The average salary for a Paramedic in San Diego is 72,760 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 6,063 $ gross per month and 34.98 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 42,000 $ to 135,000 $. The analysis is based on 40 salary reports from workers and employers in San Diego. Part-time salaries are proportionally converted to 40 weekly hours so the values are comparable.
| Date | Job title | Weekly hours | Reported gross/year | Normalized to 40h/year | Gross/month 40h | Gross/hour 40h | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/05/2026 | Critical Care/Flight Paramedic (Senior) | 40.0 h | 135,000 $ | 135,000 $ | 11,250 $ | 64.90 $ | I have over a decade of experience and work as a senior critical care and flight paramedic for an aeromedical operator. Compensation accounts for high responsibility and advanced clinical skills. |
| 07/04/2026 | Paramedic (Relief/Float) | 38.0 h | 56,000 $ | 58,947 $ | 4,912 $ | 28.34 $ | I float between stations and cover vacancies and vacations; the schedule varies but averages around 38 hours per week, and I get exposure to many crews and call types. |
| 07/03/2026 | Paramedic - Urban 911 Response | 40.0 h | 70,000 $ | 70,000 $ | 5,833 $ | 33.65 $ | I work day-to-day 911 response in a busy urban district and have about seven years of experience. The pay reflects longevity steps and frequent overtime opportunities. |
| 07/01/2026 | Paramedic Captain / Operations Manager | 45.0 h | 128,000 $ | 113,778 $ | 9,481 $ | 54.70 $ | I operate as a captain/operations manager overseeing multiple stations and administrative operations for a large regional EMS system. The job is senior-level with extended managerial hours. |
| 06/30/2026 | Paramedic - Per-diem Night Shift | 30.0 h | 39,000 $ | 52,000 $ | 4,333 $ | 25.00 $ | I pick up nights on a per-diem basis because of other daytime commitments; the night differentials help my annual income even though I'm only scheduled about 30 hours weekly. |
| 06/22/2026 | Paramedic - Large Hospital Transfer Team | 40.0 h | 76,000 $ | 76,000 $ | 6,333 $ | 36.54 $ | I run interfacility critical and noncritical transfers for a large hospital system and work in a stable, full-time role with benefits and scheduled shifts. |
| 06/10/2026 | Paramedic (Community Outreach Specialist) | 36.0 h | 59,000 $ | 65,556 $ | 5,463 $ | 31.52 $ | I work full time in community outreach programs linking patients with social services, and I also respond to low-acuity calls. The role blends fieldwork and case coordination. |
| 05/30/2026 | Paramedic - Private Contract (Self-Employed) | 40.0 h | 68,000 $ | 68,000 $ | 5,667 $ | 32.69 $ | As an independent contractor I provide standby and event medical coverage for private clients, run scheduled transports, and find my own gigs. I work full time managing my schedule. |
| 05/04/2026 | Paramedic Shift Supervisor | 40.0 h | 92,000 $ | 92,000 $ | 7,667 $ | 44.23 $ | I supervise multiple crews on my shift for a metropolitan EMS provider and handle incident escalation and quality assurance duties. The role is full time and managerial. |
| 04/15/2026 | Paramedic - Nonprofit Clinic (Part-time) | 22.0 h | 33,000 $ | 60,000 $ | 5,000 $ | 28.85 $ | I work part time for a nonprofit clinic providing urgent care and transport support; my focus is community outreach and I average about 22 hours a week. |
| 03/29/2026 | Senior Paramedic - Special Operations | 44.0 h | 112,000 $ | 101,818 $ | 8,485 $ | 48.95 $ | I lead special operations teams (confined space, water rescue) and handle advanced incident management. The job is full time with occasional long incident hours. |
| 03/11/2026 | Paramedic (Entry-level) | 40.0 h | 46,000 $ | 46,000 $ | 3,833 $ | 22.12 $ | I recently completed my certification and started an entry-level full-time role responding to 911 calls for a regional agency. Training and mentorship are ongoing. |
