average EMT/Paramedic salary in Oklahoma City, OK?
The median EMT/Paramedic salary in Oklahoma City, OK is $35,630 per year ($17.13/hr): the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Emergency Medical Technicians (SOC 29-2042) in the Oklahoma City, OK metropolitan area. BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city. The entry-level estimate of around $26,300 and the senior estimate of $47,800 or more are Salario tiers calibrated to that BLS median, not BLS percentiles.
How much does a EMT/Paramedic take home in Oklahoma City after taxes?
A EMT/Paramedic earning the median salary of $35,630 in Oklahoma City, OK takes home approximately $29,706 per year ($2,475/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 16.6%.
Is Oklahoma City a good city for EMT/Paramedics?
Oklahoma City, OK has a cost of living index of 87 (below national average). EMT/Paramedics here earn below the city median. The local unemployment rate is 3.0% and top industries include Energy, Healthcare, Government.
What skills are needed for a EMT/Paramedic in Oklahoma City?
Key skills for EMT/Paramedics include Emergency Medical Care, CPR/AED, IV Therapy, Trauma Assessment, Ambulance Operation. Typical education requirement is Certificate/Associate's. Valuable certifications include NREMT, State EMT License, ACLS.
How does EMT/Paramedic salary in Oklahoma City compare to the national average?
The national median for Emergency Medical Technicians is $44,470 (BLS OEWS May 2025). In the Oklahoma City, OK metro, the BLS median is $35,630, which is 19.9% lower than the national figure. For comparison, Salario's cost-of-living model (index 87) would have estimated $38,689.