Bottom quarter
$42K
EMT Salary in Chicago
What you should make. What you should ask for. Calculated from 1M+ data points, refreshed monthly.
Median
$51K
Top quarter
$63K
Top 10%
$76K
Adjusted for Chicago at 1.05× the national baseline. See the math →
What this number means.
EMT in Chicago pulls a median of $51,450 at mid-career, with a top-quartile band reaching $63,000 and the top 10% at $75,600. Pay in Chicago runs about 5% above the national baseline. If you're up for review, the right ask sits at the top quarter of the band: $63,000.
How to negotiate this
- Anchor$63,000 — the top-quartile number. This is the number you say first.
- Target$57,225 — where a fair counter lands. Above the median, below the anchor.
- Floor$51,450 — below this, you're underpaid. Walking away gets cheaper than staying.
Carry the math. Not the maybe.
AMMO is the corner man for the conversation that decides your year. Real pay data, an offer grader, and counter language drafted from your numbers. Get on the list before iOS launch.
Get on the AMMO list →Keep digging.
EMT elsewhere
Adjacent metros
Read how these numbers are computed →
Numbers are estimates. Your offer depends on the company, the level, the stock piece, and the conversation you're about to have. AMMO is a tool. You are the negotiator.