| 02/25/2026 | Critical Care Transport Paramedic (Part-time) | 28.0 h | 46,000 $ | 65,714 $ | 5,476 $ | 31.59 $ | I work part time on critical care ground transports focusing on interfacility moves for ICU patients. My 28 hours include on-call rotations and some night shifts. |
| 01/17/2026 | Paramedic Team Supervisor | 42.0 h | 98,000 $ | 93,333 $ | 7,778 $ | 44.87 $ | I supervise multiple EMS teams in a suburban district and handle scheduling, disciplinary actions, and operational planning. The role involves managerial hours and responsibilities. |
| 11/22/2025 | Paramedic (Per-diem, High Overtime) | 34.0 h | 62,000 $ | 72,941 $ | 6,078 $ | 35.07 $ | I'm per-diem but pick up a lot of overtime and extra shifts, so my annual pay is higher than typical part-time. I average about 34 hours weekly across multiple contracts. |
| 09/09/2025 | Self-Employed Private Transport Paramedic | 36.0 h | 54,000 $ | 60,000 $ | 5,000 $ | 28.85 $ | I'm contracted as an independent paramedic doing scheduled medical transports for clinics and patients; I manage my own taxes and schedule about 36 hours per week. |
| 06/28/2025 | Paramedic Instructor / Program Coordinator | 40.0 h | 87,000 $ | 87,000 $ | 7,250 $ | 41.83 $ | I coordinate the paramedic training program at a regional center, manage curriculum, and teach classes full time. The position is a blend of admin and instruction. |
| 04/12/2025 | Paramedic - County Lead | 40.0 h | 102,000 $ | 102,000 $ | 8,500 $ | 49.04 $ | I work for the county in a lead paramedic/operations role, overseeing special operations and multi-agency incidents. Compensation reflects county pay scale and longevity. |
| 01/29/2025 | Lead Flight Paramedic | 40.0 h | 125,000 $ | 125,000 $ | 10,417 $ | 60.10 $ | I serve as lead flight paramedic coordinating medevac missions and training other flight crew. This is a high-responsibility position with significant experience required. |
| 10/03/2024 | Paramedic - Small Private Clinic (Part-time) | 18.0 h | 29,000 $ | 64,444 $ | 5,370 $ | 30.98 $ | I work part time at a small urgent-care-style clinic providing on-site emergency response and transports; hours are limited to about 18 per week. |
| 08/18/2024 | Ambulance Shift Lead | 40.0 h | 71,000 $ | 71,000 $ | 5,917 $ | 34.13 $ | I'm the shift lead on a busy urban ambulance station, coordinate crews, and regularly take the most complex calls. I've been in the role for two years. |
| 05/30/2024 | Paramedic Supervisor (Large Agency) | 44.0 h | 95,000 $ | 86,364 $ | 7,197 $ | 41.52 $ | I supervise field operations at a large regional provider; my duties are largely managerial and include staffing, training oversight, and incident reviews. |
| 02/14/2024 | Senior Critical Care Paramedic | 40.0 h | 108,000 $ | 108,000 $ | 9,000 $ | 51.92 $ | I lead critical care teams on high-acuity transports and mentor newer critical care paramedics. The role requires extensive experience and additional certifications. |
| 10/05/2023 | Paramedic (Part-time) | 30.0 h | 35,000 $ | 46,667 $ | 3,889 $ | 22.44 $ | I took a part-time position to balance family commitments and work about 30 hours per week responding to 911 and doing transports for a private agency. |
| 07/21/2023 | Mobile Integrated Health Paramedic | 36.0 h | 63,000 $ | 70,000 $ | 5,833 $ | 33.65 $ | I work in an MIH program focused on home visits and chronic care management; my hours are slightly reduced and the work is a mix of field visits and paperwork. |
| 03/09/2023 | Paramedic Team Lead | 40.0 h | 76,000 $ | 76,000 $ | 6,333 $ | 36.54 $ | I lead a four-person EMS team in a busy urban district, handle training updates, and run as a senior clinician on calls. The role is full time with supervisory responsibilities. |
| 11/20/2022 | Flight Paramedic | 40.0 h | 98,000 $ | 98,000 $ | 8,167 $ | 47.12 $ | I'm a flight paramedic doing rotor-wing transports and critical care retrievals; the job is high stress and requires advanced certification. I work full time on a rotating schedule. |
