The average salary for a Paramedic in Washington is 70,799 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 5,900 $ gross per month and 34.04 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 42,000 $ to 112,000 $. The analysis is based on 30 salary reports from workers and employers in Washington. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/21/2026 | Paramedic Instructor / Clinical Educator | 38.0 h | 87,000 $ | 91,579 $ | 7,632 $ | 44.03 $ | I work as a paramedic instructor and clinical educator, about 38 hours/week. I split time between teaching, simulation labs, and field mentoring; the role is salaried and considered a leadership/education position. |
| 03/29/2026 | Recent Hire Paramedic | 36.0 h | 58,000 $ | 64,444 $ | 5,370 $ | 30.98 $ | I was hired recently and work full-time (36 hours/week) as a paramedic for a regionally based ambulance provider. Newer contracts and local wage growth raised starting pay compared to prior years. |
| 01/12/2026 | Lead Paramedic / Supervisor | 42.0 h | 99,000 $ | 94,286 $ | 7,857 $ | 45.33 $ | I am a lead paramedic and supervisor working about 42 hours/week. I handle scheduling, quality assurance, and crew mentorship in addition to clinical duties, and this is reflected in my pay. |
| 10/30/2025 | Flight Paramedic (Senior) | 40.0 h | 112,000 $ | 112,000 $ | 9,333 $ | 53.85 $ | I work full-time (40 hours/week) as a senior flight/critical care paramedic for medevac operations. My years of critical care experience and specialized training are the primary drivers of this compensation. |
| 07/25/2025 | Part-Time Per Diem Paramedic | 24.0 h | 47,000 $ | 78,333 $ | 6,528 $ | 37.66 $ | I work per-diem (about 24 hours/week) for multiple employers rather than one full-time job. My annual gross from these part-time hours is listed here; I prefer the flexibility despite limited benefits. |
| 02/14/2025 | Veteran Paramedic, ALS | 40.0 h | 88,000 $ | 88,000 $ | 7,333 $ | 42.31 $ | I have over 15 years in EMS and work full-time (40 hours/week) on ALS apparatus for a large agency. This salary reflects long tenure, specialty certifications, and occasional overtime. |
| 11/03/2024 | Contract Critical Care Paramedic | 32.0 h | 70,000 $ | 87,500 $ | 7,292 $ | 42.07 $ | I'm contracted as a critical care paramedic and typically work 32 hours/week. My schedule is part-time/contracted but the skillset commands higher hourly pay which is reflected in the annual gross. |
| 05/27/2024 | Hospital-Based Paramedic (ED Support) | 40.0 h | 76,000 $ | 76,000 $ | 6,333 $ | 36.54 $ | I work full-time (40 hours/week) as a hospital-based paramedic supporting the emergency department and intra-hospital transports. I have seven years of experience and this role pays better than private transport. |
| 01/08/2024 | Ambulance Manager (Small Company) | 44.0 h | 95,000 $ | 86,364 $ | 7,197 $ | 41.52 $ | I manage operations for a small private ambulance company and work about 44 hours/week in a management role. My responsibilities include staffing, budgeting, and compliance in addition to occasional field work. |
| 09/19/2023 | Senior Paramedic, ALS | 40.0 h | 84,000 $ | 84,000 $ | 7,000 $ | 40.38 $ | I am a senior ALS paramedic with over 10 years of experience, working full-time (40 hours/week) for a large municipal EMS provider. I pick up some overtime but this is the base annual gross I reported. |
| 06/05/2023 | Night Shift Part-Time Paramedic | 20.0 h | 35,000 $ | 70,000 $ | 5,833 $ | 33.65 $ | I work part-time nights (20 hours/week) covering evening shifts for a private ambulance service. I have four years of experience and take extra night work because rates are slightly higher. |
| 03/11/2023 | Entry-Level Paramedic (Recent Hire) | 37.0 h | 52,000 $ | 56,216 $ | 4,685 $ | 27.03 $ | I was recently hired as an entry-level paramedic and work full-time (37 hours/week). My pay is higher than older entry wages due to regional demand and recent contract increases. |
| 08/26/2022 | Paramedic Supervisor / Shift Lead | 42.0 h | 88,000 $ | 83,810 $ | 6,984 $ | 40.29 $ | I serve as a paramedic supervisor and shift lead, working about 42 hours/week. I manage crews, oversee training, and handle administrative tasks in addition to field response. |
