Best States for Emergency Medical Technicians to Start a Home Business
We ranked all 51 states based on licensing requirements, earning potential, LLC costs, and tax burden. Here are the best (and worst) states for emergency medical technicians.
0 states don't require a license · National median: N/A · Updated 2025
▲ Top 5 Best States
Full Ranking: All 51 States
| # | State | License | Fee | Median Wage | LLC Cost | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | Yes | $98 | $18.32/hr | $50 | 83 |
| 2 | Colorado | Yes | $150 | $21.13/hr | $50 | 83 |
| 3 | Michigan | Yes | $138 | $18.70/hr | $50 | 83 |
| 4 | Missouri | Yes | $139 | $18.55/hr | $50 | 83 |
| 5 | California | Yes | $147 | $21.96/hr | $70 | 79 |
| 6 | Idaho | Yes | $98 | $18.96/hr | $100 | 79 |
| 7 | Indiana | Yes | $98 | $19.16/hr | $100 | 79 |
| 8 | Maryland | Yes | $85 | $22.78/hr | $100 | 79 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | Yes | $146 | $21.72/hr | $100 | 79 |
| 10 | Ohio | Yes | $98 | $18.34/hr | $99 | 79 |
| 11 | Virginia | Yes | $98 | $21.66/hr | $100 | 79 |
| 12 | Iowa | Yes | $178 | $18.88/hr | $50 | 78 |
| 13 | Mississippi | Yes | $138 | $17.30/hr | $50 | 76 |
| 14 | Montana | Yes | $148 | $16.78/hr | $35 | 76 |
| 15 | Alaska | Yes | $123 | $27.36/hr | $250 | 75 |
| 16 | Florida | Yes | $133 | $19.43/hr | $125 | 75 |
| 17 | Illinois | Yes | $65 | $19.61/hr | $150 | 75 |
| 18 | Maine | Yes | $119 | $21.98/hr | $175 | 75 |
| 19 | Minnesota | Yes | $98 | $21.97/hr | $155 | 75 |
| 20 | Nebraska | Yes | $143 | $18.93/hr | $110 | 75 |
| 21 | North Carolina | Yes | $106 | $19.48/hr | $125 | 75 |
| 22 | North Dakota | Yes | $98 | $18.11/hr | $135 | 75 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | Yes | $98 | $18.55/hr | $125 | 75 |
| 24 | South Carolina | Yes | $135 | $18.59/hr | $110 | 75 |
| 25 | South Dakota | Yes | $98 | $19.00/hr | $150 | 75 |
| 26 | Vermont | Yes | $98 | $19.00/hr | $125 | 75 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | Yes | $98 | $20.84/hr | $130 | 75 |
| 28 | Wyoming | Yes | $137 | $19.87/hr | $102 | 75 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | Yes | $143 | $22.08/hr | $99 | 74 |
| 30 | Georgia | Yes | $224 | $18.87/hr | $100 | 74 |
| 31 | Hawaii | Yes | $200 | $29.47/hr | $51 | 74 |
| 32 | Oregon | Yes | $252 | $23.11/hr | $100 | 74 |
| 33 | Arkansas | Yes | $118 | $15.25/hr | $50 | 71 |
| 34 | Kentucky | Yes | $163 | $17.33/hr | $40 | 71 |
| 35 | New Mexico | Yes | $207 | $17.72/hr | $50 | 71 |
| 36 | Connecticut | Yes | $98 | $22.86/hr | $120 | 70 |
| 37 | Delaware | Yes | $173 | $21.79/hr | $110 | 70 |
| 38 | Nevada | Yes | $98 | $18.74/hr | $425 | 70 |
| 39 | New York | Yes | — | $22.11/hr | $200 | 70 |
| 40 | Rhode Island | Yes | $223 | $23.80/hr | $150 | 70 |
| 41 | Washington | Yes | $98 | $23.49/hr | $200 | 70 |
| 42 | Alabama | Yes | $110 | $17.43/hr | $200 | 68 |
| 43 | Kansas | Yes | $148 | $16.66/hr | $165 | 68 |
| 44 | Louisiana | Yes | $209 | $16.34/hr | $100 | 67 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | Yes | $183 | $15.59/hr | $100 | 67 |
| 46 | Utah | Yes | $208 | $17.76/hr | $54 | 67 |
| 47 | West Virginia | Yes | $218 | $16.86/hr | $100 | 67 |
| 48 | Massachusetts | Yes | $248 | $22.10/hr | $500 | 65 |
| 49 | New Jersey | Yes | $163 | $23.80/hr | $125 | 65 |
| 50 | Tennessee | Yes | $160 | $18.09/hr | $300 | 65 |
| 51 | Texas | Yes | $162 | $17.79/hr | $300 | 58 |
▼ 5 Most Challenging States
Texas
Fee: $162$17.79/hr58
Tennessee
Fee: $160$18.09/hr65
New Jersey
Fee: $163$23.80/hr65
Massachusetts
Fee: $248$22.10/hr65
West Virginia
Fee: $218$16.86/hr67
How We Scored Each State
Each state starts with a base score of 50, then we add or subtract points based on:
- No license required: +20 points (biggest single factor — lower barriers to entry)
- License fee: −10 for fees over $500, −5 for over $300, +10 for under $50
- Wages above national median: Up to +15 points for states paying 20%+ above national median
- LLC formation cost: +8 for states under $50, −5 for states over $300
- No sales tax on services: +5 points
Data sources: Institute for Justice License to Work 3 (licensing), BLS OEWS May 2024 (wages), state Secretary of State offices (LLC costs). This ranking reflects factors relevant to home-based operators — commercial location costs, local zoning, and cost of living are not included.
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