EMT Salary

New Castle vs Pittsburgh: Emergency Medical Technician Salary (2026)

Compare emergency medical technician salaries between New Castle, PA and Pittsburgh, PA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

New Castle, PA
$40,061
$19.26/hr
Pittsburgh, PA
$45,757
$22.00/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricNew Castle, PAPittsburgh, PA
Median Salary$40,061$45,757
Hourly Rate$19.26$22.00
Entry Level (P10)$32,374$38,180
25th Percentile$36,293$39,968
75th Percentile$43,052$50,222
Top Earner (P90)$51,507$53,598
Total Employed42,000
Side-by-side bar chart comparing New Castle ($40,061) and Pittsburgh ($45,757) emergency medical technician salaries.New CastlePittsburghMedian Salary$40,061$45,757Entry Level (P10)$32,374$38,180Top Earner (P90)$51,507$53,598US Median $47,058

Verdict

Pittsburgh, PA offers better overall compensation for emergency medical technicians, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to New Castle.

The salary gap between New Castle and Pittsburgh is $5,696 (14.22%). Pittsburgh's median is -2.76% compared to the US national median of $47,058.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in New Castle spans $19,133,Pittsburgh spans $15,418. New Castle has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

New Castle
P10 (Entry)$32,374
P25$36,293
Median$40,061
P75$43,052
P90 (Top)$51,507
Pittsburgh
P10 (Entry)$38,180
P25$39,968
Median$45,757
P75$50,222
P90 (Top)$53,598

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Pittsburgh ($48,333 effective) pays 17.51% more than New Castle ($41,130 effective).

New Castle
Nominal: $40,061
CoL Index: 97.4
Adjusted: $41,130
Pittsburgh
Nominal: $45,757
CoL Index: 94.671
Adjusted: $48,333

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose New Castle if…

  • You prefer the Pennsylvania area and lifestyle

Choose Pittsburgh if…

  • Higher median salary ($45,757/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($53,598)
  • Larger job market (2,000 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $48,333)
  • You prefer the Pennsylvania area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, emergency medical technician salaries in New Castle grew 1.6% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 45.3% growth in Pittsburgh over the same period.

New Castle, PA

+1.6%

$37,274 (2024) → $37,858 (2025)

Pittsburgh, PA

+45.3%

$29,750 (2021) → $43,240 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays emergency medical technicians more: New Castle or Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh has a higher median emergency medical technician salary at $45,757/year, compared to New Castle at $40,061/year — a difference of $5,696 (14.22%).

What is the hourly rate difference between New Castle and Pittsburgh?

New Castle emergency medical technicians earn $19.26/hr while Pittsburgh hygienists earn $22.00/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from New Castle to Pittsburgh as a emergency medical technician?

Consider more than just salary when comparing New Castle and Pittsburgh. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: New Castle = $41,130, Pittsburgh = $48,333), job availability (4 vs 2,000 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level emergency medical technicians earn in New Castle vs Pittsburgh?

Entry-level (10th percentile) emergency medical technicians earn $32,374 in New Castle and $38,180 in Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh 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