Emergency Medical Technician Salary in Starkville, MS: $39,218 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time emergency medical technician in Starkville, MS earns a median $39,218/year (≈ $18.86/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2042). Once you factor in Starkville's price level (14% below national, BEA RPP 85.7), that paycheck buys what $45,762 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.8% below the Mississippi state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Starkville, Mississippi, emergency medical technicians can expect a median annual salary of $39,218 in 2026, notably lower than the national median of $47,058. The salary range for this profession in the area extends from $29,681 at the 10th percentile to $52,160 at the 90th percentile. These figures are derived from state-level data and adjusted for regional cost-of-living factors. Starkville's local job market for EMTs primarily reflects the lack of industrial medic opportunities that can significantly elevate pay scales, often found in oil-field environments, where some individuals can earn substantially more than their counterparts in urban emergency medical services.
About the Starkville Market
Salary estimated from Mississippi average ($28,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $29,681 | $14.28 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $35,116 | $16.88 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $39,218 | $18.86 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $42,980 | $20.67 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $52,160 | $25.08 |
Median Salary Position
16.66% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Starkville
In Starkville, MS, the emergency medical technician salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $22,479 (2026 est.). At $39,218, the local median is 16.66% below the national median of $47,058.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Starkville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Starkville Emergency Medical Technician Pay Compares
Starkville median: $39,218/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Starkville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi Average | $40,348 | -2.80% less |
| National Average | $47,058 | -16.66% less |
Emergency Medical Technicians in Starkville, MS earn a median of $39,218 per year (2026 est.), which is 16.66% lower than the national median of $47,058 and 2.80% below the Mississippi state average of $40,348.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Starkville has a cost of living 14.30% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Starkville, MS has a cost-of-living index of 85.7 (below the national average of 100). A emergency medical technician earning $39,218 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $45,762 in an average-cost city — an effective 16.69% boost.
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2021 BLS Actual
$29,560
2025 BLS Actual
$37,061
2026 Current Est.
$39,218
2021–2027 Growth
+40.4%
Salary Trajectory for Emergency Medical Technicians in Starkville (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.82% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $29,560 | Actual |
| 2022 | $30,569 | Actual |
| 2023 | $32,444 | Actual |
| 2024 | $23,335 | Actual |
| 2025 | $37,061 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $39,218 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $41,500 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Starkville metropolitan area, the median emergency medical technician salary grew 25.4% from $29,560 (2021) to $37,061 (2025). At a 5.82% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $41,500 by 2027 — a total increase of $11,940 (40.39%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Starkville metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.82% CAGR derived from 5-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $29,681 – $35,116 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $35,116 – $39,218 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $39,218 – $42,980 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $42,980 – $52,160 |
EMT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual emergency medical technician compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Emergency Medical Technician Job Market in Starkville
The local job market indicates that only five emergency medical technicians are employed in Starkville, suggesting limited competition and potentially impacting salary dynamics. With a cost-of-living index at 85.7, earning power in Starkville may feel more favorable, allowing for greater take-home purchasing power, albeit still limited relative to national standards. Among the highest-paying employers are municipal fire departments, which generally provide better compensation due to union agreements, compared to private ambulance services. The wage differences can also be influenced by various factors, such as shift differentials, overtime opportunities, and the EMT-to-paramedic progression pathway which can further enhance earnings. For those looking to maximize their emergency medical technician pay in Starkville, pursuing certifications and additional training, especially in specialized fields such as tactical or industrial medicine, may yield higher financial rewards.
More salary data for Starkville, MS:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $37,061 for emergency medical techniciansin the Starkville metropolitan area. A 5.82% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Starkville is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.82%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for emergency medical technicians (SOC 29-2042).
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