How Much Does an EMT Make in St. Joseph, MO in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs in St. Joseph, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Missouri.
BLS OES May 2025 · St. Joseph metro area
A typical EMT in St. Joseph, Missouri earns $18.59 per hour, or $38,680 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,223 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,660, and the top 10% of earners make over $59,040.
That pay is 8% below the Missouri figure of $42,160 and 13% below the national figure of $44,470. St. Joseph ranks 6th of 8 metro areas in Missouri for EMT pay. About 50 EMTs work in the St. Joseph area.
EMT pay in St. Joseph at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.59 an hour, or $38,680 a year.
- That is 8% below the Missouri figure, ranking 6th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,660; the top 10% make over $59,040.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in St. Joseph?
Pay in St. Joseph runs from entry-level positions at around $17.62 an hour to more than $28.38 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Missouri and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in St. Joseph
| Career stage | St. Joseph | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $36,660$17.62 an hour | $34,390$16.53 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $38,640$18.58 an hour | $37,060$17.82 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $38,680$18.59 an hour | $42,160$20.27 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $47,690$22.93 an hour | $47,230$22.71 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $59,040$28.38 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the St. Joseph area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in St. Joseph
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the St. Joseph area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in St. Joseph was $29,260 a year. By 2025 it had reached $38,680.
How St. Joseph compares with other Missouri cities
Columbia pays EMTs the most in Missouri at $43,980 a year, $5,300 more than St. Joseph. The lowest-paying area in the state is Cape Girardeau at $35,550.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs St. Joseph | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia | $43,980 | $21.14 | +14% | 80 |
| 2 | Springfield | $43,700 | $21.01 | +13% | 280 |
| 3 | Kansas City | $42,670 | $20.51 | +10% | 500 |
| 4 | St. Louis | $41,910 | $20.15 | +8% | 1,550 |
| 5 | Joplin | $39,670 | $19.07 | +3% | 80 |
| 6 | St. Joseph | $38,680 | $18.59 | this city | 50 |
| 7 | Jefferson City | $36,770 | $17.68 | -5% | 100 |
| 8 | Cape Girardeau | $35,550 | $17.09 | -8% | 50 |
Every metro area in Missouri with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Missouri typical pay $42,160
Is St. Joseph a good place to work as an EMT?
EMTs in St. Joseph earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $38,680 a year, 13% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the St. Joseph area, about 0.9 are EMT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.2. 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 St. Joseph, MO?
- A typical EMT in St. Joseph earns $38,680 a year, or $18.59 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $36,660 and the top 10% earn over $59,040.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in St. Joseph?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in St. Joseph is $18.59. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.62, and the top 10% earn over $28.38 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in St. Joseph?
- Entry-level EMT positions in St. Joseph typically offer around $17.62 an hour, or $36,660 a year.
- Is EMT pay in St. Joseph higher than in the rest of Missouri?
- St. Joseph pay is 8% below the Missouri figure of $42,160 a year, ranking 6th of 8 metro areas in the state. Columbia pays the most in Missouri at $43,980.