| 02/03/2022 | Flight/Transport Paramedic | 40.0 h | 93,000 $ | 93,000 $ | 7,750 $ | 44.71 $ | I work full-time (40 hours/week) as a flight/transport paramedic and have specialized critical care flight training. This is a high-skill role with irregular shifts and higher compensation compared to ground ALS. |
| 11/21/2021 | Paramedic, Small Private Provider | 36.0 h | 60,000 $ | 66,667 $ | 5,556 $ | 32.05 $ | I work full-time (36 hours/week) for a small private ambulance company. I have six years of experience and handle both emergency and scheduled transfers; benefits are limited compared to municipal jobs. |
| 07/14/2021 | Field Training Officer | 40.0 h | 75,000 $ | 75,000 $ | 6,250 $ | 36.06 $ | I am a field training officer with eight years of experience, working full-time (40 hours/week) for a mid-size EMS agency. I train new paramedics and my duties include shift coordination and evaluations. |
| 02/19/2021 | Public EMS Paramedic (Converted from Volunteer) | 40.0 h | 69,000 $ | 69,000 $ | 5,750 $ | 33.17 $ | I transitioned from volunteer to a paid public EMS paramedic position and work full-time (40 hours/week). I had several years of volunteer experience before being hired, which helped my starting pay. |
| 11/05/2020 | Union Paramedic with Overtime | 44.0 h | 82,000 $ | 74,545 $ | 6,212 $ | 35.84 $ | I am a union paramedic working for a municipal provider and average about 44 hours/week due to overtime and double shifts. The reported annual gross includes significant overtime earned during busy periods. |
| 09/30/2020 | Contract/Per Diem Paramedic | 30.0 h | 36,000 $ | 48,000 $ | 4,000 $ | 23.08 $ | I work as a contract paramedic doing per-diem hours (typically 30 hours/week) for several private services. My schedule is part-time but steady; this figure is my annual gross from those hours. |
| 04/15/2020 | Senior Paramedic (Pandemic Response) | 40.0 h | 68,000 $ | 68,000 $ | 5,667 $ | 32.69 $ | I am a senior paramedic with nine years' experience. During the early pandemic response I was working full-time (40 hours/week) and received some hazard pay reflected in this reported annual gross salary. |
| 12/29/2019 | Critical Care Paramedic | 40.0 h | 72,000 $ | 72,000 $ | 6,000 $ | 34.62 $ | I work full-time (40 hours/week) as a critical care paramedic for interfacility transports. I had seven years of experience and additional CCRN/critical care training when I reported this salary. |
| 07/02/2019 | Hospital Transport Paramedic (Full-Time) | 36.0 h | 54,000 $ | 60,000 $ | 5,000 $ | 28.85 $ | I work full-time (36 hours/week) transporting patients between hospitals and clinics. I have four years experience and this role provides predictable hours and steady pay. |
| 05/18/2019 | Fire Department Paramedic | 40.0 h | 65,000 $ | 65,000 $ | 5,417 $ | 31.25 $ | I work full-time (40 hours/week) as a paramedic with a municipal fire/EMS agency. I had five years of experience when I reported this and get standard shifts and benefits as part of the department. |
| 12/11/2018 | Paramedic with Several Years Experience | 40.0 h | 58,000 $ | 58,000 $ | 4,833 $ | 27.88 $ | I have six years of field experience and work full-time (40 hours/week) on an ALS unit for a mid-size ambulance service. Compensation increased modestly compared to when I entered the field. |
| 10/02/2018 | Hospital Transport Paramedic | 30.0 h | 39,000 $ | 52,000 $ | 4,333 $ | 25.00 $ | I work part-time (30 hours/week) as a hospital transport paramedic moving patients between facilities. I have two years of experience and my job focuses on non-emergent transfers. |
| 03/14/2018 | Lead Paramedic | 42.0 h | 62,000 $ | 59,048 $ | 4,921 $ | 28.39 $ | I serve as a lead paramedic at a small private provider and work full-time leadership shifts (42 hours/week). I mentor newer crew members and am responsible for run assignments. |
| 09/04/2017 | Paramedic (Private Provider) | 38.0 h | 48,000 $ | 50,526 $ | 4,211 $ | 24.29 $ | I have been working for a small private provider for three years and work full-time (38 hours/week). My responsibilities include ALS response and occasional special event coverage. |
