How Much Does an EMT Make in Columbia, MO in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Columbia, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Missouri.
BLS OES May 2025 · Columbia metro area
A typical EMT in Columbia, Missouri earns $21.14 per hour, or $43,980 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,665 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $33,310, and the top 10% of earners make over $50,480.
That pay is 4% above the Missouri figure of $42,160 and 1% below the national figure of $44,470. Columbia ranks 1st of 8 metro areas in Missouri for EMT pay. About 80 EMTs work in the Columbia area.
EMT pay in Columbia at a glance
- Typical pay is $21.14 an hour, or $43,980 a year.
- That is 4% above the Missouri figure, ranking 1st of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $33,310; the top 10% make over $50,480.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Columbia?
Pay in Columbia runs from entry-level positions at around $16.01 an hour to more than $24.27 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Missouri and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in Columbia
| Career stage | Columbia | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $33,310$16.01 an hour | $34,390$16.53 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $35,410$17.03 an hour | $37,060$17.82 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $43,980$21.14 an hour | $42,160$20.27 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $50,480$24.27 an hour | $47,230$22.71 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $50,480$24.27 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Columbia area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Columbia
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Columbia area · BLS OES May estimates, 2022 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2022, typical EMT pay in Columbia was $31,140 a year. By 2025 it had reached $43,980.
How Columbia compares with other Missouri cities
Columbia pays EMTs the most of any metro area in Missouri. The lowest-paying area in the state is Cape Girardeau at $35,550.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbia | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia | $43,980 | $21.14 | this city | 80 |
| 2 | Springfield | $43,700 | $21.01 | -1% | 280 |
| 3 | Kansas City | $42,670 | $20.51 | -3% | 500 |
| 4 | St. Louis | $41,910 | $20.15 | -5% | 1,550 |
| 5 | Joplin | $39,670 | $19.07 | -10% | 80 |
| 6 | St. Joseph | $38,680 | $18.59 | -12% | 50 |
| 7 | Jefferson City | $36,770 | $17.68 | -16% | 100 |
| 8 | Cape Girardeau | $35,550 | $17.09 | -19% | 50 |
Every metro area in Missouri with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Missouri typical pay $42,160
Is Columbia a good place to work as an EMT?
EMT pay in Columbia sits close to the national figure: $43,980 a year, 1% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Columbia area, about 0.7 are EMT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.1. That makes EMTs a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an EMT make in Columbia, MO?
- A typical EMT in Columbia earns $43,980 a year, or $21.14 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $33,310 and the top 10% earn over $50,480.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Columbia?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Columbia is $21.14. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $16.01, and the top 10% earn over $24.27 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Columbia?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Columbia typically offer around $16.01 an hour, or $33,310 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Columbia higher than in the rest of Missouri?
- Columbia pay is 4% above the Missouri figure of $42,160 a year, ranking 1st of 8 metro areas in the state.