40h normalized salary comparison

Paramedic Salary in Houston

Average Paramedic salary in Houston on a 40h basis 63,491 $ 5,291 $ gross/month · 30.52 $ gross/hour
Full-time salary range/year 36,000 $ – 92,000 $
Full-time salary range/month 3,000 $ – 7,667 $
Based on 30 salary reports

The average salary for a Paramedic in Houston is 63,491 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 5,291 $ gross per month and 30.52 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 36,000 $ to 92,000 $. The analysis is based on 30 salary reports from workers and employers in Houston. Part-time salaries are proportionally converted to 40 weekly hours so the values are comparable.

Reports 30
Minimum 40h 36,000 $
Avg. gross/year 40h 63,491 $
Avg. Gross/month 40h 5,291 $
Avg. gross/hour 40h 30.52 $
Maximum 40h 92,000 $

Minimum, average and maximum values on a 40h basis

Trend over time on a 40h basis

Individual reported salaries

Date Job title Weekly hours Reported gross/year Normalized to 40h/year Gross/month 40h Gross/hour 40h Note
06/25/2026 Paramedic (New Grad Incentive) 36.0 h 51,000 $ 56,667 $ 4,722 $ 27.24 $ I was hired as a new graduate in June 2026 under a recruitment incentive and work 36 hours per week. The market shortage led to higher starting pay for new paramedics.
06/15/2026 Advanced Life Support Paramedic 40.0 h 78,000 $ 78,000 $ 6,500 $ 37.50 $ I'm an ALS paramedic with a specialty certification in cardiac care. I work full time on a high-volume urban unit and have six plus years of field experience.
05/30/2026 Paramedic Instructor / Training Manager 40.0 h 82,500 $ 82,500 $ 6,875 $ 39.66 $ I manage the training department for a regional EMS provider and also teach classes. I'm full time and oversee curriculum, instructors, and compliance training.
04/18/2026 Paramedic (Part-time Event Coverage) 18.0 h 28,000 $ 62,222 $ 5,185 $ 29.91 $ I work part-time covering events and private gigs, averaging about 18 hours per week. This role is flexible and supplements my primary income.
03/05/2026 Critical Care Paramedic 40.0 h 72,000 $ 72,000 $ 6,000 $ 34.62 $ I work full time as a critical care paramedic for interfacility transports and have advanced certifications. I've been doing this for several years and the position pays above typical ALS wages.
01/20/2026 Senior EMS Supervisor 42.0 h 95,000 $ 90,476 $ 7,540 $ 43.50 $ I am a senior EMS supervisor in a large municipal system, working about 42 hours/week. I oversee multiple stations and lead operational planning and large-incident responses.
10/31/2025 Self-Employed Mobile Clinic Paramedic 30.0 h 54,000 $ 72,000 $ 6,000 $ 34.62 $ I run a small mobile clinic/transport service as a self-employed paramedic, averaging about 30 hours/week. I handle scheduling, billing, and direct patient care.
06/14/2025 Paramedic (Mid-level ALS) 40.0 h 69,000 $ 69,000 $ 5,750 $ 33.17 $ I've been a mid-level ALS paramedic for six years at a large EMS provider. I work full time on busy urban routes and picked up additional certification pay in 2025.
02/27/2025 Paramedic (Entry-level) 36.0 h 48,000 $ 53,333 $ 4,444 $ 25.64 $ I was hired as an entry-level paramedic in 2025 with a slightly reduced schedule (36 hours/week). The recruitment market pushed starting pay up compared to prior years.
09/09/2024 Operations Manager (Ambulance Services) 45.0 h 88,000 $ 78,222 $ 6,519 $ 37.61 $ I manage operations for a regional ambulance service and work roughly 45 hours/week. My duties include staffing, budgeting, and compliance; I transitioned from field work to management.
05/16/2024 Senior Flight Paramedic 40.0 h 92,000 $ 92,000 $ 7,667 $ 44.23 $ I work as a senior flight paramedic on an aeromedical team. My role is full time with extensive experience and specialized critical care training, which is reflected in higher pay.
02/22/2024 Field Training Officer 40.0 h 68,000 $ 68,000 $ 5,667 $ 32.69 $ I'm a full-time field training officer who trains and evaluates new paramedics in the field. I've been in this role three years and often take extra training shifts.
11/30/2023 Paramedic Educator 38.0 h 66,000 $ 69,474 $ 5,789 $ 33.40 $ I work as an educator and clinical coordinator for prehospital training. My schedule is typically 38 hours/week; I manage classes, skills checks, and clinical placements.
07/04/2023 Advanced Life Support Paramedic 40.0 h 62,000 $ 62,000 $ 5,167 $ 29.81 $ I've been an ALS paramedic at a large private provider for five years. I'm full time and regularly rotate through busy urban shifts.
