Emergency Medical Technician Salary in Sugar Land, TX: $38,339 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time emergency medical technician in Sugar Land, TX earns a median $38,339/year (≈ $18.43/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2042). Once you factor in Sugar Land's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 96.0), that paycheck buys what $39,936 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.3% below the Texas state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Emergency medical technicians in Sugar Land, TX, earn a median annual salary of $38,339 in 2026, which falls significantly below the national average of $47,058 for the same year. The salary for EMTs in this area ranges from $29,721 at the lower end (P10) to $55,007 at the higher end (P90). These figures are based on 2025 BLS OES data, projected to 2026, and take into account local cost-of-living adjustments. While the average pay for EMTs in Sugar Land does reflect broader trends in the healthcare labor market, it highlights a notable discrepancy: fire department EMTs, often cross-trained as firefighters, enjoy a substantial pay advantage over those employed by private ambulance companies, which tend to offer lower compensation.
About the Sugar Land Market
Salary estimated from Texas average ($38,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $29,721 | $14.29 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $32,781 | $15.76 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $38,339 | $18.43 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $43,821 | $21.07 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $55,007 | $26.44 |
Median Salary Position
18.53% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Sugar Land
In Sugar Land, TX, the emergency medical technician salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $25,286 (2026 est.). At $38,339, the local median is 18.53% below the national median of $47,058.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Sugar Land: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Sugar Land Emergency Medical Technician Pay Compares
Sugar Land median: $38,339/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Sugar Land Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Average | $38,454 | -0.30% less |
| National Average | $47,058 | -18.53% less |
Emergency Medical Technicians in Sugar Land, TX earn a median of $38,339 per year (2026 est.), which is 18.53% lower than the national median of $47,058 and 0.30% below the Texas state average of $38,454.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Sugar Land has a cost of living 4.00% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Sugar Land, TX has a cost-of-living index of 96 (below the national average of 100). A emergency medical technician earning $38,339 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $39,936 in an average-cost city — an effective 4.17% boost.
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2021 BLS Actual
$28,898
2025 BLS Actual
$36,230
2026 Current Est.
$38,339
2021–2027 Growth
+40.4%
Salary Trajectory for Emergency Medical Technicians in Sugar Land (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.82% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $28,898 | Actual |
| 2022 | $29,883 | Actual |
| 2023 | $31,717 | Actual |
| 2024 | $36,375 | Actual |
| 2025 | $36,230 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $38,339 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $40,570 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Sugar Land metropolitan area, the median emergency medical technician salary grew 25.4% from $28,898 (2021) to $36,230 (2025). At a 5.82% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $40,570 by 2027 — a total increase of $11,672 (40.39%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Sugar Land 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) | $29,721 – $32,781 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $32,781 – $38,339 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $38,339 – $43,821 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $43,821 – $55,007 |
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 Sugar Land
In Sugar Land, there are currently 21 emergency medical technicians in the workforce, a number that reflects a competitive yet limited job market in this region. With a cost of living index of 96, the purchasing power for EMT salaries is somewhat mitigated, allowing for modest living standards. Employers that tend to pay the most include municipal fire departments and hospital-based EMS units, where union facilities may offer better pay and benefits compared to private ambulance companies like AMR and GMR. Factors influencing the pay spread between the lower and higher ends of the spectrum include shift differentials, overtime opportunities, and chances for EMTs to advance to paramedic roles. To maximize their earning potential, EMS professionals in Sugar Land should seek positions in fire departments or specialized medical transport roles, which tend to offer superior compensation and benefits compared to private sector options.
More salary data for Sugar Land, TX:
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 $36,230 for emergency medical techniciansin the Sugar Land 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 Sugar Land 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