| 06/15/2022 | EMS Supervisor (Management) | 42.0 h | 88,000 $ | 83,810 $ | 6,984 $ | 40.29 $ | I moved into an EMS supervisory position overseeing operations and personnel scheduling for a regional provider. I work a management schedule and handle administrative duties. |
| 02/01/2022 | Per-diem Paramedic | 20.0 h | 30,000 $ | 60,000 $ | 5,000 $ | 28.85 $ | I'm a per-diem paramedic covering shifts at several agencies; I average around 20 hours weekly which gives flexibility but less consistent pay. |
| 08/13/2021 | Lead Paramedic | 40.0 h | 72,000 $ | 72,000 $ | 6,000 $ | 34.62 $ | I am the lead paramedic on my shift at a medium-sized EMS provider, coordinating crews and running complex incidents. I've been in leadership for three years. |
| 04/27/2021 | Paramedic - Private Ambulance | 40.0 h | 46,000 $ | 46,000 $ | 3,833 $ | 22.12 $ | I work full time for a private ambulance company handling both 911 contracts and interfacility transfers. The job has unpredictable call volumes and shift work. |
| 11/09/2020 | Paramedic Instructor | 38.0 h | 54,000 $ | 56,842 $ | 4,737 $ | 27.33 $ | I instruct paramedic students at a local training program and also do occasional clinical shifts. My schedule is full time with classroom and clinical duties. |
| 05/18/2020 | Critical Care Paramedic | 40.0 h | 72,000 $ | 72,000 $ | 6,000 $ | 34.62 $ | I work critical care transfers for an air/ground provider and manage ventilators and drips during transport. It's a full-time specialty role requiring extra certifications. |
| 09/10/2019 | Senior Paramedic | 40.0 h | 65,000 $ | 65,000 $ | 5,417 $ | 31.25 $ | I've been with a large municipal provider for eight years; as a senior paramedic I take complex calls and mentor juniors. My salary increased with step raises. |
| 03/22/2019 | Community Paramedic (Part-time) | 30.0 h | 32,000 $ | 42,667 $ | 3,556 $ | 20.51 $ | I work part time in a community paramedicine program visiting high-utilizer patients and coordinating care. I average 30 hours a week and started this role in 2019. |
| 10/04/2018 | Field Training Officer (Paramedic) | 40.0 h | 60,000 $ | 60,000 $ | 5,000 $ | 28.85 $ | I was promoted to Field Training Officer after five years in the field. I train new hires in addition to working shifts full time, and I still run calls regularly. |
| 02/16/2018 | Paramedic - County EMS | 40.0 h | 54,000 $ | 54,000 $ | 4,500 $ | 25.96 $ | I work for a county EMS system in San Diego and have about three years' experience. The role includes 911 response and some special event coverage. |
| 07/03/2017 | Advanced Life Support Paramedic | 40.0 h | 48,000 $ | 48,000 $ | 4,000 $ | 23.08 $ | I transitioned from EMT to ALS Paramedic and have been full time with a medium-sized provider. I do street ALS work and occasionally run overtime. |
| 11/28/2016 | Private Ambulance Paramedic (Part-time) | 24.0 h | 25,500 $ | 42,500 $ | 3,542 $ | 20.43 $ | I work part time transporting patients for a private ambulance provider and average about 24 hours per week. It's mostly interfacility transports and shift work; I started here in 2016. |
| 09/12/2016 | Paramedic | 40.0 h | 42,000 $ | 42,000 $ | 3,500 $ | 20.19 $ | I was hired straight out of paramedic school and have been working full time on a municipal ambulance since 2016. I handle 911 responses and routine transfers; I don't supervise others. |
San Diego’s dynamic mix of military installations, research hubs, tourism, and a large coastal and desert backcountry creates steady, round-the-clock demand for emergency medical services. Paramedics in San Diego, California typically work within an integrated fire–EMS system that pairs advanced life support first response with ambulance transport across the city and county. Nationally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects faster-than-average growth for EMTs and paramedics, and regional factors—population growth, an aging demographic, seasonal wildfires, behavioral health needs, and major events—often translate into consistent local hiring.