03/19/2023 Paramedic (Part-time Clinical) 20.0 h 29,000 $ 58,000 $ 4,833 $ 27.88 $ I work part time in a community clinic ambulance program, averaging about 20 hours a week. This position supplements my income while I pursue additional certifications.
12/11/2022 EMS Captain / Senior Supervisor 44.0 h 82,000 $ 74,545 $ 6,212 $ 35.84 $ I serve as an EMS captain supervising crews and operations. I'm full time, work about 44 hours/week, and handle both administrative tasks and operational oversight.
06/30/2022 Paramedic (New hire) 40.0 h 44,000 $ 44,000 $ 3,667 $ 21.15 $ I started as a new hire in 2022 at a regional ambulance service. I'm full time and still in orientation; starting salaries have been higher than when I did my clinical internship.
01/25/2022 Critical Care Paramedic 40.0 h 72,000 $ 72,000 $ 6,000 $ 34.62 $ I work as a critical care paramedic for interfacility transfer teams. I have specialized training and six years of experience; the job is full time and pays higher due to advanced skills.
10/05/2021 Contract Paramedic (Private Events) 30.0 h 48,000 $ 64,000 $ 5,333 $ 30.77 $ I work part-time (roughly 30 hours/week) as a contract paramedic covering events and private contracts. It's my primary job and I've been doing it for about a year.
02/14/2021 Paramedic (Municipal EMS) 40.0 h 58,500 $ 58,500 $ 4,875 $ 28.13 $ I work full time for the city EMS service and have been here four years. My responsibilities include prehospital care and basic station duties, and pay improved modestly in 2021.
09/23/2020 Senior Paramedic (ALS) 40.0 h 62,000 $ 62,000 $ 5,167 $ 29.81 $ I am a senior ALS paramedic with seven years' experience. During 2020 I picked up extra shifts and training responsibilities; I work full time and mentor newer medics.
04/06/2020 Paramedic 40.0 h 50,000 $ 50,000 $ 4,167 $ 24.04 $ I worked full time in municipal EMS during the early months of the pandemic. I had three years of experience at the time; hours were standard but stress and call volume increased significantly.
11/18/2019 Field Supervisor (EMS) 42.0 h 66,000 $ 62,857 $ 5,238 $ 30.22 $ I'm a field supervisor overseeing several ambulance crews in a large private fleet. I work about 42 hours/week and handle scheduling, incident oversight, and quality assurance.
06/07/2019 Paramedic Instructor 40.0 h 58,000 $ 58,000 $ 4,833 $ 27.88 $ I work full time as a paramedic instructor for a regional training program. I've been in education for four years and handle classroom instruction, skills labs, and clinical coordination.
12/02/2018 Paramedic (Part-time Contract) 20.0 h 30,000 $ 60,000 $ 5,000 $ 28.85 $ I'm a contract paramedic doing 20 hours a week for event and private transport work. I've done this intermittently for three years as a secondary income source.
03/15/2018 Flight Paramedic 38.0 h 62,000 $ 65,263 $ 5,439 $ 31.38 $ I work as a flight paramedic based in Houston and have been in the role two years. My schedule averages 38 hours/week with long shifts and on-call time; it's more specialized than ground work.
10/30/2017 Senior Paramedic 40.0 h 55,000 $ 55,000 $ 4,583 $ 26.44 $ I've been a senior field paramedic for five years. I take more complex calls and mentor junior medics. I work full time and have no formal management title.
05/21/2017 Advanced Life Support Paramedic 40.0 h 42,000 $ 42,000 $ 3,500 $ 20.19 $ I'm a mid-level ALS paramedic at a midsize private EMS firm. I've been here three years; I run calls independently and help train new hires but don't have formal supervisory authority.
11/03/2016 Paramedic (Part-time PRN) 24.0 h 22,000 $ 36,667 $ 3,056 $ 17.63 $ I work part-time (about three 8-hour shifts a week) as a PRN paramedic for a local transport company. I've been doing this for two years and don't have any management duties.
08/12/2016 Paramedic (Entry-level) 40.0 h 36,000 $ 36,000 $ 3,000 $ 17.31 $ I'm an entry-level paramedic and have been on staff for about six months with a small private ambulance provider. I work 40-hour weeks responding to 911 calls and do not supervise anyone.

Job Outlook for Paramedics in Houston, Texas

Houston is one of the countrys busiest and most complex EMS markets, shaped by a fast-growing population, a sprawling metro footprint across multiple counties, and the presence of the Texas Medical Center4the largest medical complex in the world. For paramedics in Houston, this translates into steady 911 call volumes, a wide range of clinical presentations, and diverse employment settings spanning municipal EMS, hospital-based teams, air medical, and private interfacility transport. The regions energy and petrochemical corridor, major highways, and hurricane-prone climate further define the tempo and specialty skills employers often seek.

Paramedics in Houston typically work within integrated fire-EMS departments, county emergency services districts (ESDs), stand-alone EMS agencies, hospital emergency departments, and critical care transport programs. Many roles prefer or require Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) paramedic licensure, with the National Registry of EMTs (NREMT) commonly accepted. Regional colleges such as Houston Community College, Lone Star College, and San Jacinto College supply new graduates, supporting a relatively consistent hiring pipeline.

Labor Market

The Houston Fire Department (HFD) runs one of the nations higher-volume 911 EMS operations, which generally indicates ongoing demand for licensed paramedics who can manage high-acuity calls and urban response dynamics. Surrounding suburbs and unincorporated areas are served by ESDs and city fire-EMS agencies, broadening the market across Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, and adjacent counties. Private ambulance providers handle a significant portion of interfacility transfers and scheduled transports, while hospitals frequently employ paramedics in emergency departments, cath lab support, and critical care transport.

Hiring needs are often influenced by population growth, retirements, and the need for 24/7 coverage. Seasonal factors such as extreme heat, hurricane season, and flooding can intensify workloads. The petrochemical industry along the Houston Ship Channel leads many employers to value HAZMAT awareness. Traffic-related incidents on major corridors (I-10, I-45, I-69, Beltway 8, and the Grand Parkway) and large public events at venues like NRG Park, Minute Maid Park, and the Toyota Center add to operational variety. Programs using telehealth and alternative destinationssuch as HFDs ETHAN initiativeare also shaping how paramedics practice in the field.

Major Employers

Paramedics in the Houston area are commonly hired by a mix of public agencies, private services, and major hospital systems. Notable employers include:

  • Municipal and County EMS: Houston Fire Department (City of Houston); Cy-Fair Fire Department (Harris County ESD 9); Harris County ESD 11 Mobile Healthcare; Fort Bend County EMS; Montgomery County Hospital District EMS; City of Pasadena EMS; City of Sugar Land Fire-EMS; and City of Baytown EMS.
  • Private Ambulance Providers: Acadian Ambulance; American Medical Response (AMR, part of Global Medical Response); and Allegiance Mobile Health, which often staff interfacility transports and contracted standby services.
  • Hospital and Air Medical Programs: Memorial Hermann Life Flight (air medical/critical care transport); Texas Childrens Hospital transport teams; Houston Methodist; HCA Houston Healthcare; and Harris Health System (Ben Taub Hospital and Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital), which frequently employ paramedics in emergency departments, observation units, and transport roles.

Requirements vary by employer. Fire-based agencies may require firefighter certification in addition to paramedic licensure, while hospital and transport teams often seek advanced credentials such as ACLS, PALS, PHTLS/ITLS, and, for air or critical care roles, certifications like FP-C or CCP-C.

Career Opportunities

Houstons scale offers multiple pathways beyond entry-level field assignments. Paramedics can move into field training officer roles, quality improvement, clinical education, special operations (such as HAZMAT, technical rescue, marine, or bike/medic squads), and community paramedicine or mobile integrated healthcare programs. Air medical services and pediatric/neonatal critical care transport teams provide options for those pursuing advanced critical care practice. Many hospitals also hire experienced paramedics into ED leadership, cath lab support, and transport coordinator positions.

For those interested in specialized environments, the regions industrial and petrochemical facilities often contract on-site medical coverage, incident standby, and occupational health support through private providers. Disaster response and emergency management are also recurring themes in the Houston area, where experience with flood operations, evacuation shelters, and multi-agency coordination can be valuable.

Overall, the outlook for paramedics in Houston is generally positive. A growing and aging population, a high-acuity urban care environment, and the concentration of world-class hospitals create consistent demand. Candidates who maintain Texas licensure, stay current with evidence-based protocols, and build additional credentials in critical care, pediatrics, or HAZMAT often find more opportunities across the metro. Strong communication skills, cultural competence, and familiarity with telehealth-supported care models can further set applicants apart in this dynamic market.

Frequently Asked Questions about Paramedic in Houston

How much does a Paramedic make in Houston?

The average salary for a Paramedic in Houston is 63,491 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 5,291 $ gross per month.

Why are salaries converted to 40 hours?

Part-time and full-time reports are normalized to a 40-hour workweek so salary reports can be compared fairly.

Where can I find more salary comparisons for Paramedic or Houston?

You can find more comparisons on the profession overview for Paramedic and the city overview for Houston. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.