EMT Salary

San Antonio vs The Woodlands: Emergency Medical Technician Salary (2026)

Compare emergency medical technician salaries between San Antonio, TX and The Woodlands, TX. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

San Antonio, TX
$39,323
$18.90/hr
The Woodlands, TX
$40,661
$19.54/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSan Antonio, TXThe Woodlands, TX
Median Salary$39,323$40,661
Hourly Rate$18.90$19.54
Entry Level (P10)$33,481$31,408
25th Percentile$37,746$34,805
75th Percentile$46,106$46,515
Top Earner (P90)$51,217$58,406
Total Employed1,10021
Side-by-side bar chart comparing San Antonio ($39,323) and The Woodlands ($40,661) emergency medical technician salaries.San AntonioThe WoodlandsMedian Salary$39,323$40,661Entry Level (P10)$33,481$31,408Top Earner (P90)$51,217$58,406US Median $47,058

Verdict

The Woodlands, TX offers better overall compensation for emergency medical technicians, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to San Antonio.

The salary gap between San Antonio and The Woodlands is $1,338 (3.40%). The Woodlands's median is -13.59% compared to the US national median of $47,058.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in San Antonio spans $17,736,The Woodlands spans $26,998. The Woodlands has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced emergency medical technicians.

San Antonio
P10 (Entry)$33,481
P25$37,746
Median$39,323
P75$46,106
P90 (Top)$51,217
The Woodlands
P10 (Entry)$31,408
P25$34,805
Median$40,661
P75$46,515
P90 (Top)$58,406

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, The Woodlands ($42,355 effective) pays 2.02% more than San Antonio ($41,517 effective).

San Antonio
Nominal: $39,323
CoL Index: 94.716
Adjusted: $41,517
The Woodlands
Nominal: $40,661
CoL Index: 96
Adjusted: $42,355

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose San Antonio if…

  • Larger job market (1,100 employed)
  • You prefer the Texas area and lifestyle

Choose The Woodlands if…

  • Higher median salary ($40,661/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($58,406)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $42,355)
  • You prefer the Texas area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, emergency medical technician salaries in San Antonio grew 10.0% from 2021 to 2025, compared to 5.6% growth in The Woodlands over the same period.

San Antonio, TX

+10.0%

$33,770 (2021) → $37,160 (2025)

The Woodlands, TX

+5.6%

$36,404 (2024) → $38,425 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays emergency medical technicians more: San Antonio or The Woodlands?

The Woodlands has a higher median emergency medical technician salary at $40,661/year, compared to San Antonio at $39,323/year — a difference of $1,338 (3.40%).

What is the hourly rate difference between San Antonio and The Woodlands?

San Antonio emergency medical technicians earn $18.90/hr while The Woodlands hygienists earn $19.54/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from San Antonio to The Woodlands as a emergency medical technician?

Consider more than just salary when comparing San Antonio and The Woodlands. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: San Antonio = $41,517, The Woodlands = $42,355), job availability (1,100 vs 21 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level emergency medical technicians earn in San Antonio vs The Woodlands?

Entry-level (10th percentile) emergency medical technicians earn $33,481 in San Antonio and $31,408 in The Woodlands. The San Antonio 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