Local news coverage in recent years has highlighted ambulance staffing challenges and response-time pressures in the metro area, which can indicate ongoing recruitment efforts for licensed paramedics. The region’s diverse geography—from busy interstates and dense urban neighborhoods to canyons, beaches, and mountains—also means employers value paramedics who are comfortable in both high-volume urban systems and austere environments.
The San Diego–Carlsbad metropolitan area operates a mixed delivery model for 911 EMS. The City of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) generally provides advanced life support first response, while ambulance transport within the city is delivered by a contracted private provider under SDFD oversight. In recent years, that role has been held by Falck. Elsewhere in San Diego County, a combination of fire departments and private ambulance companies handle 911 coverage, with American Medical Response (AMR) serving several zones and also providing interfacility transports. Some North County fire agencies provide their own transport or contract with private providers, reflecting the county’s patchwork of service areas.
Regional call drivers often include cardiac and stroke alerts, traumatic injuries from outdoor and recreation activities, heat-related illness during summer and wildfire seasons, opioid overdoses, and behavioral health crises. Large gatherings such as Comic-Con, games at Petco Park, college sports at Snapdragon Stadium, and year-round tourism generally add to event medical staffing needs. Paramedics working in this market should be prepared for coastal and marine rescues, canyon access challenges, highway incidents along I-5, I-8, and I-15, and mutual-aid responses during wildfires in East County.
Licensure in California is issued by the state EMS Authority, and paramedics practicing in San Diego County typically also obtain local accreditation under county protocols. Employers commonly look for current ACLS, PALS, and trauma certifications (such as PHTLS or ITLS), strong driving records, and ongoing continuing education. Local education pipelines that can feed the workforce include paramedic training programs at institutions such as EMSTA College (Santee), Palomar College, and Southwestern College, with EMT coursework widely available at community colleges like San Diego Miramar College.
Paramedics in San Diego often find roles with public agencies, private ambulance providers, and hospital systems. Notable employers and settings include:
Common pathways include 911 field paramedic positions with the city’s ambulance contractor or county providers, with advancement to field training officer, clinical supervisor, or operations management. Firefighter/paramedic roles remain a sought-after track; candidates typically navigate competitive hiring processes that can include CPAT or FCTC testing, panel interviews, and academy training. Paramedics with additional experience may transition into critical care transport, supporting interfacility transfers of high-acuity patients in collaboration with RNs and respiratory therapists.
Hospitals throughout San Diego frequently hire paramedics as emergency department technicians, monitor techs, or for transport coordination, which can serve as a bridge into education, quality improvement, or leadership. Mobile Integrated Health and community paramedicine initiatives—developing across California—are creating new opportunities focused on frequent 911 users, post-discharge follow-up, and alternate destination navigation. Event medicine is another active niche, with staffing needs for conventions, concerts, and sports at major venues.
Given the binational context, Spanish language skills are often an asset. Familiarity with wildfire operations, urban search and rescue fundamentals, marine safety, and wilderness medicine can also strengthen applications. Overall, steady system demand, periodic staffing shortages reported in the news, and ongoing program innovation suggest that qualified paramedics continue to find diverse opportunities across the San Diego area.
The average salary for a Paramedic in San Diego is 72,760 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 6,063 $ gross per month.
Part-time and full-time reports are normalized to a 40-hour workweek so salary reports can be compared fairly.
You can find more comparisons on the profession overview for Paramedic and the city overview for San Diego. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.
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