EMT Salary

Horizon City vs Houston: Emergency Medical Technician Salary (2026)

Compare emergency medical technician salaries between Horizon City, TX and Houston, TX. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Horizon City, TX
$35,785
$17.21/hr
Houston, TX
$41,153
$19.79/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricHorizon City, TXHouston, TX
Median Salary$35,785$41,153
Hourly Rate$17.21$19.79
Entry Level (P10)$30,238$34,508
25th Percentile$32,001$38,878
75th Percentile$39,413$48,952
Top Earner (P90)$47,424$56,815
Total Employed62,680
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Horizon City ($35,785) and Houston ($41,153) emergency medical technician salaries.Horizon CityHoustonMedian Salary$35,785$41,153Entry Level (P10)$30,238$34,508Top Earner (P90)$47,424$56,815US Median $47,058

Verdict

Houston, TX offers better overall compensation for emergency medical technicians, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Horizon City.

The salary gap between Horizon City and Houston is $5,368 (15.00%). Houston's median is -12.55% compared to the US national median of $47,058.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Horizon City spans $17,186,Houston spans $22,307. Houston has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced emergency medical technicians.

Horizon City
P10 (Entry)$30,238
P25$32,001
Median$35,785
P75$39,413
P90 (Top)$47,424
Houston
P10 (Entry)$34,508
P25$38,878
Median$41,153
P75$48,952
P90 (Top)$56,815

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Houston ($41,725 effective) pays 11.94% more than Horizon City ($37,276 effective).

Horizon City
Nominal: $35,785
CoL Index: 96
Adjusted: $37,276
Houston
Nominal: $41,153
CoL Index: 98.629
Adjusted: $41,725

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Horizon City if…

  • You prefer the Texas area and lifestyle

Choose Houston if…

  • Higher median salary ($41,153/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($56,815)
  • Larger job market (2,680 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $41,725)
  • You prefer the Texas area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, emergency medical technician salaries in Horizon City grew -0.4% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 7.0% growth in Houston over the same period.

Horizon City, TX

+-0.4%

$33,952 (2024) → $33,817 (2025)

Houston, TX

+7.0%

$36,360 (2021) → $38,890 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays emergency medical technicians more: Horizon City or Houston?

Houston has a higher median emergency medical technician salary at $41,153/year, compared to Horizon City at $35,785/year — a difference of $5,368 (15.00%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Horizon City and Houston?

Horizon City emergency medical technicians earn $17.21/hr while Houston hygienists earn $19.79/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Horizon City to Houston as a emergency medical technician?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Horizon City and Houston. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Horizon City = $37,276, Houston = $41,725), job availability (6 vs 2,680 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level emergency medical technicians earn in Horizon City vs Houston?

Entry-level (10th percentile) emergency medical technicians earn $30,238 in Horizon City and $34,508 in Houston. The Houston area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

AP

Written by Aisha Patel, EMT-P

Career Analyst

Aisha has 10 years of experience as an emergency medical technician. She specializes in pre-hospital care and triage. Aisha works primarily in urban emergency services.

Clinically reviewed by Carlos Mendoza, EMT-BData verified by Fatima Ali, EMT-I

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 5.82% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Aisha Patel, EMT-P, a licensed emergency medical technician with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov