40h normalized salary comparison

Paramedic Salary in Riverside

Average Paramedic salary in Riverside on a 40h basis 67,519 $ 5,627 $ gross/month · 32.46 $ gross/hour
Full-time salary range/year 42,500 $ – 104,500 $
Full-time salary range/month 3,542 $ – 8,708 $
Based on 28 salary reports

The average salary for a Paramedic in Riverside is 67,519 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 5,627 $ gross per month and 32.46 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 42,500 $ to 104,500 $. The analysis is based on 28 salary reports from workers and employers in Riverside. Part-time salaries are proportionally converted to 40 weekly hours so the values are comparable.

Reports 28
Minimum 40h 42,500 $
Avg. gross/year 40h 67,519 $
Avg. Gross/month 40h 5,627 $
Avg. gross/hour 40h 32.46 $
Maximum 40h 104,500 $

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
06/11/2026 Paramedic Quality Manager 40.0 h 104,500 $ 104,500 $ 8,708 $ 50.24 $ I manage quality assurance and training for an EMS provider. Although I no longer run regular shifts, I'm full-time (40 hours) overseeing performance metrics; the salary reflects a managerial role.
03/02/2026 Mobile Care Paramedic 40.0 h 84,500 $ 84,500 $ 7,042 $ 40.63 $ I provide mobile urgent-care style services as a full-time paramedic. I work 40 hours per week and handle higher-acuity non-transport cases; salary reflects increased demand and recent market rates.
01/14/2026 Owner / Contract Paramedic 30.0 h 72,000 $ 96,000 $ 8,000 $ 46.15 $ I run a small contract paramedic service and work an average of 30 hours per week in the field plus business admin. The reported salary is what I paid myself as my gross annual income.
11/25/2025 Paramedic Supervisor - County 44.0 h 98,000 $ 89,091 $ 7,424 $ 42.83 $ I supervise multiple crews for the county EMS program and handle budgeting and staffing. My schedule averages about 44 hours per week because of meetings and oversight duties; this is my gross salary.
07/08/2025 EMS Coordinator 40.0 h 90,500 $ 90,500 $ 7,542 $ 43.51 $ I work as an EMS coordinator overseeing scheduling, dispatch coordination, and interagency relations. It's a full-time 40-hour role and I have prior field experience; salary is my gross annual earnings.
02/19/2025 Paramedic Team Lead 42.0 h 84,800 $ 80,762 $ 6,730 $ 38.83 $ I lead a team in a high-volume private ambulance company. My role includes oversight, training, and some administrative tasks. I average 42 hours per week and this is my gross yearly pay.
10/31/2024 Clinical Outreach Paramedic 40.0 h 76,200 $ 76,200 $ 6,350 $ 36.63 $ I work full-time in clinical outreach focusing on chronic care patients. I have a leadership role in program development and worked 40 hours per week; the reported salary is my annual gross.
05/09/2024 Paramedic - Fire Battalion 45.0 h 81,500 $ 72,444 $ 6,037 $ 34.83 $ I'm assigned to a fire battalion as a paramedic and act as the shift lead. My duties include incident command support and scheduling, and I average 45 hours a week; this is my gross salary.
01/22/2024 Emergency Response Paramedic 38.5 h 70,500 $ 73,247 $ 6,104 $ 35.21 $ I handle emergency response for a regional ambulance service and average 38.5 hours weekly. With eight years experience and additional certifications, this is my actual annual pay.
08/14/2023 Senior EMS Clinician 40.0 h 73,200 $ 73,200 $ 6,100 $ 35.19 $ I work as a senior EMS clinician in a hospital-run transport program. I manage clinical protocols and mentor junior staff while working 40 hours per week; salary reflects that combined role.
03/30/2023 Private Contractor Paramedic 40.0 h 67,400 $ 67,400 $ 5,617 $ 32.40 $ I'm an independent contractor providing paramedic coverage for events and private ambulance shifts; this year I averaged a 40-hour equivalent and the reported figure is my gross earnings.
11/05/2022 Per Diem Senior Paramedic 20.0 h 41,200 $ 82,400 $ 6,867 $ 39.62 $ I'm a senior paramedic working per diem nights averaging 20 hours per week as supplemental income. I have over seven years experience; the salary is the total I made for those hours.
07/18/2022 Paramedic Supervisor 44.0 h 72,500 $ 65,909 $ 5,492 $ 31.69 $ I am a paramedic supervisor for a county EMS division. My role involves administrative work and shift coverage, and I average about 44 hours a week. This is my annual gross salary.
02/06/2022 Lead Paramedic 40.0 h 63,500 $ 63,500 $ 5,292 $ 30.53 $ I was promoted to lead paramedic overseeing a small team of clinicians. I work 40 hours per week and handle scheduling and quality review in addition to field duties; salary reflects those responsibilities.
09/29/2021 Mobile Integrated Health Paramedic 40.0 h 58,500 $ 58,500 $ 4,875 $ 28.13 $ I work in mobile integrated health doing community follow-ups and non-emergent care. I'm full-time at 40 hours a week with five years experience; this is what I earned last year.
04/11/2021 Paramedic Instructor 38.0 h 52,500 $ 55,263 $ 4,605 $ 26.57 $ I teach paramedic certification courses while also doing occasional clinical shifts. I consider this full-time and average roughly 38 hours per week; the salary is my annual gross income.
10/07/2020 Clinical Paramedic 40.0 h 49,200 $ 49,200 $ 4,100 $ 23.65 $ I work full-time in a hospital outreach program as a clinical paramedic. My role includes some non-transport patient care and training; I worked 40 hours per week and this was my gross pay.
03/22/2020 Relief Paramedic 34.0 h 47,000 $ 55,294 $ 4,608 $ 26.58 $ I'm a relief paramedic working flexible schedules, averaging about 34 hours weekly. I've been on the job four years and the reported salary is what I actually earned that year.
12/02/2019 Paramedic - Fire Services 42.0 h 59,800 $ 56,952 $ 4,746 $ 27.38 $ I serve as a paramedic assigned to a fire-based EMS unit in a supervisory role. I average 42 hours a week due to overlap and occasional admin responsibilities; this is my gross annual pay.
06/15/2019 Senior Paramedic 40.0 h 51,500 $ 51,500 $ 4,292 $ 24.76 $ I'm a senior paramedic with six years of experience working shifts for a hospital-based EMS team. I work a 40-hour full-time schedule and I supervise training of new hires informally.
03/13/2019 Paramedic (Night Shift) 38.0 h 57,800 $ 60,842 $ 5,070 $ 29.25 $ I'm a night-shift paramedic working a permanent schedule that averages 38 hours per week. I've been in this role for four years; the salary is what I actually received that year.
08/04/2018 Private Ambulance Paramedic 40.0 h 44,600 $ 44,600 $ 3,717 $ 21.44 $ I work full-time for a private ambulance contractor. I have three years of field experience and work 40 hours a week; salary reflects my base earnings without occasional overtime.
05/21/2018 Advanced Life Support Paramedic 40.0 h 55,200 $ 55,200 $ 4,600 $ 26.54 $ I work full-time on an ALS ambulance crew. I have five years of experience and complete continuing education regularly. I worked 40 hours per week and this was my yearly gross pay.
02/12/2018 Per Diem Paramedic 18.0 h 24,800 $ 55,111 $ 4,593 $ 26.50 $ I'm a per diem paramedic who picks up weekend shifts only, averaging 18 hours per week; this is my actual annual gross pay for the hours I worked that year.
09/27/2017 Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic 36.0 h 41,200 $ 45,778 $ 3,815 $ 22.01 $ I work full-time on 12-hour shift rotation that averages 36 hours per week. I'm an early-career paramedic and this was my annual gross income in the reporting year.
05/18/2017 Field Paramedic 40.0 h 42,500 $ 42,500 $ 3,542 $ 20.43 $ I was hired as an entry-level field paramedic for a municipal EMS contract. I've been here two years and work a standard 40-hour full-time schedule; this is what I earned that year.
11/03/2016 Paramedic 32.0 h 38,500 $ 48,125 $ 4,010 $ 23.14 $ I'm a part-time paramedic who started in 2015 and have been working relief shifts at private ambulance services. I regularly pick up 32 hours a week and this is my actual annual gross pay for those hours.
08/29/2016 Per Diem Critical Care Paramedic 16.0 h 36,800 $ 92,000 $ 7,667 $ 44.23 $ I'm a per diem critical care paramedic who picks up night and weekend ICU transfers averaging 16 hours a week. The salary shown is my actual annual gross earnings from those shifts.

Job Outlook for Paramedics in Riverside, California

Riverside sits at the center of the Inland Empire, one of California’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas. That growth, along with heavy commuter traffic and a mix of urban and desert terrain, shapes a steady and often rising need for emergency medical services. For paramedics in Riverside, California, the local market typically offers a range of roles across fire-based EMS, 9-1-1 ambulance operations, hospital-based positions, and specialty transport.

Paramedic practice in Riverside County is coordinated under the Riverside County Emergency Medical Services Agency (REMSA), which establishes protocols and accreditation for advanced life support providers. Within the City of Riverside and surrounding communities, first-response is commonly delivered by fire departments, while many 9-1-1 transports are provided by contracted ambulance operators. This system creates ongoing opportunities for experienced field clinicians as well as newly licensed paramedics who are ready to work in high-call-volume environments.

Labor Market

The Inland Empire’s large population and economic profile drive consistent EMS demand. Regional freeways such as SR-91, I-215, SR-60, and I-10 see significant commuter and freight traffic, which can contribute to collision-related calls. Seasonal heat waves, wildfire incidents in foothill areas, and air quality challenges also influence medical call patterns, particularly for respiratory and heat-related emergencies. In addition, the county’s mix of suburban neighborhoods, university settings, and retirement communities means paramedics encounter a broad spectrum of medical and trauma cases.

Employers in Riverside often recruit year-round to address growth, retirements, and normal turnover in a 24/7 system. Many agencies emphasize adaptability, strong clinical judgment, and customer service skills, given the diverse communities served. Bilingual ability, especially Spanish, is frequently valued. Paramedics generally need a current California paramedic license, county accreditation through REMSA, and credentials such as ACLS, PALS, and BLS; some roles prefer or require ITLS/PHTLS, CE hours, and a clean driving record. Fire-based roles typically add physical ability tests, fire academy training, and additional certifications.

Major Employers

Riverside and the surrounding area include a mix of public and private organizations that regularly hire paramedics:

  • American Medical Response (AMR) – Riverside County: Commonly serves as a primary 9-1-1 transport provider in much of the county and also operates interfacility and critical care transport units.
  • City of Riverside Fire Department: Provides first-response EMS with paramedic engine companies and hires firefighter-paramedics for field operations and special assignments.
  • CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department: Delivers fire and EMS services across wide portions of the county under contract, with paramedic roles on engines and specialized units.
  • Corona Fire Department and other municipal fire agencies: Nearby city departments frequently staff paramedic engines and may recruit firefighter-paramedics on a periodic or continuous basis.
  • Hospitals and health systems: Facilities that often employ paramedics as ED techs, in specialty transport, or in support roles include Riverside Community Hospital (HCA Healthcare), Kaiser Permanente Riverside Medical Center, Parkview Community Hospital, and Riverside University Health System – Medical Center in Moreno Valley.
  • Air medical providers: Flight programs such as Mercy Air (Air Methods) and REACH Air Medical Services operate in the region and may hire experienced flight paramedics.

Because the Riverside labor market is interconnected with neighboring San Bernardino County, paramedics also find opportunities with regional systems and hospitals just outside city limits, expanding potential career pathways while still serving Riverside residents.

Career Opportunities

Career paths for paramedics in Riverside typically begin in 9-1-1 ambulance operations or as firefighter-paramedics, then progress into roles such as field training officer, critical care transport paramedic, clinical educator, or operations supervisor. Hospitals may hire paramedics into emergency department technician roles, patient transport, or specialty transport teams, which can broaden clinical exposure and open doors to leadership or education tracks.

California’s continued exploration of community paramedicine and mobile integrated healthcare can create additional avenues in certain systems, such as post-discharge follow-ups, chronic disease support, or alternate destination programs where authorized. Regionally, large-scale events in Riverside County and the Coachella Valley can generate special event coverage needs, offering overtime or temporary assignments for experienced crews. Wildfire seasons may also lead to deployments supporting incident medical operations, especially for fire-based paramedics with relevant training.

Local education pipelines support continuous talent development. Riverside City College offers EMS training, including paramedic coursework, and nearby colleges in the Inland Empire provide EMT-to-paramedic pathways and continuing education. Many employers collaborate with local programs for clinical and field internships, which can ease the transition from classroom to full-time field roles.

Overall, the job outlook for paramedics in Riverside is generally positive. The combination of population growth, regional transportation corridors, seasonal hazards, and a busy network of hospitals sustains demand for skilled clinicians. Candidates who maintain strong clinical skills, remain flexible with shift work, and pursue additional certifications or specialties often find multiple ways to advance within Riverside’s diverse EMS system.

Frequently Asked Questions about Paramedic in Riverside

How much does a Paramedic make in Riverside?

The average salary for a Paramedic in Riverside is 67,519 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 5,627 $ 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 Riverside?

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