EMT Salary

St. Charles vs St. Louis: Emergency Medical Technician Salary (2026)

Compare emergency medical technician salaries between St. Charles, MO and St. Louis, MO. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

St. Charles, MO
$43,647
$20.98/hr
St. Louis, MO
$44,349
$21.32/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSt. Charles, MOSt. Louis, MO
Median Salary$43,647$44,349
Hourly Rate$20.98$21.32
Entry Level (P10)$33,406$37,905
25th Percentile$36,861$39,196
75th Percentile$48,634$49,979
Top Earner (P90)$59,900$62,910
Total Employed161,550
Side-by-side bar chart comparing St. Charles ($43,647) and St. Louis ($44,349) emergency medical technician salaries.St. CharlesSt. LouisMedian Salary$43,647$44,349Entry Level (P10)$33,406$37,905Top Earner (P90)$59,900$62,910US Median $47,058

Verdict

St. Louis, MO offers better overall compensation for emergency medical technicians, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to St. Charles.

The salary gap between St. Charles and St. Louis is $702 (1.61%). St. Louis's median is -5.76% compared to the US national median of $47,058.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in St. Charles spans $26,494,St. Louis spans $25,005. St. Charles has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

St. Charles
P10 (Entry)$33,406
P25$36,861
Median$43,647
P75$48,634
P90 (Top)$59,900
St. Louis
P10 (Entry)$37,905
P25$39,196
Median$44,349
P75$49,979
P90 (Top)$62,910

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, St. Charles ($48,713 effective) pays 4.45% more than St. Louis ($46,640 effective).

St. Charles
Nominal: $43,647
CoL Index: 89.6
Adjusted: $48,713
St. Louis
Nominal: $44,349
CoL Index: 95.088
Adjusted: $46,640

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose St. Charles if…

  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $48,713)
  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Choose St. Louis if…

  • Higher median salary ($44,349/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($62,910)
  • Larger job market (1,550 employed)
  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, emergency medical technician salaries in St. Charles grew 33.9% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 42.9% growth in St. Louis over the same period.

St. Charles, MO

+33.9%

$30,805 (2024) → $41,246 (2025)

St. Louis, MO

+42.9%

$29,330 (2021) → $41,910 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays emergency medical technicians more: St. Charles or St. Louis?

St. Louis has a higher median emergency medical technician salary at $44,349/year, compared to St. Charles at $43,647/year — a difference of $702 (1.61%).

What is the hourly rate difference between St. Charles and St. Louis?

St. Charles emergency medical technicians earn $20.98/hr while St. Louis hygienists earn $21.32/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from St. Charles to St. Louis as a emergency medical technician?

Consider more than just salary when comparing St. Charles and St. Louis. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: St. Charles = $48,713, St. Louis = $46,640), job availability (16 vs 1,550 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level emergency medical technicians earn in St. Charles vs St. Louis?

Entry-level (10th percentile) emergency medical technicians earn $33,406 in St. Charles and $37,905 in St. Louis. The St. Louis 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