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Emergency Medical Technicians Salary in Virginia: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Emergency Medical Technicians salary really buy you in Virginia?

Virginia is 2.1% pricier than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$45,420
Median annual (2025)
-2.1%
Real Purchasing Power
$44,485
COL-adjusted (RPP=102.1)

Virginia Cost of Living Index

Virginia's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 102.1, meaning prices are 2.1% higher the national average. A Emergency Medical Technicians earning $45,420 in Virginia has the equivalent purchasing power of $44,485 in an average-cost US state.

VA: 102.1
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Virginia's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $36,540 $35,788 $-751
25th Percentile (P25) $38,620 $37,825 $-794
Median (P50) $45,420 $44,485 $-934
75th Percentile (P75) $50,390 $49,353 $-1,036
90th Percentile (P90) $59,180 $57,962 $-1,217
Key Insight

Virginia's cost of living is close to the national average, so $45,420 keeps most of its value at $44,485 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Virginia Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 102.1

With an RPP of 102.1, Virginia is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Emergency Medical Technicians is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

-2.1%

After adjusting for Virginia's cost of living, $45,420 nominal nets out to $44,486 in real purchasing power — a small 2.1% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Emergency Medical Technicians.

Below-Median Adjusted Pay

#26 / 51

Virginia's rank of #26 of 51 states means real purchasing power for Emergency Medical Technicians trails the national half-way line.

Best States for Emergency Medical Technicians (After Cost of Living)

Where does Emergency Medical Technicians salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Hawaii
$59,936
RPP 110.8
2. Alaska
$56,313
RPP 102.0
3. Wyoming
$51,218
RPP 91.9
$49,273
RPP 108.8
$49,222
RPP 97.7
$48,987
RPP 104.7
$47,987
RPP 109.8
$47,744
RPP 98.0
$47,593
RPP 106.4
10. Georgia
$47,546
RPP 95.8

Virginia ranks #26 out of 51 states for Emergency Medical Technicians after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Emergency Medical Technicians take-home pay in Virginia after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Emergency Medical Technicians in Virginia after cost of living?

A Emergency Medical Technicians in Virginia earns a median salary of $45,420 per year. After adjusting for Virginia's cost of living (RPP=102.1), the real purchasing power is $44,485 — a -2.1% difference.

Is Virginia expensive to live in?

Virginia's cost of living is 2.1% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Virginia is 102.1 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Emergency Medical Technicians in Virginia: $45,420 x (100 / 102.1) = $44,485. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Does the high cost of living in Virginia offset the salary?

Partially — a Emergency Medical Technicians's nominal salary of $45,420 in Virginia has 2.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $44,485. However, Virginia may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.

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