How Much Does an EMT Make in Kansas City, MO in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in Kansas City, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Missouri.
BLS OES May 2025 · Kansas City metro area
A typical EMT in Kansas City, Missouri earns $20.51 per hour, or $42,670 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,556 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,420, and the top 10% of earners make over $61,400.
That pay is 1% above the Missouri figure of $42,160 and 4% below the national figure of $44,470. Kansas City ranks 3rd of 8 metro areas in Missouri for EMT pay. About 500 EMTs work in the Kansas City area.
EMT pay in Kansas City at a glance
- Typical pay is $20.51 an hour, or $42,670 a year.
- That is 1% above the Missouri figure, ranking 3rd of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,420; the top 10% make over $61,400.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Kansas City?
Pay in Kansas City runs from entry-level positions at around $17.03 an hour to more than $29.52 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Missouri and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in Kansas City
| Career stage | Kansas City | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $35,420$17.03 an hour | $34,390$16.53 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $37,900$18.22 an hour | $37,060$17.82 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $42,670$20.51 an hour | $42,160$20.27 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $53,820$25.88 an hour | $47,230$22.71 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $61,400$29.52 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Kansas City area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Kansas City
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Kansas City area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in Kansas City was $36,330 a year. By 2025 it had reached $42,670.
How Kansas City compares with other Missouri cities
Columbia pays EMTs the most in Missouri at $43,980 a year, $1,310 more than Kansas City. The lowest-paying area in the state is Cape Girardeau at $35,550.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Kansas City | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia | $43,980 | $21.14 | +3% | 80 |
| 2 | Springfield | $43,700 | $21.01 | +2% | 280 |
| 3 | Kansas City | $42,670 | $20.51 | this city | 500 |
| 4 | St. Louis | $41,910 | $20.15 | -2% | 1,550 |
| 5 | Joplin | $39,670 | $19.07 | -7% | 80 |
| 6 | St. Joseph | $38,680 | $18.59 | -9% | 50 |
| 7 | Jefferson City | $36,770 | $17.68 | -14% | 100 |
| 8 | Cape Girardeau | $35,550 | $17.09 | -17% | 50 |
Every metro area in Missouri with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Missouri typical pay $42,160
Is Kansas City a good place to work as an EMT?
EMT pay in Kansas City sits close to the national figure: $42,670 a year, 4% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Kansas City area, about 0.5 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 Kansas City, MO?
- A typical EMT in Kansas City earns $42,670 a year, or $20.51 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $35,420 and the top 10% earn over $61,400.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Kansas City?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Kansas City is $20.51. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.03, and the top 10% earn over $29.52 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Kansas City?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Kansas City typically offer around $17.03 an hour, or $35,420 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Kansas City higher than in the rest of Missouri?
- Kansas City pay is 1% above the Missouri figure of $42,160 a year, ranking 3rd of 8 metro areas in the state. Columbia pays the most in Missouri at $43,980.