How Much Does an EMT Make in Cape Girardeau, MO in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Cape Girardeau, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Missouri.
BLS OES May 2025 · Cape Girardeau metro area
A typical EMT in Cape Girardeau, Missouri earns $17.09 per hour, or $35,550 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $2,963 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $32,930, and the top 10% of earners make over $43,830.
That pay is 16% below the Missouri figure of $42,160 and 20% below the national figure of $44,470. Cape Girardeau ranks 8th of 8 metro areas in Missouri for EMT pay. About 50 EMTs work in the Cape Girardeau area.
EMT pay in Cape Girardeau at a glance
- Typical pay is $17.09 an hour, or $35,550 a year.
- That is 16% below the Missouri figure, ranking 8th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $32,930; the top 10% make over $43,830.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Cape Girardeau?
Pay in Cape Girardeau runs from entry-level positions at around $15.83 an hour to more than $21.07 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Missouri and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in Cape Girardeau
| Career stage | Cape Girardeau | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $32,930$15.83 an hour | $34,390$16.53 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $34,200$16.44 an hour | $37,060$17.82 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $35,550$17.09 an hour | $42,160$20.27 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $38,350$18.44 an hour | $47,230$22.71 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $43,830$21.07 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Cape Girardeau area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Cape Girardeau
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Cape Girardeau area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in Cape Girardeau was $27,990 a year. By 2025 it had reached $35,550.
How Cape Girardeau compares with other Missouri cities
Columbia pays EMTs the most in Missouri at $43,980 a year, $8,430 more than Cape Girardeau. The lowest-paying area in the state is Cape Girardeau at $35,550.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Cape Girardeau | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia | $43,980 | $21.14 | +24% | 80 |
| 2 | Springfield | $43,700 | $21.01 | +23% | 280 |
| 3 | Kansas City | $42,670 | $20.51 | +20% | 500 |
| 4 | St. Louis | $41,910 | $20.15 | +18% | 1,550 |
| 5 | Joplin | $39,670 | $19.07 | +12% | 80 |
| 6 | St. Joseph | $38,680 | $18.59 | +9% | 50 |
| 7 | Jefferson City | $36,770 | $17.68 | +3% | 100 |
| 8 | Cape Girardeau | $35,550 | $17.09 | this city | 50 |
Every metro area in Missouri with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Missouri typical pay $42,160
Is Cape Girardeau a good place to work as an EMT?
EMTs in Cape Girardeau earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $35,550 a year, 20% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Cape Girardeau area, about 1.1 are EMT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.1. EMT jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an EMT make in Cape Girardeau, MO?
- A typical EMT in Cape Girardeau earns $35,550 a year, or $17.09 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $32,930 and the top 10% earn over $43,830.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Cape Girardeau?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Cape Girardeau is $17.09. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $15.83, and the top 10% earn over $21.07 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Cape Girardeau?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Cape Girardeau typically offer around $15.83 an hour, or $32,930 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Cape Girardeau higher than in the rest of Missouri?
- Cape Girardeau pay is 16% below the Missouri figure of $42,160 a year, ranking 8th of 8 metro areas in the state. Columbia pays the most in Missouri at $43,980.