| 06/20/2017 | Mid-Level Paramedic | 40.0 h | 52,000 $ | 52,000 $ | 4,333 $ | 25.00 $ | I have been a paramedic for four years with a medium-sized ambulance service. I work full-time (40 hours/week) on an ALS truck and handle more complex calls than when I started. |
| 11/03/2016 | Part-Time Paramedic (Private Ambulance) | 24.0 h | 28,000 $ | 46,667 $ | 3,889 $ | 22.44 $ | I work part-time for a small private ambulance company, covering 24 hours a week. I have three years of field experience and this is my only paid EMS job. |
| 08/12/2016 | Entry-Level Paramedic | 40.0 h | 42,000 $ | 42,000 $ | 3,500 $ | 20.19 $ | I am an entry-level paramedic with about 1 year on the job at a small private ambulance provider. I work full-time (40 hours/week) responding to 911 calls and patient transfers. My pay reflects base wages with minimal overtime. |
Washington, District of Columbia is a compact city with an outsized volume of visitors, commuters, and high-profile events. That mix creates a steady need for emergency medical services and experienced paramedics. From rush-hour incidents and Metro rail responses to large demonstrations, marathons, and professional sports, the city’s tempo demands clinicians who can operate in dense urban environments and coordinate with multiple agencies.
Paramedics in Washington typically work within well-developed regional systems of care. The city is ringed by major academic medical centers and trauma programs, and transport times are usually short. At the same time, providers often encounter complex medical, behavioral health, and substance use emergencies. The opioid crisis, chronic disease prevalence, and unsheltered populations all contribute to call volume and require strong patient assessment, de-escalation, and navigation skills.
The local EMS market is anchored by the District’s 911 system and supported by hospital-based and private transport organizations across the National Capital Region. District leadership has implemented initiatives such as nurse triage for low-acuity 911 calls to match patients to the most appropriate care setting, yet medical incidents still make up a large share of emergency responses. This means ALS units are generally busy and paramedic hiring remains a regular priority.
Employers in and around Washington commonly seek National Registry–certified paramedics who can obtain DC licensure through DC Health. Many roles also prefer or require advanced credentials such as ACLS, PALS, and PHTLS/ITLS, and some critical care transport teams look for additional training in ventilator management or critical care paramedicine. Because the region operates under robust incident command practices and hosts frequent interagency operations, familiarity with NIMS/ICS and major incident management can be an advantage.
Regional dynamics also support stable demand. A large daytime population, year-round tourism, federal facility coverage needs, and a high concentration of hospitals mean that paramedics can find opportunities across 911 response, interfacility transport, event medicine, and hospital-based roles. Agencies in the metro area frequently recruit throughout the year to keep 24/7 operations fully staffed.
Paramedics in Washington, DC can pursue roles with public agencies, hospital systems, and private providers. Notable employers include:
Within the District, paramedics can build careers in several directions:
Overall, Washington, DC offers a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment where paramedics can apply advanced clinical skills, operate amid national events, and access diverse career ladders across public service, hospital systems, and specialized transport. Candidates who are comfortable with urban operations, interagency coordination, and a wide clinical spectrum generally find ongoing opportunities in the District.
The average salary for a Paramedic in Washington is 70,799 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 5,900 $ 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 Washington. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.
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